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Randall's Radio Comments 5/10/12

lwatson — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:37:43 -0500

KVRE Interview
May 10, 2012

1) There was a rather large and vocal crowd at last week’s Board meeting. In the intervening week, and given the perspective that time can provide, what is your take on what happened last week?

The issue is simple – two employees have taken exception to the recent promotion of a Pro Shop Attendant to the position of Pro Shop Manager – believing that POA policies, procedures and precedent were violated. After being rebuffed by the POA Board, politely but repeated, that the Board, by design, is not involved in personnel matters. After weeks of this volley, I was finally approached by one of these two employees; I investigated the claim; responded to it, in writing; and in the end, reported to the employee and the Board, that:
* No policy, procedure or precedents were violated;
* That in fact the POA’s policies and procedures were silent on the issue
* That I intended to address the matter as part of a comprehensive review of our Personnel Procedures Manual that was already underway
* And also listed numerous, well over a dozen, of recent examples of POA hiring’s and promotions that were handled in exactly the same way as the Balboa Pro Shop.

From my perspective, the matter was closed.

Unfortunately, since then, the issue has only escalated by the unfounded, unwarranted and patently false accusations being made by these two; and spread not so discreetly throughout the Village.

* It started with me; I was originally the dupe; having been mislead by some supervisors and a Department Head to approve a promotion; only to escalate to my now being the head of some grand conspiracy
* Then it turned to the Board – and particularly President Jerry Kosoglow – for his refusal to meet with these employees in Executive Session to hear their grievances
* It has since turned into a mass character assassination – of John Paul, our Director of Golf; some of his direct reports; and other POA employees, most recently, Stephanie Stone, our Director of Recreation and Club Services

I don’t know the real agenda here – but would guess that it’s part of the age old debate about the need for a Director of Golf and competency of our Director, John Paul. For the record -- it took me less than a week on the job (and Jerry Kosoglow tells me it took him about 1 day when he was Interim GM) – to find that John Paul is the BEST DEPARTMENT HEAD we have; and that we are blessed to have him.
* He runs the most complex operation in the POA – with an $8 M budget; 18 divisions; and 200+ employees
* He knows what’s going on at each facility; what needs to be done; and when, how and by whom it’s going to get done
* He gets the big picture – he lives and breathes this place; he is committed to running his operation as efficiently as possible; and
* He is one of our best customer service ambassador we have
* He’s the complete package of what you want in a Department Head and leader

Bottom line -- I’m going to do all in my authority to keep him here. So, if the agenda by some is to run him off, it isn’t going to work.

Last, while civil discourse is fine – it’s encouraged – but the repeated unsubstantiated, vile, repugnant comments by any employee -- directed at the POA Board or any supervisor – will not be tolerated. I certainly won’t tolerate it. Thus, these two employees are being dealt with swiftly, and severely – as of this morning, both employees have been terminated from their employment with the POA for insubordination and conduct unbecoming a POA employee.

2) While we are wading into controversy -- It seems the decision to outfit the gate personnel with polo shirts has created a stir in the Village. One listener e-mailed to ask a series of questions about that decision, including: Why was the change made without Board or resident input?

It wasn’t – the Board was told of the change last Fall, during the budget review; the total expense was a whopping $2,500; and that the recommendation actually came from some gate personnel. No – we didn’t put it to a vote of the employees; nor the property owners; or even the Board. Candidly, we spend more on t-shirts for some of our summer, seasonal employees – and we don’t even ask that they return them at the end of the summer.

3) And finally, it is perceived that this only contributes to the “erosion of gate security”, and may contribute more to people NOT wanting to move here if that is the case. To this I would add, Is there any evidence to support the claim that the gates are any less secure today than they have been at any other time in the past?

As for the security of the Village – I’m not aware of any community in the State that has a lower crime rate than HSV. You know – when it comes to this stuff, we are our own worst enemy – it’s some of our own residents that want to diminish, smear and impugn the reputation of the Village. I don’t know about you – but I still believe that HSV is the “best kept secret” and “the closest one might find to heaven, here on earth”.

4) Scott, I noticed in your report to the Board last week, you had some interesting statistics from the marketing department. Can you share those with our audience?

I am so incredibly pleased with our marketing efforts – we are doing so many new, exciting and productive things – and I applaud our Marketing Manager, Dannet Botkin, for bringing the direction, energy and implementation on so many fronts, so quickly.

The numbers that you are referring to include:
* We have received “consents-to-contact” from 5000+;
* Our expanded micro sites have received more than 7,200 hits since being unveiled earlier this Spring
* We responded to 4,200 of these contacts just this week through a E-Blast
* We’ve attended 7 of 9 budgeted trade shows so far
* We’ve hosted dozens of groups and outings for golf – just recently ; the FCA brought 250 golfers; the Oil Marketers Association brought 118
* We hosted 15 teams last weekend for a Media Golf Outing at Cortez – with teams representing national and regional media outlets in print, radio and TV – and their reaction to the village was fantastic !
* We had well over 100 visitors to our first “Open House” in conjunction with the National Board of Realtors
* We unveiled our Resident Ambassador Program at the Chamber’s Business Expo a couple weeks ago

And these efforts have all been successful -- the proof is truly in the pudding:
* golf rounds are up – more than 4,000 rounds in April; more than 13,500 year-to-date over 2011
* The Board of Realtors reports that existing home sales are up
* New home construction is up
* Short-term rental occupancies inside and adjacent to the Village are booming
* And the POA membership sales are up – approaching 200

These are all incredibly positive signs !

Randall's Radio Comments 5/3/12

lwatson — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:13:01 -0500

KVRE INTERVIEW
May 3, 2012

1) Scott, it’s been one year since a tornado swept through a section of the Village. I’d like to take a few minutes to review where in the clean-up process the POA is right now, and do you have any better idea how long clean-up will continue?

Immediately following the storm, and after cleaning up the rights-of-way, we responded to the POA common property, using third-party vendors that cleared our land in exchange for the salvage value of the debris being removed. Obviously, as time passed, the value of the downed timber declined; and candidly, we needed to do more, quicker.

In October, the POA Board authorized the hiring of a 4-person forestry crew, devoted exclusively to cleaning up our common property. The crew started in November – and is working on a 6 zone clean-up plan – best described as working from west to east. They’ve completed the first two zones – Zone 1 was in the far west end of the Village; Zone 2 is in the vicinity of Coronado Golf Course. They also spent a good deal of time cleaning up our high-volume major roadways – DeSoto, Balearic and Balboa. They are currently in Zone 3 – located around Balboa Golf Course – and we expect that they’ll be in there until mid-summer; July or August. Next up will be Zone 4 – which is the area bordered by Balboa Road and Lake Balboa – it’s a large area, and one of the more heavily damaged areas. They could be there for as long as 6 months.

I also need to applaud the 4 local church groups – Sacred Heart, Balboa Baptist, Christ of the Hills and Village Church of Christ – for their volunteers, the weekend warriors, that have been helping our POA crews the last couple months. They are generating a huge amount of debris every weekend – and we are progressing faster due to their presence, and their efforts.

2) I know we have been over the issue of storm clean-up on private property many times, and the answer has always been, “the property owners must be responsible for storm cleanup on their own property, and the POA cannot assume that responsibility.” I recall the POA initiated a campaign to inform out-of-state property owners of the condition of their properties. How successful have you been so far in gaining compliance for storm clean-up from that group of property owners?

Within a couple weeks after the storm, we inventoried the entire Village and found 1,135 privately-owned, undeveloped lots with storm damage. Each received a mailing – advising the owner of the storm, that they had damage, and that it was their responsibility to clean it. A little over 25% responded and cleaned their lots. As second mailing was sent to the remaining damaged lots – 815 owners. We attached pictures to that mailing – and another 15% responded. Based on our last count, we still have 646 private lots that have not been attended to.

And candidly, our efforts to get non-resident owners to clean their properties has certainly increased the number of lots that are being deeded back to the Village.

3) Again regarding private property clean-up, has there been any recent discussion among board members that perhaps the POA should take on that responsibility in some way, perhaps limited only to private properties on main roads where storm damage is visible? Is there a mechanism in place by which the POA could charge property owners for such a service, or place a lien on their property?

Not recently – and I don’t expect any such discussion while we still have the POA’s common property to deal with. If in the future the Board decides to take on the responsibility of cleaning private properties, the issue of selectively picking those properties will be a tricky proposition – and we will always have to weigh the affect of how such a decision rewards those that have failed to clean their properties to the detriment of those that were responsible in their clean-up.

As we’ve previously discussed, the POA does have the ability to do the work and place a lien on the property; that isn’t new. But, the limitation is how we pay for the work that an individual property owner has refused to perform, with the hope of ultimately collecting from that owner.

4) Last tornado question -- I know we generated a lot of mulch last year, and Villagers have been taking advantage of free access to it. How much longer will mulch be available to Villagers, and are we creating new mulch as a result of the ongoing clean-up effort?

The original mulch is gone. And that’s a good thing – since we promised FEMA that all the mulch they paid for would be removed from the site by May 1st. However, we obviously have new storm debris being brought to the site – and when we decide to mulch it – it too will be made available to residents; but there is no plan in place to begin mulching soon.

Linda Mayhood Radio Comments 4/26/12

lwatson — Tue, 01 May 2012 11:58:43 -0500

Radio Comments 4/26/12- by Linda Mayhood, POA Asst. General Manager

1. How long have you been employed by the POA and what are your areas of responsibilities?

I have been employed by the POA for 35 years. I started out in the accounting and finance department when the offices were located in Hot Springs. We moved to our current location on Desoto Blvd. in 1980. I served as the accounting/HR manager until I moved to my current position in 1990. The last 22 years have been an amazing journey. I currently serve as the Asst. General Manager, risk manager, communications and purchasing authority. I also handle all contract administration and litigation. In addition, I manage all real estate and personal property of the POA, of which currently totals over 425 parcels, with an annual tax expenditure of $356,000.

I have also served as POA staff liaison to the Governmental Affairs Committee since its inception.

2. Do you have other community involvements that relate to your POA position?

I served as Chair for 7 years of the HSV Advertising & Promotion Committee under the local chamber. At that time the POA had an agreement to fund $50,000 per year for promotion.

I am very involved in American Association of Retirement Communities (AARC) (past chair) which is a national Organization which promotes the economic enhancement of communities thru promoting retiree attraction as an economic development strategy.

For the last 25 years, I have served as the General Manager of Village Peoples Federal Credit Union. This credit union was initially started for POA and CCI employees in 1982. The charter has since been expanded to include anyone living or working in Hot Springs Village. The office was housed in the POA administration building for several years until we outgrew the space. It is now located at the back door to KVRE.

2. As Risk Manager, did the POA have coverage in place for the damages to the golf courses and trees caused by the April 25, 2011 tornado?

As you are aware, the tornado last April devastated parts of the village and damaged several of our golf courses and POA owned facilities. Fortunately, we did have coverage under our property line – business interruption and extra expense that covered debris removal. This coverage proved to be invaluable with this catastrophic event. I negotiated several months with our insurance carrier and am happy to report we recovered over $400,000 in damages.

As you are aware, the POA is not a municipality, therefore, we do not have tort immunity. The 2012 budget for insurance is $576,000. This includes all lines, including property, equipment, Directors and Officers, firefighters ,specialty lines , law enforcement, General liability, Auto, umbrella, fiduciary, crime, employment practices. etc. Managing the risks of the largest gated community in the U.S can be very challenging.

3. How is the communications plan progressing and what can we expect in 2012?

First, we are pleased to announce the hiring of Lisa Watson to the position of Communications Specialist. She brings a wealth of experience in this area and we are very happy to have her on our team.

We have made great strides in the communications area over the last year; however, we have more work to do. In 2013, we plan to move the Advocate to a digital publication, publishing a hard copy only once or twice a year. A communications plan was developed in 2011 and we are right on track. The plan includes sending e-blasts and news and announcements, connecting on social media sites, along with the recent addition of the scrolling message boards which play on TVs in 13 POA locations, and of course, the GM coffees, which are being held monthly. The recreation department is working on LED scrolling message boards to be located at the west gate, ponce de leon center and, later in the year, at the east gate.

A property owner survey is being developed and will be sent to residents late summer primarily focusing on communications. An emergency “one -call“system was also instituted this year .I strongly urge all property owners to sign up for the e-blast system on our web site. I believe the e-blast subscription system is under-utilized by the property owners - we only have 2,893 signed up. During the one and only snow this winter, we e-blasted a message that trash service was being cancelled that day. Several residents called and asked why their neighbor got an e-mail and they didn’t. Every village household should be on this system to receive quick, up to date communications from the POA. Go to HSVPOA.org and sign up today. In addition, we have recently added online payment of assessments and utilities for our members.

Another exciting item in the communications area is the redesign of our web site. We have contracted with a firm in Little Rock to develop a fresh clean look. The site will be much easier to navigate and will be more user-friendly with no more than two clicks required to access any page. Marketing pages will be incorporated for prospects, visitors and guests as well as up to date information for our property owners. We hope to launch the new site in late summer or early fall.

4. You stated you are the POA purchasing Authority, tell me about this and what are the functions of this department?

The purchasing department was started in 1994. At that time, I was asked to develop and manage a purchasing department for the POA. A purchasing user’s guide was developed and subsequent employee training began. This was not popular at the time, as all departments made their own purchases from vendors and suppliers. A requisition system was initiated for all goods and services to be approved, entered into a computer program, prior to a purchase order being issued to the department. All items over $3,000 are competitively bid with all vendor bids sent directly to purchasing. This department also prepares all Requests for Proposals, annual bids for goods and services such as janitorial supplies, tires, uniforms, gasoline, chemicals, office supplies, etc. To maximize our budget dollars. We are looking forward to a new financial software package that will include a purchasing package that will enable us to be even more efficient and go semi- paperless.

5. How is the POA Surplus Auction progressing?

Things are running smoothly. This is the largest surplus sale the POA has held in 42 years. Our website lists 81 line items with over 290 individual items to be sold. Most of the larger items have a link to view a picture of that item. The list includes backhoes, trucks, jeeps, tractors, dump trucks, snow plow, chairs, tables, air compressors, a generator and much more. The auction will take place at the POA pipe yard (behind the POA Administration Building) on May 19th at 9 am. An on-site inspection of vehicles and equipment will be held on May 11, 2012 from 2-4 pm. Cox Auctions Realty LLC, Hot Springs, Arkansas, has been contracted to conduct the sale. Trailer parking will be available at the Doctors offices in front of Good Samaritan on Desoto Blvd. All others will be parked at the POA Administration complex. A food wagon will be available to purchase food and drink.

Annual Mowing Program Has Begun

lwatson — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:08:07 -0500

Annual Mowing Program Has Begun

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE – The Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association has begun its annual mowing program, which will continue throughout the summer months.

Please remember to use caution around both the machinery and public works crews. Drivers should be aware and keep a safe distance from the mower if it is moving. When able to do so, the mowers will pull over to allow vehicles to pass safely.

The Street Division of the Department of Public Works is responsible for the program. There are three mowers working during the majority of the mowing season. Because of safety concerns, mowers will concentrate on maintaining approximately 88 miles of major roadways.

For more information, contact the Department of Public Works at 501-922-5524 or 501-922-5528.

Spring Scavenger Hunt Still Underway

lwatson — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:06:34 -0500

Spring Scavenger Hunt Still Underway

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE – Don’t miss out – the final days of the Spring Scavenger Hunt are going on now! The event has been ongoing through the month of April.

To participate, check any trail head box for official entry form. When you find an object pictured on the form, write down the name of the trail where you saw it next to the photo of the object on the form. When you have located all eight objects, return the completed form to any trail head box by April 30. Participants who correctly locate all eight objects will be notified and treated to a Grand Finale luncheon with the trails committee at 11 a.m. May 15 at the Balboa Pavilion.

Call a friend, come out and enjoy a spring walk on the beautiful trails.

For more information, contact Dale Webb at 501-915-8042, Ginger Tanner at 501-922-4386 or Pam Lee at 501-915-0651.

Spring Arts and Crafts Fair Set for May 5

lwatson — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:04:09 -0500

Spring Arts and Crafts Fair Set for May 5

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE – The Coronado Community Center is hosting a Spring Arts and Crafts Fair from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Saturday, May 5. The event will feature local and area vendors. The Optimist Club is offering lunch to purchase.

For more information, call 501-922-5050.

New Library Hours Beginning May 1

lwatson — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:26:15 -0500

New Library Hours Beginning May 1

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE – Beginning May 1, the Coronado Library will be open Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. The library is located at 150 Ponderosa Lane in the Coronado Community Center.

For more information, call 922-3555.

Magellan Golf Course to be Closed June 4 - Aug. 27

lwatson — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:23:54 -0500

Magellan Golf Course To Be Closed June 4 – Aug. 27

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE – The Magellan Golf Course will be closing for greens renovation June 4 – Aug. 27. The driving range and chipping greens will remain open for use during this time. However, the putting green will be closed.

The Junior Golf program will use the facility every Wednesday in June and July from 2 – 5 p.m. During this time, the practice facility will be closed.

The Golf Shop and the deli will not be open on a scheduled basis during this time period. The Golf Shop may be open most weekday mornings for merchandise sales. Restroom facilities will be available if the golf shop is closed. For more information, call 501-922-4497.

Randall's Radio Comments 4/19/12

lwatson — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:35:35 -0500

KVRE INTERVIEW
April 19, 2012

We’ve received a lot of questions from our listeners – so let’s dig right in …..

1) This is from a week ago, “why was a critical valve left open for weeks, allowing Lake Balboa to drain into the Saline River. We are now starting the year with low water in the lake – which could cause problems this summer. What is being done to make sure this type of mistake is not going to be made again?”

First, Lake Balboa was lowered late last year, beginning around October, so that property owners and the POA could undertake needed maintenance around the shoreline. For the POA, this is the time that we inspect and repair the gates, valves and weirs that maintain our water levels; and in some areas, dredge to remove large volumes of silt. Private property owners often use this time to repair their own seawalls.

We anticipated lowering the lake between 2-4 feet; and were able to stop at 24 inches. Since the lake refills naturally, every time we received a significant rain, we had to re-open the gate or valve to maintain the lower level. It was anticipated that the Lake would be lowered for 3-4 months. Toward the end of this period, we found a collapsed sea wall on POA property – it’s actually the seawall that supports a portion of Resplendor Way. So, the Lake level was kept lower for a week longer than we originally anticipated (the second week of February instead of the first week); but it was NOT drawn down any lower than the original 24 inches; the Lake has already recharged (as of yesterday, the Lake is down 3 inches from its natural depth); and from my perspective, no mistakes were made.

2) State Lands Commissioner John Thurston was quoted in the Wednesday edition of the Sentinel Record as saying that delinquent POA dues still attached to delinquent tax properties in the Village prevented some potential bidders from buying lots offered at auction on Tuesday. Since that money will never be collected, is it not possible for the POA at some point to simply write those dues off and free up the property for sale or auction?

It’s an unfortunate circumstance, particularly if any prospective bidders were relying upon his advice, but, the State Land Commissioner was wrong – our Declaration is quite clear in that “for any property subject to a foreclosure, all liens, including the POA’s delinquent assessments, “shall be extinguished” at the time of such sale or transfer. Thus, any Village property purchased through the foreclosure process – whether that be the monthly County sale, or the less frequent state tax sale – starts anew in terms of their monthly assessment obligations.

3) From yesterday’s board meeting, I noticed that the independent auditor made a presentation to the board along with chief financial officer Don Yucuis. After a review of the books from 2011, how did that go?

First and foremost – the POA received an “unqualified opinion” – the highest rating that an independent auditor gives.

As for the numbers, the auditor reported that we ended 2011 with a surplus of $467,000; compared to a loss in 2010 of $969,000. I need to point out that the auditor reports on an “accrual basis” – so, a dollar billed is recognized as a revenue. It also recognizes such items as “depreciation” as an expense. Conversely, the POA operates and reports its finances using a “cash basis” – only recognizing a dollar as revenue when it is received; and not recognizing non-cash expenses like depreciation. Thus, on a cash basis, we ended FY 2011 with an operating surplus of more than $2.3 million.

Bottom line – it was a clean report. We also receive four good suggestions from the auditor on how to improve our internal controls – and I’m pleased to report that we’ve already implemented three of these recommendations.

4) It also looks like the first quarter of 2012 has been successful financially. Can you give us a quick summary of where we stand at this point?

The POA’s economic picture continues to improve:
* Through the first quarter, revenue exceeds expenses by more than $700,000
* We have collected 27% of our estimated revenues; and expended less than 25% of our budgeted expenditures
* And while we recognize that certain revenues (like prepaid assessments and vehicle stickers) and expenses (like golf chemicals and equipment purchases) are cyclical
* Assessment revenue is up -- $84,000 – thru a modestly lower delinquency rate; improved collections; and more attributable to pre-payments
* Golf Revenue is up -- $ 48,000 – due to a significant increase in play, more than 9500 rounds in the 1st quarter
* Building permits are up -- $44,000 – almost exclusively due to the building permits associated with the Mt. Carmel Assisted Living project
* And lesser sums due to changes in water and trash rates

All in all – I’m quite pleased with the direction are finances are going – but we are far from out of the woods !!

5) Regarding the POA surplus equipment auction, will there be an opportunity for interested people to preview the auction items in advance of the May 19th auction date?

I’m really excited about this initiative – it offers our residents an opportunity at some incredible values – and it shows that we are attempting to re-organize and right-size the entire operation; if we have an asset that isn’t needed or being used efficiently – let’s get rid of it. As an example – we will have more than 30 pieces or rolling stock – vehicles and equipment; as well as a plethora of miscellaneous items.

But I digress – back to your question – there WILL be an opportunity to preview all of our bid items. We’ve scheduled this preview for Friday, May 11th, between 2 and 4 PM; at the Public Works Yard, located on Fresno, immediately behind the POA Administration Building.

TRI-theVillage June 9 Update

lwatson — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:10:44 -0500

TRI-the-Village June 9 Update

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE – The Marketing Department of the Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association is pleased to announce the TRI-the-Village triathlon registration is now live at http://www.dltevents.com/on-road-events/triathlons/69-tri-the-village.html. NOTE: Participants must have a USAT Annual Membership or purchase a One-Day Membership when registering. Register today to participate and Join the Fun!

TRI-the-Village (Hot Springs Village’s first annual triathlon) will include a 500-yard swim at Balboa Lake, 3.5 mile run on the Magellan Golf Course cart path and a 13.5 mile cycle ride ending at Balboa Pavilion. All members and guests are welcome to participate – run, bike, swim, relay and/or cheer on the participants!

The charity for TRI-the-Village is Teen Challenge of Arkansas.

NEW: Training maps are available at the Hot Springs Village Chamber of Commerce.

Sponsors: Mountain Valley Spring Water, Vacation Rentals and National Park Medical Center. If your company is interested in being a sponsor please contact: Dannet Botkin dbotkin@hsvpoa.org.

Reduced Pressure Zone Valve Testing

lwatson — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:04:44 -0500

Reduced Pressure Zone Valve Testing

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE – All property owners who have underground sprinkler systems or specialized plumbing fixtures must schedule a certified tester to perform the annual test on the reduced pressure zone (RPZ) valve.

According to the Arkansas State Plumbing Code, Section 312.9, all RPZ valves must be tested annually to keep the public water system safe and prevent contamination of the potable water.

Spring is a good time to have the RPZ tested since it has been out of service during the winter months.

To obtain a list of certified RPZ Valve testers, contact the Hot Springs Village POA Public Works Department at 501-922-5524, 501-922-5528, or 501-922-5523 or go to the POA’s website www.hsvpoa.org | Services | Public Works | RPZ Testers.

British Car Show, High Tea, Among Highlights at Upcoming HSV British Week

lwatson — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:55:19 -0500

British Car Show, High Tea, Among Highlights at Upcoming HSV British Week

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE – The Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association and Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce that Allen Tillery Chevrolet, Buick, GMC will serve as the presenting sponsor for the British National Car Meet, which will be held June 2. The meet, which is open to the public, will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on the Ponce de Leon Center grounds. Food trucks from Grampa’s Catfish, Peace Hog Mobile Cafe and Papa’s Burgers & Dogs will be on hand to provide food. A drink bar and lounge area will be set up in the Porte Cochere and Mountain Valley Spring Water will be distributing sample during the event.

The car meet is one of several activities to be held during British Week. The Hot Springs Village Card Club will host a High Tea, in true British tradition. The customary fare of tea, crumpets and finger sandwiches will be served by hosts dressed in period costumes. Participants are also invited to join in a Duplicate Bridge game and other games. The reservation deadline for this event is April 30. To make reservations, which are $8.00 per person, contact the Hot Springs Village Chamber of Commerce at info@visithotspringsvillage.com or call 915-9940 before April 30th.

Commemorative Hot Springs Village British Glasses are now available for $3.00 at the HSV Chamber of Commerce, Coronado Center, Diamante Country Club, Golf Pro Shops and the Property Owners’ Association. Those with the commemorative cups will be eligible for $2.00 pints of beer (4 oz more than a traditional draft) during British Week’s three Pub Crawl events. The Pub Crawls will be held from 3-7 p.m., June 1, 5 and 8 at Paradise Grill, The Pink Olive, The Balboa Club, Mulligans at Ponce, JK’s Columbus Grill, Cedar Mountain Sports Lounge & Restaurant and the Diamante Country Club.

For more information about British Week, go to www.HSVJointheFun.com.

Online Ticket Sales Demonstrations Set

lwatson — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:51:25 -0500

Online Ticket Sales Demonstrations Set

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE – The Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association will begin offering online ticket sales for events at the Ponce de Leon Center’s Woodlands Auditorium June 1.

Demonstrations on the new software system will be held on Tuesday, April 24, at 2 p.m. and Friday, April 27, at 8:30 a.m. Both demonstrations will be held at the Ponce de Leon Center in Room B, and will include a general overview of the ticket software system, as well as information on implementation and costs. This is not a training session for ushers and workers on how to use the box office or bar code scanners.

For more information, call 501-922-4231.

Golf Cart Regulations

lwatson — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:49:11 -0500

Golf Cart Regulations

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE – The Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association reminds property owners about regulations for operating golf carts on roadways.

All private golf carts/neighborhood electric vehicles must follow Village rules and regulations concerning carts and must be registered with the Property Owners’ Association.

The follow regulations apply:
- Each vehicle shall be equipped with two mounted headlights, white and one rear mounted taillight, red.
- Golf carts shall be equipped with an orange flag fastened to a pole at least seven feet above the ground.
- Each vehicle will be equipped with a rear view mirror.
- Number of passengers shall not exceed those recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
- Automobiles and trucks have the right-of-way over golf carts. Pedestrians have the right-of-way over motorized vehicles.
- Golf carts shall not be operated on Village roads or sections thereof, designated by “Golf Carts Prohibited” signs.

For complete information about Hot Springs Village rules and regulations, go to www.hsvpoa.org.

Randall's Radio Comments 4/12/12

lwatson — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:26:34 -0500

KVRE INTERVIEW
April 12, 2012

1) You hosted your monthly “Coffee with the General Manager” last Friday. How was the attendance; and what kind of questions were raised?

I continue to be shocked by the level of interest in these coffees. We had at least 60 people in attendance – probably more.

As for the “issues” – there was a lot of repetition.

There is still great interest in the gates; how they operate; what are the rules for accessing the Village; and mostly, this gross misconception that wholesale changes are being considered. Most recently, there has been a lot of discussion about the fact that we’ve bought the gate personnel embroidered polo shirts to wear in the warm weather months – as if the guard’s clothes are going to impact how they perform their duties. As we’ve discussed before, the POA Board of Directors will be talking about all of this at its upcoming Board Retreat in May – as we attempt to strike a balance between the inherent security that the gates provide; and our efforts to encourage prospective residents, property owners and guests to visit the Village and see all the wonderful things we have to offer.

There were also numerous comments about signs – and most notably, garage sale signs. The comments range from those that feel that the POA’s rules preclude property owners from hosting a successful sale; or that we are only attempting to generate revenue; to those that appreciate that our streets and Village entrances are somewhat more attractive than they were before.

However, there were a number of new issues raised – that I found to be particularly refreshing, like:
* Odors from Lift Stations – something that the Public Works Department will respond to.
* Golf Cart Flags – the observation that more golf carts are traveling on our streets without the requisite flags; which both the Golf Department will be promoting; and the Police Department will be enforcing.
* Rotating the Color of our Vehicle Decals – a great suggestion; that’s been explored before; but that I think will lead to some changes in 2013.
* Speed Limits – the observation that there is no posted speed limit as you exit the East Gate; and while we have regulations that state that the speed limit is 30 MPH in any area where a speed limit is not posted; we’ll be installing new signs in this area shortly.
* To the couple that asked that we look at a tree in their cul-de-sac – to see if it’s a danger.

2) Why does the POA contract out for mowing of the dams? The annual contract is well over $20,000. Don't we have employees with the necessary experience and plenty of mowing equipment? This seems like a waste of money in light of the POA saying we need to save.

We actually spend $25,000 per year on this contract; and it’s always been performed by a vendor. We maintain 12 dams; and 2 auxiliary spillways; and we are required to mow, at least once a year, by the Arkansas Department of Natural resources. While the POA does have a number of mowers in its inventory, most of these slopes require an entirely different type of equipment; something that we don’t have in our inventory; and something that we haven’t found the need or benefit of purchasing. So – I anticipate that we will continue to annually bid this service; and find the least expense vendor to perform this needed task.

3) There is a significant amount of litter on the main roads in the Village. In light of our efforts to promote the Village as a great place to live shouldn't we be doing more to police this trash? There is not a single mile of main road in the Village that would not fill a large trash bag with bottles, cans, cardboard, etc.

While I wholeheartedly agree – there are portions of the Village that are unsightly; but the “fix” comes down to our available resources. In a perfect world, I’d like to be able to mow the rights-of-way more often; and collect any trash that accumulates along the roadway. In a perfect world, we also wouldn’t be having people dispose of their trash there either. But it’s not a perfect world – people do unfortunate things; and we don’t always have the resources to clean up after those that are less responsible.

We do the best with what we have – I often stop to pick up debris in or adjacent to the road. I’ve stopped and talked to construction crews about properly disposing of their trash when they are done with their break. It’s something that each of us has to do – whether it’s in the Townhomes; in our neighborhoods; or on our streets. There has also been some discussion among service groups – to create an “adopt-a-road” or community clean-up effort.

Balboa Gate Will Be Closed April 11-12

lwatson — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 13:41:16 -0500

Balboa Gate Will Be Closed April 11-12

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE – The Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association Department of Public Safety is closing the Balboa Gate at Hwy. 5 from 6 a.m., Wednesday, April 11 through 6 p.m., Thursday, April 12. The gate will be closed while utility lines are installed for the Mount Carmel project.

Barricades will be set up at Hwy. 5, Ponce de Leon Dr. and Entereza Way. The East Gate at Hwy. 5 or the Balearic/Danville Gate will serve as alternate access points.

For questions, call the Department of Public Safety at 922-0011.

Randall's Radio Comments 4/5/12

linda — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:43:39 -0500

KVRE INTERVIEW
April 5, 2012

1) I have heard Villagers wondering if the new Mt. Carmel Community in the Village assisted care facility will over-burden our water treatment plant before the expansion is completed. Should we be concerned about that?

No, I don’t think so. The typical resident uses 80-100 gallons of water per day; seniors use 45-50 gallons per day. With a population of 75, we estimate that water consumption at the Mt. Carmel facility will use 3750 gallons per day; which is less than 1/10th of 1 percent of our 4 MGD capacity. Even at peak times of the year, when we use 3.2-3.4 MGD, such modest use will not put a strain on our water distribution system.

2) I am wondering what the POA is thinking about water rationing: Will that program continue this summer, and if so, when will it start?

We don’t ration water – but we do restrict its use – and the rules haven’t changed since they were originally imposed mid-summer of last year. The rules again are -- outdoor irrigation is limited to odd/even days, depending upon your street address; and we ask that landscape irrigation be done during non-daylight hours.

I would remind our listeners that the POA recently made another significant change in our water rate structure -- which was intended to conserve the use of water. Beginning in December of 2011, our smallest water users, those using less than 4,000 gallons per cycle, will be paying much less (about 25% less) than they were before; users that consume more than 7,000 gallons per bi-month billing period, will be paying more per 1,000 gallons than they were before, although their bills will still less than they were paying before; and those that use more than 10,000 gallons per billing cycle will pay more for the water they consume. We sincerely hope that this results in the conscious use of this precious resource.

3) When will the POA address the issue of water wasted by the overwatering of property owners on the lakes? If rationing is again started in the Village, are residents who take water from lakes for landscape use included in the rationing program?

Again, there is no “rationing” of water use – nor do we control the withdrawal of water from lake-adjacent properties. While I don’t disagree that lakeshore properties may well overwater their property – this use had absolutely no “effect” on the amount of “potable” or “treated” water that is available for our water customers. Any water that is drawn directly from a lake has not gone thru our water treatment plant, nor does it impact our water supply that is stored in Lake Lago.

4) The POA Board met yesterday – and it looked like some interesting things were discussed. What can you tell us?

The Board reviewed its bids for our 2012 street paving program – and I’m pleased to report that we received four competitive bids (which is more than in years past) – and we plan to repave a total of 29 miles of roadway – 7.5 miles of majors; 20 miles of residential; and 1.5 miles in townhome courts. This is, by far, the largest road repaving program that the POA has done in years – more than $1.25 million.

The Board also discussed amending its By-Laws to deal with the issue of the voting its POA-owned lot inventory; and it appears that the Board is leaning toward approving a policy that the POA-owned lots would be voted proportionately, equal to the proportion of all votes cast by other property owners.

And finally, the Board reviewed some conceptual design plans – both for the installation of electronic message boards at our West Gate and in front of the Ponce de Leon Center (and eventually, at the East Gate); and also for a lobby remodeling project creating a new customer service center in the POA Office.

HSV Board of Director's Election Results

linda — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 08:36:19 -0500

HSV Property Owners’ Association- Board of Directors Election Results

Hot Springs Village- Keith Keck, Frank Leeming and Bobbie Bateman were elected to the Hot Springs Village Board of Directors for three-year terms.
They will be seated at the conclusion of the April regular Board Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 18, 2012.
The Election Day Committee of the Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association has certified the following results:

Candidate	Non-Resident Votes	Resident Votes	Total Votes
Keith Keck	2,475	3,348	5,823
Frank Leeming	1,665	2,848	4,513
Bobbie Bateman	1,765	2,605	4,370
Bob Brandt	2,139	1,783	3,922
Tom Elliott	1,443	2,367	3,810
Katie Feather	1,875	1,495	3,370

Randall's Radio Comments 3/29/12

linda — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:28:13 -0500

KVRE INTERVIEW
March 29, 2012

1) Why does the POA need to make money from the leased restaurant spaces? The POA subsidizes golf every day of the year. Why treat the restaurants differently? Wouldn't restaurants operating in POA facilities have a better chance of success if the POA simply chose to break even on these leases rather than profit from them?

Oh, how I wish that were the case. For the record, and it isn’t good news – but there isn’t a single restaurant that operates within the POA structure that IS NOT subsidized. And that’s not likely to change in the near future. What IS good news is – the extent of every restaurant subsidy is going down. In 2010, the cumulative subsidy was more than $310,000 – including the Balboa Club at more than $120,000. In 2011, the subsidy was reduced to $285,000; which included some significant capital investments at Ponce, Desoto and the 19th Hole. The Balboa Club, for which we assumed responsibility in June of that year, operated at a $60,000 loss. This year, we anticipate a cumulative subsidy of $147,000 – a reduction of 53% in only two years.

However, we need to do better.
* We have extended our lease agreements – from one year to 4 and 5 years; giving the operators an incentive to invest in their operations.
* We are requiring larger security deposits – so that the POA is not left holding the bag in the unfortunate situation when a vendor unexpectedly departs
* We are requiring operators to assume responsibility for more of their operating and capital costs – but allowing them to own the capital items that they purchase
* And we are imposing fewer restrictions on these operators – like the outdated requirement of telling them when they had to be open

It’s an interesting environment in which to operate:
* We have a limited clientele – 14,000 residents – attempting to support the 12-15 restaurants that operate on the property
* We have far more competition in close proximity to our gates
* We allow patrons to bring their own beverages (and often their own food) onto the premises – and some that attempt to bring their own refreshments into the restaurant establishments
* And we all like a bargain
* All of which contributes to the financial conundrum we find ourselves in.

2) We’ve all heard about the unfortunate incident last week involving a POA Inspector at an estate sale. What can you tell us about the incident; the current status; and the POA’s response?

For any of our listeners that haven’t heard – we had a Building Inspector that went “postal” last Friday – by all accounts, arriving at a residence, belligerent and abusive in his tone and language – all of which is totally unacceptable. From there, things escalated – to the point that at least two people were physically assaulted before the Inspector left.

The Police Department was called and immediately responded to the scene. Both victims refused transport to the hospital. But fortunately, both of their injuries were minor.

The Inspector’s supervisor was called; the Inspector was escorted to the Police Station; where he was interviewed; arrested; and transported to the Garland County Jail. He was also fired. From what I understand he was later released from jail after posting a bond. The case will be prosecuted by the Garland County Prosecutor.

As for the rest of the story – the employee had worked for us for almost two years; he had no disciplinary history or problems or complaints. To make the matter even more frustrating – last Friday was to have been his last day of employment with the Village; he was to start a new job, in a similar capacity, with the City of Hot Springs on Monday.

Again, it was an incredibly unfortunate circumstance – for reasons that I can’t begin to explain. However, as despicable as it was – I think the response was handled appropriately; the complaint was investigated and verified; the suspect was interrogated; an arrest was made; and his employment was immediately terminated.

3) This appears to be a very busy week in our marketing efforts. What all is going on?

As you may know, the Village hosted UALR’s annual NCAA women’s golf tournament at Diamante this week – with a total of 19 schools in attendance. I heard that there were THREE holes-in-one !!

We also hosted the San Antonio-based affiliate from ESPN last weekend; as well as the editor of Cyber Golf – during which they visited each of our golf courses, and played some of them.

And this Saturday, we are holding the first of four Open House Weekends in partnership with the HSV Board of Realtors. We have run advertising within a 200-mile radius encouraging prospective home purchasers to come visit; and see our existing home and lot inventory – and we are hoping for a few hundred prospects to visit the Village this weekend !

And while it’s not necessarily associated with our marketing efforts – it IS one of the things that makes this place so special. I’d like to remind our listeners about the Viet Nam Veteran’s Recognition Parade and Celebration – tomorrow, Friday morning at 10:30 AM – running from the Community of Joy Lutheran Church to the Veteran’s Memorial at The Woodlands. A small stretch of Desoto will be closed for a short period in the morning – we are looking forward to a large turnout.

Rabid Bats Found in HSV

linda — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:31:20 -0500

Rabid Bats Found in Village

Hot Springs Village- Two bats found in Hot Springs Village have tested positive for Rabies, one in each county of the Village. Residents are cautioned not to handle any wildlife or suspicious animal.

Surrounding counties have also reported rabid skunks and other animals. Contact HSV Animal Control at 501-922-6547 or the HSV Police Department at 501-922-0011 to report a suspicious animal.

Randall's Radio Comments 3/22/12

linda — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 08:49:24 -0500

KVRE INTERVIEW
March 22, 2012

1) Why is the POA Board able to use vacant lots from its inventory to vote for policy issues but not to vote for directors? If it is in the bylaws, then what is the difference?

      First, the POA is like any other individual property owner, including Cooper Properties. The POA holds clear title to a number of platted lots – and is eligible to vote those lots. Now, to the best of my knowledge, there is currently nothing in the Declaration, Covenants or Board By-Laws that would prohibit the POA Board from casting votes in a Board election – but it has never been done. Conversely, the POA Board has repeatedly voted its lot inventory in other Declaration amendment elections. That’s one of the reasons that the recent furor over the practice is so surprising – because it isn’t new !

      I’m told that the last time that there was a Declaration amendment – I believe in 2007, that the POA cast 600-700 ballots.

      However, the Board is considering an amendment to its By-Laws that would accomplish many things:
* First, to preclude any Board from ever casting ballots in a Board election; and
* Second, clarifying if, when and how it might cast any ballots in future Declaration elections

As for “why” the Board would elect to vote in one type of election, and not in others – the reason is quite simple – the voting thresholds are much different:
* In a Board of Director election – a simple majority of those voting determines the outcome; there are no other requirements; no minimum participation; and no super-majority votes; however
* In Declaration amendments – it requires that a minimum of 51% of all eligible property owners participate; and that a super-majority must approve of the change
* In the most recent election, to amend the Declaration allowing for a multi-year special assessment, it required approximately 13,800 votes be cast; and of those voting, 2/3s had to approve.

I would also remind our listeners that the POA Board of Directors have been elected by the property owners, to represent the collective interests of the property owners; and each and every action that the Board takes – whether it’s to approve a contract, adopt a policy or establish a fee – is done with that in mind – what they believe to be in the best interest of all property owners. Will everybody agree with each and every action that they take – of course not; are those that disagree with a particular action not being fairly represented in the decision – I think not! It’s called representative democracy, it works quite well.

2) The engineering cost for the water treatment plant expansion has gone up. What caused this, and why couldn’t the POA anticipate it?

In 2010, the Board approved a contract for engineering services with Garver Engineering to design the expanded water plant. The contract anticipated a very specific scope of work — at a total cost “not-to-exceed” $224,200. We also had a $4+ million construction budget. Since that time, the project has grown some – like a new intake structure at Lake Lago; and new telemetry equipment which allows all of our water tanks to be operated from the main plant. Arkansas Department of Public Health has also requested that we consider various design alternatives to accomplish the expansion; and asked for an extensive maintenance assessment of our existing plant. All of these items have taken time, and cost money, to complete – and all have been completed within the original design budget of $224,200. However, now that we have the State’s blessing for our plans (including the original design components – tube settlers instead of clarifiers), and the cost estimates have increased to $6 million, we still have final designs to complete; and bids to be solicited; thus the contract amendment.

In hindsight, we all should have recognized the expanded scope of work, and escalating costs, at the time the new tasks were being performed. So, while no one is happy about the rising costs – necessary work remains.

3) I saw reference to the POA’s lot sales – can you remind us what’s going on?

Last year, the Board agreed to a 4-phase program to begin disposing of our increasing inventory of lots. As of yesterday, the number stands at 1,096.

Currently, and for the last few years, every POA lot has been available for purchase for $1,500.

In mid-January, we started Phase 1 -- a direct mail campaign to the adjoining owners of these lots; offering for a limited time, to sell our adjacent lot for $1,000; the offer was valid thru March 15th – at which time, 33 lots were sold. That’s $33,000 into the POA coffers – and equally important – 33 additional assessments being paid.

Last week, we started Phase 2 – offering, for a limited time (through mid-May) any lot in our inventory to ANY property owner in good standing, at a price of $750. Since last Thursday, we have sold 8. We’ll be advertising this through direct mail; in The Advocate; through E-Blast; etc.

Future phases include selling lots to POA employees; and making them available at no cost to people willing to begin construction on a new home within a year. We’ve also had some great suggestions about making lots available to returning active-service people.

Randall's Radio Comments 3/15/2012

linda — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:31:21 -0500

KVRE INTERVIEW
March 15, 2012

1) Scott, your second “Coffee with the General Manager” was held last Friday. What can you tell us about the kinds of questions and comments that came up at the meeting?

We had another great crowd – in excess of 100 people; and it amazes me the number of people that come out for a free cup of coffee !

There were certainly some agendas in the room – most notably, those that are upset about “garage sale signs”. As we discussed last week – some of what is at issue is a misunderstanding. The POA does not impose a fee to conduct a garage sale – but, if signs are going to be placed in the ROW, we do require that the signs be obtained from the POA, that each sale is limited to a maximum of 5 signs, and that they be uniform in their appearance. Again, there was an element that feels it is their inalienable right to clutter up the ROW with these signs – and fortunately, there were others in attendance that support our efforts to clean-up the appearance of the Village. In the end, the ACC will be meeting to review these standards; and possibly recommending some changes. I anticipate that they might recommend some changes in the size of the signs; and certainly allowing multiple points of sales to consolidate their signs (like the Isabella Subdivision sale).

We continued to have discussion about the operation of the gates – it was the opinion of many, the gates don’t provide the level of security that they want. This is another discussion that the POA Board will soon be having – how we balance “security” with our efforts to promote access into the Village by prospective owners, residents and guests.

There were also a number of questions about our marketing program; storm clean-up; and the strategic plan.

2) And when is the next “Coffee”?

Our next coffee will be on Friday, April 6th at the Ponce de Leon Center (Woodlands Auditorium).

3) During your power point presentation to the Board last week, one of your discussion points was how Cooper financed development in the Village, and how that business model does not apply to the POA now. Can you describe for us how the Cooper financial plan operated, and what we have to do differently to fund our operations now?

The Strategic Plan identifies the need to update the Village’s existing business model; and I explained that our existing business model was actually inherited from Cooper. I used as a metaphor, a three-legged stool – that Cooper’s business model was founded on revenues from:
* Inexpensive assessments and amenity fees (as in $12/month assessments; and free golf)
* Augmented by land sales; and
* New home construction

And since the inception of the POA, we’ve attempted to maintain Cooper’s business model. The only trouble is – our maintenance and upkeep of all that we own and operate – is still being financed by inexpensive assessments and inexpensive amenity fees – without the benefit of land sales or new home construction. So, in describing our existing business model, I used the metaphor of a one-legged stool – which obviously isn’t very stable.

The debate on how to address this is just beginning – and it started last year with the Board’s consideration of a number of new and increased user fees. Obviously, user fees are subject to approval by the Board of Directors. However, you will recall that the reaction last Fall was not a very pleasant one – whether it be the increase in water rates, trash rates, golf fees or vehicle stickers.

So what options are available ? We could consider an across-the-board increase in the monthly assessments – but have to recognize that ¾ of our property owners do not yet live here; and that any increase in assessments must be approved by 51% of our property owners. It’s not likely that those that do not yet live here will agree to pay more so that those of us that do live here can continue to drive on good roads, enjoy world-class entertainment, eat in subsidized restaurants or play cheap golf.

We can consider a tiered- assessment – charging a differing sum to those lots that have homes on them; and a lesser sum on lots without houses.

We can continue to cut operating costs – and living within available revenues.

Or we can consider another form of assessment – such as a property’s valuation.

The Board’s Research and Special Projects Committee (RASP) is studying this right now – both the issue of facility and program subsidies; and our assessment structure; and the debate will soon rise to the POA Board.

This is an incredibly important debate – and one that I encourage all property owners to stay abreast.

Randall's Radio Comments 03/09/12

linda — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:41:56 -0500

KVRE INTERVIEW
March 8, 2012

1) At yesterday’s Board meeting, you gave a presentation of the Village’s 2010 Strategic Plan. Can you summarize your report for us?

I’ll try. The 2010 Strategic Plan identified 4 main goals for the Village – Finance / Communication / Infrastructure / Self-Governance for the next decade. Within these 4 goals are dozens of objectives and very specific, prioritized, work tasks.

My report summarized our progress on each of these goals, objectives and tasks since the adoption of the Strategic Plan in October of 2010. And as I said in my Executive Summary – “we’ve achieved significant accomplishment on all fronts”.

John – we’ve talked about a lot of this before, so I won’t go into great detail; but:

In the area of finance:
* 1st multi-year budget and financial plan
* Reduced operating subsidies in every enterprise – golf, recreation, restaurants and facilities
* Introduced new technologies – E-Government, GIS mapping, collections and in-house marketing
* Ended FY 2011 with a $2.8 million surplus

In Communications:
* Outreach to new residents
* Emergency communications / “1 Call”
* E-Blast
* Web streaming meetings
* Coffee with the GM
* The Secret Shopper
* And you’ll soon be seeing more:
o Electronic message boards – at the gates; and in our facilities
o Electronic newsletter
o Improved web site

In infrastructure:
* The commitment of huge sums to maintaining and replacing our capital inventory
o $4.5 million in 2012
o More than $15 million over 3 years

And Self-Governance:
* Gained land use control from Cooper
* Beginning the creation of a land use plan; and development standards
* Approved the Declaration Amendment – pertaining to multi-year special assessments

I could go on – but in summary, I think we had an amazing year – and accomplished a lot.
* It’s a good plan – and for the most part, an achievable plan
* We will continue to make progress each and every year
* But we will probably never be “finished” – for we can always do better; we can always do more

2) I also heard some reference to a “three-legged stool” – I hope that we can discuss that in some greater detail in the coming weeks.

It is a long story – but I’d be happy to.

3) The Board also received an update on the Water Treatment plant expansion. Are we still proceeding?

YES !! We recently received conceptual approval from the Arkansas Department of Public Health for our preferred design technology – called “tube settlers” – and our Project Engineer has completed about 80% of the construction drawing. Those should be complete by early Summer; for review again by the State. We anticipate going out for bids in late Summer; awarding a contract in early Fall; and commencing construction yet this year. Construction is anticipated to take 18 months – so we plan for the new plant to be operational in early 2014.

We do continue to wrestle with costs. The original project estimate was $4.2 M back in 2006. For a variety of reason, today’s estimate is more than $6 M. And we have $5.5 M in our capital budget – so we continue to squeeze.

4) We’ve also heard a minor uproar about the POA’s new “permit fee” for garage sales. When did this go into effect; and why the new fee?

First, and let me be clear, the POA does not charge a fee for anyone holding a garage sale.

What we have done, as part of our community clean-up campaign, is:
* Restricted the number and placement of garage sale signs on the right-of-way
o Maximum # of signs is 5
o And if they are going to be placed in the ROW, you can purchase the approved signs (12 X 12) from the POA; for a fee of $15
* No more cardboard boxes, with balloons affixed
* No more signs tacked onto street poles and trees
* No plethora of signs at our Village gates

This change went into effect in January – and I’ve received far more compliments about the improved appearance of our entrances and streets – than I have over the standardized signs for garage sales.

Randall's Radio Comments 03/01/12

linda — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:21:42 -0500

KVRE INTERVIEW
March 1, 2012

1) The Mesero pump station was hit last week by copper thieves. Is there anything more we can do to increase security in and around those buildings? Did the damage cause any interruption of service to water customers in the Village, and how long will it take to complete repairs?

Yes – the old water system pump station and tower were hit by vandals last Sunday; stripping copper from the building and equipment; and causing more than $8,000 in damage. While there was no interruption in service, some households did see a loss of water pressure; and had the situation gone on much longer, it’s conceivable that some homes could have lost their water pressure entirely; which could have resulted in the need for a boil order. Repairs have already been completed

This is the second significant act of vandalism within the last six months to our water system; the last time, vandals, also stealing copper, hit our water intake facility located North of the Village. That incident caused more than $40,000 in damages; and fortunately, occurred when we weren’t in the process of filling Lake Lago.

Within the past year, we have also had a series of burglaries at our Public Works storage yard on Minorca; and a similar rash of vandalism at Magellan Golf Course.

As a result, we have heightened our security at all of our facilities – and without going into specifics, we have installed permanent and portable security cameras; installed security monitors, motion sensors and alarms; strengthened our perimeter security, including locks and fences; and have even placed security personnel on-site.

But, we also need to ask all our residents to be vigilant as well – to be on the look-out for, and report, suspicious activity -- like a ‘Neighborhood Watch’ program. For the damage that is done is costly, malicious and potentially dangerous to those of us that live here.

2) You have a Board of Directors meeting next week – what’s going to be on the agenda?

Well – it’s a work session, so all of the items are for discussion; but it’s going to be a lengthy meeting. Some of the items being discussed include:

* A status report from our project engineer on the water treatment plant expansion – and I remain optimistic that we will complete the design by mid-year; receive bids by late summer; and begin construction in September or October.
* I will be making a report on our progress in implementing the Board’s 2010 Strategic Plan – and while the Plan is intended to be a roadmap for the next 10 years, I’m pleased to say that we’ve made substantial progress on almost all fronts
* The Board will review its second commercial development project – a 5,000 SF strip retail facility being proposed at the corner of Desoto and Ponce
* The Board will discuss a series of appointments it plans to make to all of our advisory boards and commissions; and
* I anticipate that there will be discussion about how the Board will deal with the issue of the Board voting POA lots in future Declaration elections

3) Are there other projects in the works – teasers if you will – that we might be talking about in the weeks and months to come?

Of course there are – and that’s what makes this job so much fun; the challenges just never end !!

* We’ll be wrapping up Phase I of our new “lot sales” initiative in the next two weeks; before embarking onto Phase II – and I’ll soon be reporting on those results
* We are making significant progress on siting a ‘Welcome Center’ near the West Gate; and once negotiations are completed, I look forward to advertising the outcome; and hosting an Open House for the community
* Staff continues to work on creating a long-range (20-year)capital improvement and maintenance plan; and I anticipate that the findings will be eye-opening, and staggering; but it’s long-overdue
* We are also working to create the Village’s first land use plan; and development standards for undeveloped properties within the Village
* Then, of course, there are the on-going tweaks in POA operations
o New services and programs – like movie nights; on-line ticket sales; and new methods for improving our communications and outreach
o New efficiencies – like renegotiating our cell tower leases; our in-house collection efforts; or the huge auction we’ll be hosting this Spring to dispose of hundreds of items

If there’s one thing to be said about the Village – it is NEVER boring !

HSV British Week

linda — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:00:37 -0500

The British are Coming!

Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association is pleased to announce British Week to be held June 1-8 in Hot Springs Village.

Exciting events planned during this week include:
* Concours d’Elegance / British Car National Meet with Gourmet Food Trucks (June 2)- 10:00 am to 4:00 PM- Ponce De Leon Center
* Bridge Club High Tea –June 4th, 1:00 pm
* Lawn Bowling Open House- June 3rd, 1:00-3:00 pm
* Pub Crawls with Pints as low as $2.00- June 1,5 & 8th- 7:00 -10:00 pm
* British Movie Night- June 4th, 5:00 pm
* Golf Prizes for wearing British Attire on the courses
* “1964…The Tribute” – June 6 & 7th, 7:30 pm

Volunteers are needed to help plan and assist with British Week. Please contact Cindy at the HSV Chamber of Commerce 915-9940 or email Stacy Hoover shoover@hsvpoa.org to sign up. Go to www.HSVEvent.com and start planning your week.

2012 State Week

linda — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:32:31 -0500

Property Owners Encouraged to “Share the Fun”

Hot Springs Village – The Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association’s Marketing Department is pleased to announce the 2012 State Weeks can now be viewed on HSVAmbassador.com.

Visitors playing in Hot Springs Village during their state’s week will enjoy all of our amazing amenities at resident rates with a state issued ID. Guests must show a state ID card with the state week flyer to obtain this Ambassador special, (download the flyer on HSVAmbassador.com).

Property Owners will receive one round of golf FREE, in 2012, for bringing in a visiting guest as a token of our appreciation. So “Share the Fun” - invite a friend or relative to state week and play in the Village!

The POA encourages all Property Owners to share HSV with others. This is the essence of the Ambassador Marketing Program. Please go to HSVAmbassador.com to learn about this exciting program.

The Marketing Department kindly requests all members visit this new web site often; however, Property Owners are kindly asked to NOT complete the online consent-to-contact form , as such is targeted to non-property owners and doing so will interfere with the lead database integrity. Only guests/visitors should complete the online form.

Member Ambassador Packages will be ready mid-March at the Chamber of Commerce and the POA Ambassador desk for Property Owners to pick up and mail to friends and family. Let’s “Share the HSV Secret!”

Residents must book their free round of golf during the Arkansas state week by calling 501.922.2858 or email teetimes@hsvpoa.org to schedule.

HSV Triathlon Event

linda — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:23:25 -0500

TRI-the-Village

Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association’s Marketing Department is pleased to announce our first annual Triathlon to be held on Saturday, June 9: TRI-the-Village.

The triathlon will include a 500 yard swim at Balboa Lake, 4-5 Mile run on Magellan Golf Course cart path and a 12.5 Mile Cycle ride ending at Balboa Pavilion. All members and guests are welcome to participate –run, bike, swim, triathlon and/or cheer on the participants! Save the Date!

Event registration information will be announced soon. Relays will be available once registration opens; which means teams of runners will be teamed up with cyclers and/or swimmers. Come Join the Fun!

Runners! Cyclers! Swimmers! Kayakers! We need you! Please email dbotkin@hsvpoa.org if you are interested in volunteering to assist with this exciting Village event. A team of 15 volunteers is needed for the following :

* Overall Volunteer Coordinator
* Medical Coordinator
* Transition Coordinator
* Swim Coordinator
* Bike Course Coordinator
* Run Course Coordinator
* Finish Line and Post Race Area Coordinator
* Kayak Coordinator (for the swim section of the Triathlon)
* Food Service Coordinator

Sponsorship are available including a presenting sponsor opportunity. Please email dbotkin@hsvpoa.org today and become a sponsor. The charity for Tri-the-Village is Teen Challenge of Arkansas. For more information, go to www.HSVEvent.Com

Randall's Radio Comments 02/23/12

linda — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:26:26 -0500

KVRE INTERVIEW
February 23, 2012

1) We have a listener’s question that carries over from last week – could we get the Sanitation Workers to put the lids back on our containers after pick-up? I came home again to find water in my can.?

Although I know our crews try, I can’t promise that lids are always placed back on the cans. We’ve been pushing the trash crews to “pick-up” their pace (no pun intended); with the reduced number of trucks and workers, redesigned routes, and reductions in townhome and commercial services – we’ve reduced the number of weekly pick-ups from more than 10,000 to slightly less than 9,000 per week; but the average truck is now making 750 stops per day, up from closer to 600 per day.

2) In light of Officer Dale Anderson’s resignation from the Village Police Department, and his public condemnation of the Department’s procedures and leadership, in your experience, how does the operation of the HSV Police Department compare with the police departments in other jurisdictions where you have worked?

Thanks for the great question – and the opportunity to respond to these public accusations.

First, in my experience and with all things considered, I believe that our Department, and particularly our Police personnel, performs most admirably. When I say “all things considered”, I recognize the incredibly large service area (40+ sq. mi.); its high call load; and the limited resources at their disposal.

The quality of police service is often measured by such quantifiable things as:
* Calls for Service –
* Occupied Time – the target is to be in service 50% of the time
* Productivity – things like self-initiated calls; traffic stops; and
* Crime Stats – and of course, ours are enviable

We average more than 5,000 per year; and the vast majority are truly service-oriented, and not crime related. Occupied time and productivity are above-average; and our crime statistics are
incredibly low.

So, in comparison to other police departments -- and by every measurable standard – the HSV Police Department is performing quite well.

As for other comparisons, I’ve worked in 8 municipalities – worked with 13 police chiefs and hundreds of police officers – and I think they do admirable work; under conditions that I would never want to experience (i.e. life-threatening encounters, rotating shifts).

Of those hundreds of officers – some aspired to be a Police Chief; most did not. And almost ALL thought that they were smarter than their boss. I’ve found that they’re usually not.

As for the specifics of the Officer Anderson’s letter – I can’t say that it’s 100% wrong – like his reference to antiquated policies and procedures. As I’ve mentioned many times over the past year, most of the POA’s policies and practices are outdated; we still live with 1970’s technology – whether it be the use of time cards or paper maps.

However, representations about a “hostile work environment”; or a “gag order”; or questioning our use of outside resources during the recent murder investigation – are just patently unfounded.

As for the “work environment” – I look to see if employee turnover is a problem – and in the Village, it isn’t. In the Public Safety Department – we have 36 sworn employees -- 18 in the PD – with an average tenure of 10+ years; and 18 in the FD – with an average tenure of 13+ years. I’ve been here for one year now – and in that time, we’ve had ONE police officer leave; to accept another police position in Little Rock. Anderson makes the second. I conducted his exit interview – and while I learned of his concerns about leadership, morale and working conditions – I certainly didn’t hear or learn of anything that led me to make any changes within the Department. Likewise, within the FD, we’ve had NO turnover. I don’t see any smoke, much less any fire.

As for his motive – I won’t make any conjecture. But I do know that, within my first month in the Village – in January of 2011 – Officer Anderson approached me in a social setting – with a litany of complaints – everything from:
* low morale
* lack of respect
* supervisory incompetence
* poor pay
* even unhappiness about the vehicles that they drive

He concluded our conversation with what I took as a threat – he said, “we’re gonna give you 6 months to fix this; or we’re coming after you too”. I don’t respond to threats very well – so I’m not heartbroken over his decision to resign.

And as for his most recent statements – about the POA Board not contacting him or responding to his complaints. He did in fact approach Board members within the last 10 days – shared a copy of his letter – and threatened to have it published UNLESS the Board fired three supervisors within the Police Department.

Based on the feedback I’ve received, the Board doesn’t react well to threats either.

And despite his lengthy years in government service, Officer Anderson doesn’t seem to understand who he, or his superiors, report to. Within the POA, there is only one employee hired by the Board of Directors – and that’s the General Manager. So – his final threat was directed at the wrong audience.

I do think that the vast majority of our Village residents see this for what it is – a disgruntled employee – looking to trash his supervisors as he is walking out the door.

3) Anything else of interest for our listeners?

Yes – we’ve signed a contract to provide on-line ticket sales for all events held at our three event centers (The Woodlands, Coronado Center and Desoto Club); and I view this is another way to use technology to improve our customer service.

Beginning mid-year, and hopefully sooner, customers will be able purchase their tickets on-line; or in person, with a credit card. Until now, we’ve only been able to accept cash or checks for payment – and on-line purchasing was not an option. I also think this has the potential to increase ticket sales to those that may not have wanted to purchase tickets at the box office.

I’m really excited about this!! Much like our on-line bill pay – for utility bills and assessments – this is part of our move to enhance customer service through-government.

Randall's Radio Comments 02/16/12

linda — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:24:21 -0500

KVRE INTERVIEW
February 16, 2012

1) We continue to receive questions from our listeners. Today, someone asks: “I see a very large number of liquor, beer, and wine bottles and cans throughout the roadways in the Village. It would seem that not only do we have a litter problem, but possibly a drinking and driving while problem, too. Why have I never seen a sobriety checkpoint in the Village? Isn't this something we should be doing??”

The idea of having a periodic “sobriety checkpoint” has real merit – and is something that we’ll begin discussing very soon. I certainly like the idea. However, in order to run it properly, it takes a large amount of manpower – and that means money.

A larger issue – both about impaired driving and litter – is to implore our property owners and guests to be responsible citizens; to abide by the law; and just show some common courtesy.

2) You mentioned last week about some of the questions that you’d received during your first “Coffee with the GM” earlier this month. I was particularly impressed with the diversity of the questions. Anything new to report as a result of that coffee?

Yes there is. One of the questions pertained to the POA’s open burning at our golf courses; and the particular concern was around Balboa G.C. Upon further review, we will soon be changing our practices, burning much less frequently, and only in one spot – a secluded location near Magellan.

Another asked about our practice of NOT allowing volunteer firefighters to respond to calls with flashing red lights. Candidly, I didn’t know the answer. However, after inquiring – I support the Chief’s practice – that our street system and topography are not conducive to high speed responses; and that flashing red lights should only be used in concert with sirens; and few if any volunteer FF cars are equipped with sirens. So, I’m not going to be changing this practice.

Another asked why we don’t allow our E-Blast email system to be used to promote the worthwhile programs of our many community organizations. I hadn’t really thought about this – and it’s particularly germane when the event is being held in a POA facility. After having thought it through, we host hundreds of meetings and events every month (from meetings and concerts, to bingo) – and there’s probably a larger number of events held elsewhere. My concern is that if we were to flood our E-Blast subscribers with information about all these events – they are more likely to unsubscribe. HOWEVER, the issue isn’t going away – and we are offering to improve upon our existing ‘Community Calendar’, which is on the POA’s website; and we will post every event on the day that we receive it; and keep it posted until the event is over.

3) Results of the POA’s Declaration Amendment were announced yesterday – and the proposition passed, overwhelmingly. Does that mean that there will be a push to propose a multi-year special assessment in the near future?

Absolutely not ! As we mentioned throughout the Amendment campaign – there is no current project envisioned that rises to the level of a special assessment – not the water treatment plant expansion; not the reconstruction of Desoto Pool; nor the expanded street resurfacing program. The amendment was proposed to allow the POA the tool to ask property owners for the ability to impose a multi-year special assessment if and when a project of such significance warrants a multi-year financing plan. And candidly, I don’t see many of those arising.

4) There was also a lot of discussion about the propriety of the POA Board casting votes for the lots that are owned by the POA. What was at issue?

There was a lot of sentiment that the POA Board should not be voting in the matter; and there were probably as many in attendance that felt it was quite proper for the Board to vote. In response, we need to make a few points quite clear:
* The POA does hold clear title to an ever-changing number of lots; these are not ‘common property’; and they are in good standing
* Our legal counsel has issued his opinion that the practice is legal
* And the process is not new – I’m told that the POA has always voted its lots in Declaration Amendments; including the last Amendment (I believe in 2007) that authorized assessments to be increased by the cost-of-living, beginning in 2014; and the imposition of administrative penalties, beginning in 2013. However, they have never voted their lots in a Board election

The Board will be discussing this issue in the near future – and deciding if any changes are needed; and if so, what those might be. However, from my perspective, we need to remember that the POA Board is elected by the property owners, to represent the best interests of our property owners – and this is just one of their many roles in fulfilling that responsibility.