The first two meetings to introduce Bella Vista Village's new assessment plan drew a total of less than 50 members, but Charlie Teal, chairman of the Property Owners Association Board, wasn't discouraged.
By the time all four meetings have been held, Teal believes most people will have heard about the assessment election.
The meetings were held Monday, Aug. 18, and Tuesday, Aug. 19, at Riordan Hall.
At the Aug. 19 session, questions ranged from had the board considered closing golf courses to whether the city could take over POA amenities.
Teal explained that while the association subsidizes all amenities, the golf courses bring in money.
The POA is marketing to golfers who pay guest fees on the courses, so closing courses would decrease that revenue.
The city, Teal said, could not collect assessments. If the city took over POA facilities, the city would need to find a way to replace the $8.7 million that comes from assessments. That would be difficult, he said.
Another member asked why the POA has so many delinquent assessments, but Teal said he wasn't sure what the collection process is. He promised to find out and send the information to the member.
The new assessment proposal calls for a smaller increase than the last one.
This time members will be asked to approve a $6 per month increase on improved lots and $2 per month on unimproved lots. Ballots went out Aug. 15, and at least half must be returned to make a quorum.
The results will be announced Sept. 18 at a special meeting, which will precede the board's regular monthly meeting that starts at 6 p.m. Both will take place at Riordan Hall.
In May, POA members voted against an increase of $13 a month for improved lots and $1 for unimproved lots; however, less than half of the ballots were returned, thus the election was not valid.
If a quorum is not reached, the board can send out the same ballot a second time with only 25 percent of the mailed ballots constituting a quorum.
There will be a final information meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, at Riordan Hall, 3 Riordan Drive. It was the fourth meeting scheduled, as the board had a third meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 26.
General News on 08/27/2014