A new trail system in Bella Vista will soon be in the offing following a vote Thursday by the Property Owners Association Board of Directors.
The board unanimously approved an 25-year limited terminable license agreement with the city of Bella Vista that allows the POA to retain ownership of the property while allowing non-POA members to use the new trail system without having to belong to the POA.
The City Council unanimously approved the agreement at its meeting on Monday evening. The agreement also involves the Bentonville/Bella Vista Trailblazers Association, which are facilitators for the Walton Family Foundation.
The agreement also contains an option to renew the agreement for an additional 10 years.
The POA Board also unanimously approved a trails maintenance agreement with the city that calls for each entity to provide up to $20,000 a year for the maintenance and upkeep of the trial system after the trails are finished. The agreement includes a fee schedule for personnel and equipment used by the POA in the upkeep of the trails.
Because the POA covenants forbid the sale of POA property without a two-thirds approval of the membership, the agreement overcomes the issue of land ownership. It also allows for the termination of the lease if the licensed area is used for other purposes other than for pedestrian walking, hiking, jogging, cycling and other human-propelled uses.
"This is the best thing to happen in Bella Vista in a long time," said POA Board Vice Chairman Brad Morris, who chaired the meeting in the absence of board chairman Bob Brooks.
Morris said he was delighted to be part of approving the agreement. He also voted by proxy for both Brooks and board member Dave Barfield, who was also absent.
The trails will be constructed by the Trailblazers at no cost to the city. Bella Vista's Master Trails Plan, which was approved in May by the city and the POA, outlines the integration of roughly 155 miles of trails within the city over the next 10 years. The master trails plan was developed through a grant from the Bella Vista Foundation, which facilitated it for the Walton Family Foundation.
Roughly 38 miles of soft-surface trails on the east side of Bella Vista are scheduled to be completed by June 2016.
The first segment spans 6.7 miles from the Bella Vista Public Library to the east end of Arkansas 340. The second segment runs 6.3 miles from the east end of Arkansas 340 to McNelly Road. The third segment is longest, running 9.8 miles from McNelly Road back to the library.
In other business:
n BUDGET -- The board unanimously approved the 2016 budget. It calls for $16.04 million in revenue.
The approved budget included several full-time position being added in the golf budget and some part-time positions being removed in the golf maintenance department. Each course should end up with one extra person year-round and one part-time position will be become full time.
The budget also included additional funds for up to $100,000 for the currently vacant general manager's position.
n FEE SCHEDULE -- The board approved the fee schedule for 2016, but would make a concerted effort to look at solution that would allow walking golfers not to have to pay a cart fee. Under the new schedule, all golfers would pay a cart fee or a cart licensing fee for private carts. The board passed the schedule on a 8-1 vote, with Barfield casting a nay vote by proxy.
The board discussed walking golfers after resident Van Anderson complained that having to pay higher greens fee without using a cart would cut down on the number of rounds he would play because he's watching his budget. Morris told him that as a walking golfer he understood the complaint but he also understood why the board was making the change.
Board member Ron Stratton said the changes were made to simplify the fee schedule. Board member Ruth Hatcher pointed out that the value card also was eliminated in favor of an annual greens fee.
n PHOTO IDs FOR CITY EMPLOYEES -- The board voted unanimously to refer back to the Rules and Regulations Committee for further discussion a rule that would allow city of Bella Vista employees to purchase a POA photo ID card to use POA amenities.
Board member Pat Laury pointed out that the city pays POA assessment for property it owns but doesn't receive any benefits. Morris said the city has 125 employees of which 30 are already POA members.
n GENERAL MANAGER SEARCH -- Morris said the executive search firm GSI Inc. had identified candidates for the vacant general manager's position and that the board expected to begin interviews in early December. He said a new general manager could be named by mid-January.
The board also approve a bylaw change to make the general manager the Chief Operating Officer.
Brandon Howard and Lynn Atkins contributed to this story.
General News on 11/25/2015