Jerre Barron isn't worried about the time commitment associated with a POA board position. He's used to working long days and he knows he'll still be able to fit in the things he wants to do. Barron retired early from a job as safety and environmental specialist. He has lived in Bella Vista almost two years but owned property for much longer. He was also a regular visitor for the 27 years his father lived in Bella Vista.

Barron is interested in all the amenities because he knows the amenities draw new residents and that supports property values. If it takes an assessment increase to finance amenities, then he will support an assessment increase, he said. There may not be another way to pay for the amenities.

Many amenities are popular among all age groups, he said. Tennis and fitness centers draw from all ages but some activities, like the mountain bike trails, may appeal to the younger crowd. While you can't keep everyone happy, you have to offer something for each age group. He thinks a recent amenity use survey was a good idea. Figuring out what everyone wants is the first step. The second step is figuring out how to pay for everything.

Barron said he's planning on attending the meetings about the hydrology study. He's already heard from many residents about the nine holes of Berksdale that are closed. Leaving the course closed without addressing the cause of the damage means that there could be more damage in the future -- possibly affecting Kingswood and then the Country Club.

"When you problem solve, you look for the root causes and then you look at the cause that you can control," he said.

Barron said he's heard people who are very negative towards the POA, and he thinks the root of that problem is trust. The POA needs to be more transparent.

"We have to keep the people informed and get their input," he said. "There are smart people out here in Bella Vista."