December 2014

HIGHLIGHTS: Christmas Dance, p.2 • Third Safest City, p.2 • Give the Gift of Golf, p.3 • Holiday Hours, p.4

Annual budget nearing approval By Board Chairperson Charlie Teal The Board and POA administration are in the process of completing the 2015 annual budget. Over the last several years the Board and POA administration have been working hard on reducing operating expenses in an effort to minimize the user fee increases necessary to continue to operate and maintain our amenities. In 2012, total operating expenses for the POA were $15.7 million; 2013 total operating expenses were reduced to $14.6 million, and 2014 total operating expenses are expected to remain $14.6 million. Even with the increases in the cost of supplies and materials due to inflation and the substantial increase in healthcare and fuel costs over the last five years, 2014 total operating expenses of the POA of $14.6 million are actually lower than 2009 budgeted total operating expenses of $14.7 million. To continue to operate and maintain our recreation amenities, in the face of no assessment increases, the user fees paid by members and guests must provide an increasingly larger

Bella Vista named ‘top spot’ Bella Vista is receiving high honors as one of the best places to retire, according to Money Magazine. The magazine released a story last month, naming nine towns across the United States as the “Best Places to Retire.” Money Magazine ranked the towns in three categories, and Bella Vista came out tops, taking first in the “Best Place to Keep Costs Low” category. “We are honored for the continued recognition Bella Vista Village receives from national publications,” General Manager Tommy Bailey said. “It’s easy to see why our property owners are happy to call this place home.” The list appeared in the November issue of Money Magazine. For the complete story, visit http://time.com/money/3529252/ bella-vista-arkansas/

portion of the necessary revenue. While it would be ideal for members to have access to our amenities at less-than-market user fee rates, we have to face reality. Without an assessment increase user fees must increase. User fees are also being increased to offset inflation since assessments have not been increased since 2001. These user fee increases only provide short term and partial relief of our financial situation. This Board, and future Boards, will have to pursue additional revenue in order to properly maintain our amenities. The Board has reviewed all user fees. We have raised fees for nearly all recreation amenities. We have also determined that the association cannot continue to absorb the sales tax charged on user fees, as has been done in the past, and we will now be collecting sales tax in addition to the user fees. You will notice on the 2015 fee schedule, posted on the POA website, www.BellaVistaPOA.com, that we have attempted to adjust the amount of user fees to ensure that the majority of user fees plus sales tax will be either a whole dollar or half dollar amount for the convenience of members and staff. We also have a need to continue to spend money for capital improvements to ensure that our amenities are attractively Continued on page 5

Readers asked to help gauge effectiveness of publication Board members are currently exploring the effectiveness of Insights, a publication mailed to Bella Vista Village property owners with their monthly water bill. The publication features information about association events, activities and announcements. Readers are asked to take a short survey to help gauge the publication’s effectiveness as a communication tool. The survey can be accessed on the POA website: http://bellavistapoa.com/communications.asp.

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Insights/December 2014

Four Tickets to Christmas

Christmas Eve

a dramatic musical

candlelight service

Dec 13th 6pm Sun Dec 14th 3pm Sat

Reserve FREE Tickets:

December 24 5:00 - 6:00pm

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Celebrate With Us... Dec. 21 • 4 – 8 pm Live, Interactive Outdoor Nativity Experience the Christmas story with Bible characters and live animals

Dec. 24 • 5 & 7 pm Family Christmas Eve Services Dec. 25 • Noon Christmas Day Dinner

‘Ugly sweater contest,’ among activities at ‘Razzle Dazzle’ Dance Feel like kicking up your heels or showing off that ugly holiday sweater? Join in the first-ever “Razzle Dazzle” Dance, hosted by the Bella Vista Village Property Owners Association from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Riordan Hall. The event will feature dancing, a cash bar, a “Razzle Dazzle” drink special, various contests, door prizes and heavy hors d’oeuvres, courtesy of Courtyard Marriott. Rockin’ Roads will perform songs from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. The cost is $15 per person. Funds will benefit the Dazzling Village Lights display. Tickets are available at Riordan Hall and the Bella Vista Country Club. A snow day has been set for Dec. 20.

Golf shops hosting sale

Bella Vista Village’s golf shops and Get-A-Grip are sponsoring a member appreciation sale. RSVP at www.bellavistachristian.com All regular merchandise is discounted 20 percent for 103 Riordan Rd. members and 10 percent for guests. Shoppers also have the www.bellavistachristian.com opportunity to draw for an extra savings of up to 13 percent CHRISTIAN CHURCH 479-855-1616 on all items. The sale ends Dec. 24. In addition, the golf shops are offering sales on golf balls BVCC ad Dec2014.indd 1 11/9/2014 7:28:31 AM and bags, baseball caps and putters. Please check with the golf shops for details. All discounts are from the suggested retail Celebration Choir, Orchestra & Area Vocalists price; no additional discounts apply.

Bella Vista Lutheran Church Present GF Handel’s

‘THE MESSIAH’ under the direction of

Randy Allison

With Guest Soloists:

Leanne Scaggs – Soprano Ember Lanuti – Alto Daniel Salls – Tenor David Frantz – Bass

SUNDAY DEC. 21 3:30 PM Bella Vista Lutheran Church 1990 Forest Hills Blvd. (479) 855 -0272

Bella Vista named third ‘safest city’ Bella Vista is being recognized as the third “safest city” in Arkansas. Safewise, a community-focused security organization, recently released its “30 Safest Cities in Arkansas” report, naming Bella Vista as third among all Arkansas cities. In its report, SafeWise officials touted Bella Vista’s natural beauty and variety of amenities – all while offering a quiet, safe home for its residents. Bella Vista achieved the top honor, ranking only after Pocahontas and Elkins. “We are very pleased to receive this high honor for our community,” Bella Vista Village Property Owners Association General Manager Tommy Bailey said. “This top ranking really tells our story well – that people love to call Bella Vista ‘home.’ They love the amenities, they love the wildlife and most importantly, they feel safe here.” For the full report, visit www.safewise.com/blog/30-safest-cities-Arkansas/

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Insights/December 2014

Thank you, sponsors The Property Owners Association would like to thank the generous sponsors that made Bella Vista Village’s 3rd Annual Dazzling Village Lights possible. Sponsors are: Arkansas Fireplaces & Grills, Arvest Bank, Bella Vista Business Association, Bella Vista Marine, Boozman Hof, Carroll Electric, Casey’s General Store, City of Bella Vista, Courtyard Marriott, Dillard’s, Everett Buick GMC, First Western Bank, Good Humor, Highlands Storage, KFSM, Krispy Kreme, Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Northwest Healthcare, Springhill Press, Unilever, Vacation Rentals, Van Construction and 2NJoy.

POA members needed for Board vacancies The Bella Vista Village Property Owners Association is searching for members to serve on its Board of Directors. Property owners interested in running for one of three seats on the Board of Directors may obtain a petition packet from POA Corporate Secretary Kathy Ferguson at the Bella Vista Country Club, 98 Clubhouse Drive. Petition packets must be returned to Ferguson by Jan. 5, 2015. Certified candidates will be announced at the Jan. 15, 2015 Board meeting. The seats - currently held by Mike Erixon, Joan Glubczynski, and Charlie Teal - are for three-year terms. Terms will begin June 1, 2015. For more information, call 855-5012.

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Celebrate Christmas At Forest Hills Church “One Starry Night” Give the gift of fun this holiday. The Property Owners Association is now offering golf gift certificates in two easy and convenient methods. Golf passes for green fees and cart rental at any Bella Vista Village golf course and gift certificates for golf merchandise at any village golf shop can be purchased on the

Continued top of next page

Sunday, Dec. 14 Time: 2 2--5 pm Forest Hills Church 1702 Forest Hills Blvd

Great Family Event Over 200 Nativity Scenes from all over the world

Christmas Eve Candlelight

Communion Service Dec. 24th

7:00 pm

Forest Hills Church 1702 Forest Hills Blvd. 855-3555

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Insights/December 2014

association’s website – www.bellavistapoa.com/golf/giftcertsXmas/index.asp – and at the Golf Division office, located in the Bella Vista Country Club building, 98 Clubhouse Drive. Golf gift certificates and golf passes will be available online through Dec. 15. Meanwhile, certificates and golf passes for any amount can be purchased at the Golf Division office until Dec. 23. For more information, call (479) 855-5079.

Bella Vista Village implements new golf course procedure A new procedure to protect the association’s golf course turf from temperature-related damage and to provide consistency across all village golf courses is now in effect. When The Weather Channel forecast for zip code 72714 is a high of 35 degrees or cooler for the entire day, courses will close for that day. If the temperature is forecasted to be above 35 degrees, the golf course superintendent will decide if the course is closed or delayed in opening. When courses are closed for weather-related issues, information will be posted by 8 a.m. on the “Today’s Golf ” page on the association’s website: www.bellavistapoa.com/ golf/todaysgolf.asp.

Holiday hours announced Bella Vista Village’s offices, facilities and amenities will have special hours during the holidays. The Property Owners Association’s Membership Services Department, Water Billing Office and administrative offices will close at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, for Christmas and Wednesday, Dec. 31, for New Year’s. All offices will remain closed on Wednesday, Dec. 24 and Thursday, Dec. 25. In addition, the offices will be closed Thursday, Jan. 1. The recreational facilities also will have special hours. Riordan Hall will be open from 5:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 and closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Branchwood Recreation Center will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 and closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. For more information about holiday hours or Bella Vista Village, visit the POA’s website – www.BellaVistaPOA.com. Republic Services will not collect trash on Christmas or New Year’s days. Instead, residents who usually have their trash collected on Thursday will have their trash collected on Friday, and residents who have their trash collected on Friday will have their trash collected on Saturday. The regular trash collection schedule will resume on Monday, Jan. 5.

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Insights/December 2014

POA Budget - cont. from page 1 maintained and safely operated. However, our current financial limitations restrict our ability to do so without severely depleting reserve funds. Whether or not you supported the assessment increase proposals, it is important to remember that the association is charged with the responsibility to provide for the recreation, health, safety and welfare of its property owners, and for the improvement and maintenance of association properties, services and facilities, with a value exceeding $150 million, for the enjoyment of its members. The common property operated and maintained by the association is comprised of more than 12,000 acres and 100 buildings and facilities, including: seven golf courses, seven private lakes, a marina, tennis center, several clubhouses, walking trails, parks, a gun range, an RV park, swimming pools, pavilions, fitness centers and recreation facilities. During 2014 the association also sponsored or hosted literally dozens of different community events for a large cross-section of our members. The association also operates and maintains the water utility for Bella Vista, and monthly assessments and user fees provide revenue specifically for this purpose. However, in accordance with the Declaration which created the association, revenue derived from the water utility cannot be used to

maintain other amenities. As a private, non-profit 501(c)(4) corporation, the association is prohibited from receiving tax monies. The Board and POA administration appreciate your support and understanding regarding the new fee schedule.

POA schedule for carts on path Beginning in December, golf carts will be required to stay on paths at various times on each of Bella Vista Village’s 18hole golf courses. The Property Owners Association’s Board of Directors recently voted to halt overseeding on all golf courses. By keeping traffic off the non-overseeded fairways, the chances of quicker recovery each spring greatly increase. The schedule for carts on path is: • Dec. 1-14 at Dogwood Hills and Kingswood golf courses. • Dec. 15-28 at Berksdale and Scotsdale golf courses. • Dec. 29-Jan.11, 2015 at Highlands and Bella Vista Country Club golf courses. For a full schedule, visit: www.BellaVistaPOA.com To Advertise in Insights, contact Don Carroll at (479) 271-2278 or [email protected]

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Insights/December 2014

Holli Carpenter

Realtor / Executive Broker Senior’s Real Estate Specialist For The ‘Mature’ Market Listing Specialist Senior Vice President

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Specializing in Bella Vista •14+ Years Bella Vista Resident

Dinner & DanPcianrtg y New Years • Prime Rib Dinner $21.95 • Chicken Cordon Bleu $19.95 • Grilled Salmon. $19.95 • Tuscan Veggie Lasagna $12.95 Complimentary Glass of Champagne. Call for reservations and your meal choice. Bella Vista Country Club, 98 Clubhouse Drive • Bella Vista, AR 72715 Phone: (479) 270-5040 • www.cafeamici.us

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