By Cheri Nelson, November 29, 2019
Can you imagine the first impression a visitor has when they come to the Village? First they see all the trees, hopefully, it’s a beautiful day, with the sun shining to make us look great. Soon they will see the few Christmas Decorations displayed.
Then they begin to really look around and what do they see?
Rust and Ruin
As you drive through the Village it doesn’t take long to note the level of disrepair we have reached. Especially this time of year with the leaves and growth no longer hiding the dilapidated buildings. As an example, go to El Jimador and look across the parking lot. The buildings are in terrible condition. One has the roof almost collapsed into the building. Oh and beware the pothole at the entrance to the parking lot. You may lose your car in that sinkhole.
As you drive down DeSoto, near Debra’s Restaurant what do you see? Not the wonderful Lake. Their eyes are riveted to the storage yard that is rusting away. What a beautiful sight to see right. And these are just two examples of the commercial properties that are in disrepair. There are others as well.
Compliance
Our Village has a very active Compliance Department. They frequently tell us about the number of miles through the Village they drive each week. There are numerous reports from Property Owners about the frustration of dealing with the Compliance officers. And yet our Commercial Properties are falling down in disrepair.
Click on the arrow below to view the pictures in the slider.
Questions
- Why is this allowed to happen?
- Who has jurisdiction over commercial properties to ensure they remain compliant?
- What is the Board or POA doing about this?
- Are we collecting fines from the owners of these properties for being derelict?
Commentary
It is bad enough that POA buildings have not been maintained properly, but most Visitors actually see very little of the POA owned buildings. They do see a lot more of these dilapidated buildings. It is time to clean them up. The Holiday Season is upon us. Many friends and families of Property Owners will enter our gates as Visitors this Holiday Season, and they could say WOW this is where I want to retire, right up until they see the sad level of our buildings.
Cheri Nelson, November 29, 2019
Diane
11/29/2019 — 4:14 pm
They are too busy stuffing their own pockets and the pockets of their like minded blinded followers pockets???? Just guessing!!!!!
It was not until after we moved here that I started noticing the unkept neighborhood signs, the dilapidated looking strip center next to the west gate entrance, the lack of care for how the roads and common space on the side of the roads looked awful with weeds and dead trees everywhere. It made me sad and embarrassed for family and friends to visit. In the past 28 years before we moved here we lived in 2 different communities that were very well kept, many swimming pools, new flowers planted every season, with a small HOA Fee and a POA fee and the Board members were paid very small salaries and had their own 9 to 5 jobs. So I do not know what the heck is happening here but I am very sad and disappointed.
Anomous
11/29/2019 — 4:19 pm
Point it out so visitors can look for it. There is more beauty then trash, but I look for the “slum lords” that own rental property, houses,and building’s.
HSVP C
11/29/2019 — 4:34 pm
This is not being pointed out so visitors can look for it. Visitors can’t help but notice it. People have told me the comments some of their visitors made. This is a beautiful place, but there needs to be more emphasis on the upkeep. Thank you.
Cheri Nelson
11/29/2019 — 4:44 pm
Anonymous, you always seem to have the answers, maybe you should be on the board, or maybe you already are??? Actually this is being pointed out in this manner because it seems to be the only way to communicate with our board members. They will not participate in any dialogue at the board meetings, all They will say in the Let’s Talk sessions is pat answers like we will look into that, we will get back to you, that is in the hands of the POA so we can’t respond. They never bother following up. The majority of board members don’t even acknowledge emails anymore.
So just exactly how do we get questions answered and have a meaningful dialogue with the chosen ones?
Joe Vlasek
12/01/2019 — 9:28 am
Troll Your in LALA LAND! Go back to the BOD and DO Some Work!
Anomous
11/29/2019 — 5:47 pm
Why don’t you blame the people who own these buildings like El Jimador then they can raise the rent and they ill move or shut down.
Get a hold of the slum lords on rental property. Look at the houses that are rental and those that are owned and you can see the difference and make the owners of the rental property clean it up.
When we moved here the shopping center on Calla was very nice CCI owned it then they sold it, and the owner has done nothing to keep it up. The BOD can do nothing to make them keep it up or pave the parking lot and I am not on BOD but do know what can be done by BOD and can’t be done.
I suggest suing them for damage to your car or body maybe they will fix it.
Cheri Nelson
11/29/2019 — 5:56 pm
Anonymous did you even read the article?? I’m beginning to think you really are on the board already. You obviously have a comprehension problem. That is exactly the point. The POA should be forcing these slum landlords to clean up their buildings. The Board of Directors should be pushing the POA to do this. If we are fining them and getting no where, then what is the next step? Surely our bylaws and covenants cover this type of issue. We have Compliance officers nitpicking regular home owners to death, and yet these commercial property owners are allowed to continue to collect rent on buildings they are allowing to fall down around their tenants. That should be a real concern for our POA and our Board members.
Anonymous
11/30/2019 — 8:41 pm
The POA has the right to repair these properties and create a lien and take ownership for the benefit of the Village as a whole. Look at the POA properties falling down because our leadership chooses to waste millions of our hard-earned assessments on the CMP management program from communist Cuba.
Vicki
11/29/2019 — 8:02 pm
The very eyesores you describe, seem to run rampant throughout Arkansas – drive down 5, 7 or Glazypeau. I don’t understand how people are able to live like that. To see the same inside the Village breaks my heart! Unfortunately conditions are deteriorating year by year! The question that needs answering is how was this allowed to happen!?!
Cheri Nelson
11/29/2019 — 8:39 pm
Vicki, it is sad, but we will never get a straight answer to your question anymore than why have the POA buildings been allowed to deteriorate. I really believe to an extent it’s partly due to a difference in beliefs. Those of us in the older generation grew up believing in maintaining and repairing everything. But the generations born say early to mid 60’s and later were raised in the throw away and replace era. I believe a lot of our previous boards had that mentality. The other half of that is a CEO that not only lives in that philosophy but has accepted New Urbanism as the way of the future and is willing to drive us into that way of life kicking and screaming.
In the long run, how we got here doesn’t matter as much as how do we correct it and move forward.
Anonymous
11/29/2019 — 8:35 pm
2. COMPENSATION
a. In consideration for these services as CEO, HSVPOA agrees to pay the CEO a base salary of $8,080.96 bi-weekly, which is $210,105.00 annualized or such higher figure as shall be agreed upon at an annual review of her compensation and performance by the Board. This annual review shall occur simultaneously with HSVPOA annual reviews. Compensation increases will be determined by fair market value survey results from a reputable compensation specialist or professional experienced in compensation surveys hired by the Board to provide compensation information. The CEO may elect to defer such portion of his/her salary to the extent permitted by law.
Cheri Nelson
11/29/2019 — 9:43 pm
Anonymous what on earth does the CEO’s compensation have to do with this article?
Anonymous
11/29/2019 — 8:46 pm
Salary Grades 10 and Above
Low Mid High
Grade Hour Annual Hour Annual Hour Annual
10 $ 20.04 $ 40,881.60 $ 25.05 $ 51,102.00 $ 31.32 $ 63,892.80
11 $ 22.05 $ 44,982.00 $ 27.56 $ 56,222.40 $ 34.45 $ 70,278.00
12 $ 24.25 $ 49,470.00 $ 30.31 $ 61,832.40 $ 37.89 $ 77,295.60
13 $ 26.68 $ 54,427.20 $ 33.35 $ 68,034.00 $ 41.68 $ 85,027.20
14 $ 29.34 $ 59,853.60 $ 36.68 $ 74,827.20 $ 45.85 $ 93,534.00
15 $ 32.28 $ 65,851.20 $ 40.35 $ 82,314.00 $ 50.44 $ 102,897.60
16 $ 35.51 $ 72,440.40 $ 44.38 $ 90,535.20 $ 55.48 $ 113,179.20
17 $ 39.06 $ 79,682.40 $ 48.82 $ 99,592.80 $ 61.03 $ 124,501.20
18 $ 42.96 $ 87,638.40 $ 53.70 $ 109,548.00 $ 67.13 $ 136,945.20
CEO As directed by the board through annual salary reviews ($142+/per hour)
Grade 18’s
Jamie Caperton
Tom Heffer
Liz Mathis
Gary Meyers
Jason Temple
Grade 16
Shawnee Cooper
Grade 15
Cheryl Dunson
Stephanie Heffer
Magdy Hussein
Stacy Hoover
Jason Miller
Ricky Middleton
Grade 10
Brad Meredith
Anonymous
11/30/2019 — 8:22 pm
The top position and the next 10 positions that do the top position’s job, could all be done by a General Manager.
Sad
12/01/2019 — 3:46 pm
Stephanie Heffer….been around a long time…no degrees…moved from job to job…because she is good or she really is not suitable….plus she has a conflict of interest being married to Tom and running the CMP….it just does not add up
Barry Juaire
11/29/2019 — 10:13 pm
What about all the unfinished mowing on Desoto? Is this an example of the two- tier system !!!! West bound side has tree branches almost touching the road– is there not a standard distance or clearance??? East bound side should be mowed to the tree line– it is in some places– just make it uniform. Everyone uses Desoto and it should be perfect to look at and safe to drive on— could see deer better if the roads were cleared as they are supposed to be.
Anonymous
12/02/2019 — 9:06 pm
Not to mention the illegal storage of vehicles, why do our visitors and potential owners have to look at the tree cutting service truck stored for the last 3 years on the side of DeSoto Blvd? Does the tree cutting service have no place to store their trucks other than on public highways? Compliance has more than two faces.
Julie
11/30/2019 — 11:16 am
The whole place looks tired and run down and mismanaged.
Visit any other planned community and you will see a stark difference.
None look like we do.
Visitors have asked us what is wrong with your place?? They are stupefied at the horrible conditions.
RAB
11/30/2019 — 2:33 pm
As I see it, we have an enforcement problem. The Acc has come up with with the hundreds of covenants we all need to follow. Then, they wash there hands of things. I have brought a few violations of covenants up to the ACC and their response is that compliance/enforcement is not their responsibility. That is a police department (Compliance) function. We hear of lots of red notices, but never hear of what happens if someone does not comply. And we have one of the biggest violations of Covenants shortly after coming in the main West Gate. The wind screens on the Pickle Ball courts are not in compliance. It is well known and can be found in the legal documents that the color code for exterior things is earth tones. Is the bright blue color of the many yards of wind screen surrounding the Pickle Ball courts an earth tone? The courts themselves are great, but should the color of the screens be a beige, green, or brown?? Why do not our leaders get the proper authorities to enforce the rules or are they afraid of the backlash from the pickle ball community?
Anonymous
11/30/2019 — 8:04 pm
Pickleball players are 1% of the membership.
Alan
12/03/2019 — 1:53 am
You are complaining about the color of new windscreens on the pickleball courts? Wow, I pass by there and think it looks great especially with the color of the new courts. Granted that there many opportunities for improvement and everyone is eager to point fingers the fact remains we as a community are not anywhere close to paying enough in assessments. (Oh, good lord) …just thought I would drop that in for levity. NOW, before you fill your depends we need leadership to know how to effectively manage a community (code words for I don’t believe that is the case here) and once we have respected leadership we can begin addressing the pressing needs. You will not build the necessary reserves and develop future endeavors without additional money.
IMO, our problems didn’t begin with the current administration. Many bad decisions were made well before when conditions appeared that everything was going well and then the economy tanked and our community was caught with our proverbial pants down. The salaries of management are on the high side but would anyone out there tell the person making the offer “No, sorry, I will take the job but you are paying too much”? I didn’t think so, the board needs to cut some salaries and if they decide they don’t want the job then so be it.
It will hurt for us to right the ship before smoother seas prevail and as a younger resident I recognize this but don’t look forward to it. What troubles me the most is the personal attacks from both sides and innuendos. You can be critical and respectful at the same time.
There are no easy fixes here and there are many viable ways of correcting our ways in HSV. Seems to me that too many people get their feelings hurt if they don’t immediately get there way. Take a deep breath, think and act with dignity.
Anonymous
12/05/2019 — 7:34 pm
Alan is troubled by personal attacks and innuendos while at the same time respectfully accuses others of “filling their Depends.” Dignity?
Chipmunk
11/30/2019 — 5:05 pm
If we just double our assessments that would do it. A simple solution to everything.
Julie
12/01/2019 — 5:09 am
Actually, they need to be tripled. More money is always the answer. And the “ceo” and the board have shown themselves to be trustworthy and competent regarding HSV finances.
Without the extra money that is desperately needed things will continue to slide downhill. It is a never-ending spiral to the bottom.
The wind wraps should be camouflage in color, by the way.
Anonymous
12/01/2019 — 2:54 pm
It is not only the color, billboard advertising is totally against all ACC standards in the Village.
Sam Taylor
12/01/2019 — 8:36 pm
You must know of a different BOD and CEO than I do! Trustworthy???? You have to be kidding! Not one penny more till we do have a trustworthy BOD and a GM!
Anonymous
12/05/2019 — 7:20 pm
Assessments WERE just doubled. Your simple solution is easily snorted away by our visionaries.
Johnny C
12/03/2019 — 6:45 am
Cheri Nelson have you asked the owners of those properties to make improvements? Have you discussed with the Compliance Department? What steps are you taking to resolve?
Tom Blakeman
12/03/2019 — 2:01 pm
Can’t speak for Cheri but I’ve filed the appropriate complaints, spoken with compliance, sent photos and spoken directly to and written request to board. All back in April. Results: ZERO!
The whole system and the negligence is a disgrace.
Carl
12/04/2019 — 5:20 am
Amen to that. You can’t sell something nobody wants regardless of whatever marketing you do.
And guess what? Nobody wants to buy into HSV now with the horrible mismanagement, rotten board, crazy “ceo”, run-down conditions, lax gate security, police officers at board meetings, proposals to ban recording of meetings, secret committees doing nefarious things, board ignoring its own committees, absolutely insane job titles (wayfinding?), horrible Troon deal, culverts collapsing all over the place, debris left from logging for profit, pocket outdoor pool for double the cost, crazy bad restaurants, falling down clubhouses, overwatered golf courses, collusion between POA and some select local realtors, pocket neighborhoods, high density apartments on Lake Balboa, increasing fees for everything anyone might want to do, inability to create a crosswalk connecting poorly maintained trails, closed businesses leaving empty, run-down buildings, silly and inane neighborhood names (SOBO?????), missing marina, dredging uncompleted, cart paths that need all-wheel drive, contracted services that fail over and over again (gate security), CMP driving every decision even though it is simply a boilerplate plan from another town that had much more in resources, a newspaper that refuses to do any editorials, gaudy pickle ball wind screens, fees upon fees if you plan to build a home, thousands upon thousands of unpaid assessments that remain uncollected due to utter incompetence and stupidity, etc., etc.
MinnDaly
12/04/2019 — 10:15 am
To Carl. You are so on target for all you stated above. We need to elect New BOD members (Lloyd, Tucker. Dick) election coming up. We need to recognize Cooper as the developer, get the POA out of the development business & real estate business. Have a responsible BOD that has the GM report to them & cares for HSV. Appoint a NEW GM & take back our community. We need to eliminate committees like the CMP & focus on getting infrastructure of roads & buildings up to date. Minn Daly
Man from the clouds
12/07/2019 — 7:52 pm
Average boots on the ground worker making $10 an hour you can make more Walmart and they got better benefits if it’s there
Linda anderson
12/08/2019 — 7:08 pm
Until we have a BOD/GM committed to maintenance 1st. instead of complete tear downs and replacements, HSV will suffer the consequences. The unrecognized fact is that there is no money available because this administration chooses to continue to build top heavy management and salaries that are considered astronomical outside of these gates. A WIZARD OF OZ COMMUNITY. It continues to lead to the Love of more MONEY and a faster way to spend it. With deteriorating buildings and golf courses and worst of all ” no plan to stop the push off the cliff “, HSV is destined to default.
The question becomes: Is this what we pay the leadership for?? The Board should take a hard look at what it is voting for before it is too late.