Hot Springs Village
Board & Property Owner Discussion Session 1 – May 6
Hot Springs Village Board of Directors are pleased to announce they will be holding open Discussion Sessions on the first and second Wednesday of every month from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. The sessions are being conducted for the purpose of transparency, clear communication between the Board and Property Owners and to receive Property Owner input. The first Discussion Session is next Wednesday, May 6, 2020. (Click here to view the Agenda.)
All Arkansas COVID-19 directives for meetings will be followed. Unfortunately, the public will not be able to attend in person at this time but the sessions will be live-streamed on the Hot Springs Village Official YouTube Channel. The Board invites you to join them as they live stream. The discussions will also be available for viewing afterward on YouTube. Click here to go to the HSV Official YouTube channel.
Discussion between the Board Directors will be from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Governance related Property Owner questions will be answered from 4:00-4:30 p.m. The topics for each Discussion Session will be published ahead of the session. (See below for May 6 discussion topics.) Off-subject questions will not be entertained. All operational questions should be directed to the POA staff.
The community is invited to submit questions in advance of the meeting to boardmembers@hsvpoa.org. Questions will also be accepted during the meeting. Questions will be answered as time allows. Followup Board Member responses of frequently asked questions will be published in the Village Digest on the following Friday, May 8, 2020.
The Board appreciates your participation in their first of many Discussion Sessions and looks forward to the time when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
May 6 Discussion Topics
1. Committees
- Common Property, Forestry and Wildlife Management Committee (click here to see Charter)
- Comprehensive Master Plan Advisory Committee (CMPAC)
- Bylaws Article XII; Committees
- Determine Board Member committee assignments
2. Comprehensive Master Plan (CMP)
3. Protective Covenants (click here to see Protective Covenants in effect until April 18, 2018)
By Cheryl Dowden, May 2, 2020
***
Editor’s note: Thank you for reading. Click here to go to the home page to bookmark this website so you don’t miss any updates.
Click here to visit our Private Facebook Group.
Valerie Phillis
05/02/2020 — 9:59 am
Thanks for posting. This is an excellent example of how our current Board of Directors views transparency.
Phil Lemler
05/02/2020 — 10:14 am
I would like the CEO to answer… specifically (for the next 3 months … the rest of 2020 and for 2021), how the CMP generates revenue for HSV?
Phil Lemler
05/02/2020 — 11:52 am
Question #2 (for the CEO) … since revenues are not covering expenses … what is the specific expense reduction plan for ensuring revenues cover expenses? What expenses will be reduced? Overhead … payroll … departments … others???
Concerned Villager
05/05/2020 — 8:45 am
Is Phil Lemler still a HSV property owner
Concerned Villager
05/05/2020 — 8:46 am
Phik Lemler moves away. Does he still own property in HSV
Phil Lemler
05/05/2020 — 9:31 am
Can’t answer the revenue question? …. Oh Oh …. thanks goodness for the new board. They will set HSV on the right track! Give them time!!!
Janet Rowe
05/02/2020 — 11:52 am
The Common Property, Forestry and Wildlife Management Committee was disbanded a couple of years ago. At least one Committee member was transferred over to the ACC.
Moe
05/02/2020 — 11:55 am
I want to know why all our valuable timber was cut, nothing ever properly cleaned up, and why we lost out on the revenue that actually should have been ours?
Tom Blakeman
05/02/2020 — 6:31 pm
Absolutely Mo. something like 15+ years ago someone convinced the BOD/POA to start letting logging occur on common areas based on the theory that it would promote a “healthy forest”. Plus it gave them something like $100,000 in annual income. (Better that than figure out how to fix the golf subsidizing problem or the restaurants, or, or, or. . . )
The problems are: Nobody’s ever been managing it; all that they take are the high dollar mature pines; they leave all the debris all over actually creating a fire hazard; they don’t thin the dying and rotten hardwoods; they don’t create a fire retardant zone or barrier. And I’m not a forester but I could go on. (I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express recently though).
So, I think we just hired another manager, far as I know to supposedly “manage” this. We probably are now paying him more per year (salary, benefits, 401k matching contribution, etc.) than we’ll ever recover. Or am I getting this confused with the Dam Manager? Who knows? Who gives a damn?
Board Vote Item: Approve the fifteenth annual timber contract. No discussion. Comment about how it’s so great because we’ve been doing it forever. Unanimously Approved! Hoorah!
John Sowers
05/03/2020 — 6:25 am
Thanks for allowing us to comment.
First, Phil Lemler now lives in Arizona. Phil: do you still have property (home or lot) in HSV, if not, why your interest and comments? Think low assessments Phil.
For Tom Blakeman. You talk about something 15 years ago (2005) before Cooper bailed out. How long have you lived here? Maybe Tucker can talk to this, or is this just hearsay (maybe ask Lloyd). Finally, are you dehydrated; some of your comments are very strange.
For Moe and Tom: Contact Jason Temple and he can tell you about HSV timber management or come to our Public Services meetings. Our work sessions last at least 3.5 hours (8-11:30) on the second Thursday of each month at the Police training facility across the street from the Catholic church.
Thanks from John Sowers , 501-226-3039
Phil Lemler
05/03/2020 — 8:40 am
Mr. Sowers … am trying to be one of many voices committed to getting HSV “on the right track”! It seems like the anti-CMP/CEO movement is “winning”. Does this sadden you? They are trying to help YOU too .. ultimately, a return to sane HSV management will protect everyone’s investments .. including yours!
You are kind of like that lone sheep who stands outside in the rain. He doesn’t have the sense to go inside … out of the rain .. so someone has to go get him and lead him to dry shelter. The new board is simply getting you out of the rain! One day … you’ll be appreciative. Thanks!
John Sowers
05/03/2020 — 9:10 am
Phil. Do you still have an investment in HSV (home or lot)? Do you really have any experience with sheep? And you concern about me is bogus and you know it, don’ you?
And how is it living out in Arizona? Higher cost of living and higher assessment fees if you live in a HOA or POA or similar?
First you loved the CMP (although you never participated in helping put it together) then you hated it. So your comments about the CMP are not to be taken seriously.
Phil Lemler
05/03/2020 — 9:41 am
Mr. Sowers … my concern for you is not bogus … thank you for your service in the military and for HSV (in committees, etc.).
Actually, I probably know more about the CMP than most … including you, your CEO and the past boards. In fact, this is why the CEO would not debate the CMP with me in front of ALL Villagers (Aug 2018). I offered to debate Mr. Weiss … and Ms. Nalley … DPZ … HSV marketing firm .. or whomever. No one stepped up Mr. Sowers … why is that … if the CMP is so good? The reason is most of them had not read the CMP … before it was passed! They could not answer the tough questions (and still cannot).
It is also why the CEO cannot answer the revenue/cost cutting issues … she simply doesn’t know!
P.S. – lots of experience with sheep!
John Sowers
05/03/2020 — 11:59 am
Phil. Do you still have an investment in HSV (home or lot)? And you concern about me is bogus and you know it. You really know nothing about my military service or volunteer work in HSV. And what is your experience with sheep; please been specific.
And how is it living out in Arizona? Higher cost of living and higher assessment fees if you live in a HOA or POA or similar?
First you loved the CMP (although you never participated in helping put it together) then you hated it. So your comments about the CMP are still not to be taken seriously, unless you come back here and make the offer to debate the CEO.
Concerned Villager
05/05/2020 — 9:07 am
You may get to eat those words, or just complain more about how much you know and how others don’t know anything.
HSVP C
05/05/2020 — 9:18 am
Mr. Unconcerned, you seem to have a vendetta against Phil. What “help” we don’t need is yours because you have done nothing to help anyone in this community except for yourself and one woman. You and your friend do not care what the majority wants. You are not happy to keep your trolling on ND and have to bring it over here. You are not wanted.
Phil Lemler
05/05/2020 — 9:29 am
No revenue = major special assessments!
HSVP J
05/05/2020 — 9:37 am
Concerned Villager is only concerned about his queen. He is the Queen’s personal Troll from ND.
You can recognize him, regardless of the name he posts under, by his relentless attacks on people’s character. He is not sharp enough to debate the issues with facts or logic so he resorts to bullying people who speak out about his queen.
The Queen’s Troll and the queen cannot answer the revenue/cost-cutting issues … because they simply don’t know!
Phil Lemler
05/05/2020 — 9:49 am
Joe … isn’t that amazing … when you think of it? They don’t know how to answer the revenue creation/cost cutting questions. CEO has no answer … Weiss, Erickson, Cunningham, Dixon, Leurhing, Campangna, Medica had no answers. The trolls/minions have no answers …. so they all stick their head in the sand and attack!
It is such a simple business issue yet past management has created a REAL problem in HSV. And, they (CEO and past boards) have NO answers!
The new board WILL get this done … it will take some time and they will need everyone’s patience and support. They have a HUGE mess to untangle ….
Minn Daly
05/03/2020 — 10:08 am
Phil Lemler, thank you so much for your frank expertise on HSV & CMP issues. It seems we have some members so invested in this plan they forget the cost & other issues involved in its concept. HSV needs to end this plan & end all other concepts associated with it. We have a NEW BOD that wants HSV to survive & will do the right thing in the process of getting HSV back to solvency. Please keep up your intelligent thoughts about HSV a community you care about. As owner member I truly value your expertise. Minn Daly
Phil Lemler
05/03/2020 — 10:53 am
Thank you Minn … there is a long trail of people (with expertise) who have tried to help the Village. It is difficult when you ask a basic question .. “where will the revenue come from”? … or many other great questions/ideas posed by Tom Blakeman and others …and the pro-CMP line is to attack the messenger.
I mean does it matter if someone is a resident or not …. if they are trying to help?
I just don’t think they (pro-CMP) have any answers … they spent $500,000 on a plan that basically says assessments must go up! And, I believe they (assessments) ultimately will … but to spend $500,000 to identify something you already know?
Incompetence!
Concerned Villager
05/05/2020 — 9:04 am
We don’t need or want your help.
Phil Lemler
05/05/2020 — 9:27 am
Where is the revenue coming from?
Phil Lemler
05/05/2020 — 9:28 am
Where is your revenue?
Dave
05/03/2020 — 11:26 am
Since our revenues are down’ can someone explain why we are looking for a replacement for Gary Meyers. Didn’t our course superintendents learn anything under him? Do they really need to be watched on a daily basis?
Tom Blakeman
05/03/2020 — 6:01 pm
No Dave, they didn’t. They knew more than him before he ever showed up.
What do people in public power do when they have no clue what to do? Simple, they hire consultants (like the CMP team) or an “expert” (like an agronomist) or some big name like Troon (remember our “director of golf”). Or, they form. . . . drum roll. . . . A Committee!
Sue Sutley
05/04/2020 — 10:37 pm
I have the same question as Dave. Now is the time to downsize and NOT continue down the same ole spending what we don’t have rabbit trail.
I want to second Tom’s observation about our superintendents. They know their jobs and do not need daily monitoring. If they do, then it’s new superintendents we need not a new agronomist.
So, my question is: Why are we hiring a new agronomist when golf is losing money, AGAIN?
Phil Lemler
05/03/2020 — 12:23 pm
Mr. Sowers – I guess you will not tell us where the revenue is generated from the CMP … probably because, you don’t know.
You can’t answer this question … so you attack my residency … and me. Just like you attack the Dowdens (and many others) who have done HSV a wonderful service to get the Village “on the right track”.
Why don’t you just answer the question? How will the CMP generate enough revenue to solve HSV’s financial challenges?.
It is okay to say you don’t know. It is okay to say you are embarrassed that you blindly followed the CEO and an unworkable CMP. It is okay to say you are disgruntled because you backed the “wrong horse” But don’t take it out on fellow Villagers by disparaging their efforts to improve HSV!
PS- I know a lot about your military service!
John Sowers
05/03/2020 — 11:03 pm
Increase assessments for starters.
Do you still have an investment in HSV (home or lot)?
And how is it living out in Arizona? Higher cost of living and higher assessment fees if you live in a HOA or POA or similar?
First you loved the CMP (although you never participated in helping put it together) then you hated it. So your comments about the CMP are still not to be taken seriously.
And I forgot; you do know sheep; you have been leading a lot of them over a cliff for a long time.
Please show us any viable and forward thinking POA or HOA or local government that doesn’t have a master plan. Think Tellico Village and ask the Bella Vista POA folks what it means. And by the way BV just increased their assessments 50 percent. They finally woke up and want to survive.
HSVP C
05/04/2020 — 12:05 am
John, you sound like a broken record. This is not Nextdoor. Please stop asking people where they live or where they have an investment. Why don’t you show us a viable plan?
John Sowers
05/05/2020 — 4:41 pm
Cheryl. Again, thanks for taking my comments, that for some need to be repeated (broken record). I am committed to the truth (reality), as I’m sure you are.
And what gives you the right or authority or whatever to tell me to stop asking questions. Since he won’t respond, I must conclude that Phil Lemler has no HSV property (home or lot), pays no assessment fees, and can’t vote for our POA board candidates. He knows how to change that.
We have a viable plan called the CMP. If you didn’t get involved in preparing it and attending POA public forums that discussed it in great detail, that was your decision.
Again, thanks.
Phil Lemler
05/06/2020 — 1:41 pm
Mr. Sowers … thanks for your service in the military and HSV! Best of luck to you in all your future endeavors!!!!
Phil Lemler
05/04/2020 — 6:47 am
Mr. Sowers … you sound very angry …. I feel sorry for you.
Your comments are all pejorative towards me and others … there is no substance. And, you sound a little confused.
You want to have the Tellico and Bella Vista’s plans … but yet you spend $500,000 for another … if you like their direction .. why spend so much for the CMP?
You are just following the broken promises of something you really don’t understand. Sounds like YOU are the sheep “going over the cliff”! LOL
But, wait … the new board is here to save you!
Take a deep breath Mr. Sowers and relax a little. Life is good … you don’t have to attack people to make your points … try putting some logic and fact into your arguments!
You could learn something from the Dowdens!
John Sowers
05/06/2020 — 2:33 pm
Phil. I am always interested in why people say “thank you for your service”. It was my decision to serve in the military. What was your reason?
If you want to thank someone, go find some former POWs, or stand over the graves of those killed in World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq War and thank them, not me. Or go to a VA hospital and thank those maimed by war, physically and mentally.
And what volunteer POA committees did you serve on when you lived in HSV? And if not, why not. You know there are those who do and those who just blame, criticize, swear, and scream.
HSVP C
05/06/2020 — 2:47 pm
Trolls are people who leave intentionally provocative or offensive messages on the internet in order to get attention, cause trouble or upset someone.
Phil Lemler
05/06/2020 — 4:38 pm
May God Bless you Mr. Sowers …
Linda Anderson
05/03/2020 — 1:22 pm
Phil, Thank You for continuing to comment on issues like this terrible CMP that Nalley chooses to push upon our community. This is “the example” of incompetence because of the CMP’s great expense with no results. As a last resort, a CMPAC committee was given the task to replace and patch this plan back together and are still trying to deal with it. Then this “unsuccessful” plan was placed as a Governing Document and the CMPAC Committee was placed as a Standing Committee ( A powerful Committee ). Now there are references to the CMP in policies and procedures to validate it’s authority. This can only be seen as a set up to undermine and control property owners in order to spend on projects that continue to place HSV into huge debt. Example: Nalley’s Great Balboa Restoration Project. If this had passed it would have placed HSV in Debt for $ 7 Mil. Plus and added that to our Budget’s subsidized red ink- It’s called disaster. Is this about power and control at any cost ? It’s a wake-up call to get rid of what does not work, will never work , and needs to be terminated ASAP.
Tom Blakeman
05/03/2020 — 6:03 pm
Amen Linda!
Minn Daly
05/03/2020 — 1:25 pm
Phil Lemler, it appears that all on a CMP who collectively spent $500,000 plus dollars defining the CMP, wished in a pipe dream that was not thought out. Had secret meeting, went with a plan created by TWIGGS, NALLEY & others on legacy BOD without checking facts from the developer COOPER. All of these so called intelligent, exceptional individuals did not check to see who owned the common property or COOPER rights of ownership. After COOPER won his case in court, they are still in denial of facts. Our NEW BOD needs member support, intelligent input from individuals like you, Tom Blakeman, Gene Gardner & others who love our community. We have a mess, it will take a while to clean it up but our NEW BOD is on the right track by hiring a good law firm & creating a working agenda that is transparent to members. Items that need to be changed or totally disbanded. Please keep your intelligent views comeing our way. Minn Daly
Patty MacDonald
05/04/2020 — 6:12 pm
I recall that at the April BOD meeting, Nalley announced that HSV had just been
notified that it is eligible for a $3M grant. The CEO said she didn’t yet know the details. My question is would accepting this grant require us to keep all of our present employees on the payroll? Our new BOD is going to be required to examine our top-heavy employment practices in order to reduce our expenses to a manageable level. We have been living beyond our means for a very long time. Let’s show support and patience for the new BOD; they have a huge mess to clean up. Patty MacDonald
Jerry Jay Carroll
05/05/2020 — 9:43 am
Having been repudiated with all her works, Cindi Erickson has decided to go for the termite in the foundations role. She is setting up a mailing list where people can find, ahem, objective information about BOD proceedings. She is a tainted well and people drink from it at their peril. Behind this guerrilla campaign, of course, is her close friend Leslie Nalley.
Lorri Street
05/06/2020 — 5:00 pm
I still recall very vividly John Sowers angrily approaching me at the podium right after Phil Lemler finished the 1st WTP Forum presentation on just how bad the CMP was for HSV. John was shaking his finger at me (looking maniacal) and shouting at me that he was going to sue me because I called him out as the person who had asked a question during the Forum and it was EXACTLY the same questions he sent through the WTP website (I was the website manager) seemingly every few days?! This was the first time I’d met Mr. Sowers and I knew instantly that he was a person to avoid…unstable was my opinion then and remains so now. Goodbye Mr. Sowers your HSV services will very soon be no longer!
John Sowers
05/06/2020 — 5:45 pm
Lorri. And I also remember that Phil Lemler presentation clearly. I did speak to you after the event and I was angry. I did not say or threaten to sue you.
But you read questions after Phil’ presentation. You were “cherry picking” the questions; there was no neutral person controlling that process. You would read a question and of course rightly never say who asked the question. Then you read a question and exclaimed to all those still present that question must have come from John Sowers. Maybe some subliminal outburst?
I had not submitted that question, and told you so after the event was over. You were surprised that someone would take you to task for what you had done.
And what do you mean that my HSV services will very soon be no longer? Is that a promise or a threat. And be specific please. Thanks
Tom Blakeman
05/08/2020 — 7:26 am
John,
If you would like to do something useful and informative for everyone I’ve got an idea for you.
Put together a spreadsheet for the last 15 years showing exactly what has been done both maintenance and capital on all village roads you know, how many miles scraped and paved, how many miles micro-surfaced, how many miles crack sealed, re-striped, etc. Put the costs of each type work in too in too. But, forget putting in stuff like “tons of asphalt” because that kind of statistic is meaningless to most of us.
Such a summary list would put our road situation in perspective for Villagers. It would also support or disprove whether Ms Nalley has actually done anything substantial in maintaining our roads or not. It would also be much more helpful than the double speak we hear at board meetings about these things.
Thanks
John Sowers
05/08/2020 — 8:06 am
Tom,
Come to our next volunteer POA Public Services committee meeting where we can meet face to face. Tucker has asked to be on that committee and, if so, may say something.
Suggest you take your “idea” and have at it. And bring Frank and Dick along to the face to face meeting as Frank says our roads are ticking time bombs, and he can educate us on Super Pave.
I will send your comments above to Jason Temple as a heads up. Please confirm that you and Frank and Dick will attend so we can insure having enough chairs.
We can also talk timber sales and water maintenance.
We have many golfers on our committee so could also talk about busing golfers from Little Rock (where is your business plan?), reducing HSV golf fees, and capturing all golfers within a fifty mile radius of HSV. Also suggest you read the latest Arkansas Golfer magazine sent to your home, Volume 39 Spring 2020. For sure, HSV doesn’t have the only good golf courses in the state, and I can’t wait to hear what Dick has to say about marketing HSV golf courses in and outside Arkansas. But even more important will be the future HSV income results.
Thanks
Tom Blakeman
05/08/2020 — 5:43 pm
John,
Just do as your asked.
Thanks
Tom Blakeman
05/08/2020 — 8:01 am
John,
That would be a “specific year by year” spreadsheet. Just want to be clear.
Thanks
Lorri Street
05/08/2020 — 9:42 am
Sorry Sowers…there were Property Owners standing by me at the podium who also witnessed your outburst and who heard you say to me, “I’m going to sue you.” Please take your lies and instability elsewhere. YOU’RE NOT NEEDED HERE ANY LONGER.
And yes…that was a shout.
John Sowers
05/08/2020 — 10:33 am
Lorri. Again, I did not say I’m going to sue you, and I don’t lie. And why are you now calling me by my last name–are you angry?
And your interesting comment about me not being needed here any longer; is that a death wish, or all knowing heavenly pronouncement? Again, or what? But I will be around and will be needed to help clean up your messes.
And as the leader commented to some of us recently in preparation to count the votes for the last POA board meeting–Lorri is Lorri.
And you are needed here, so you can be shown and you can verify that your past behaviors are examples of why HSV is about to travel back into what will be called the HSV dark ages.
Thanks
Minn Daly
05/08/2020 — 12:41 pm
Mr. sowers, Agree totally with Tom Blakeman & Lorrie Street! Where were you when everyone was looking for the “Crack Sealing Machine”.? Seems it took Frank Leeming & crew to find it. If it had been used instead of stored away cracks in our roads could have been addressed. Let’s hope that now it has been found it will be used, from the roads I travel on there are still a lot of CRACKS! Roads like DeSoto, Balearic, is the CRACK MACHINE lost again? Minn Daly
John Sowers
05/08/2020 — 3:20 pm
Minn. Are you a road engineer? And I am always surprised when someone agrees totally with anyone. And how can something be lost when it is in storage?
The crack sealing machine (CSM) was never lost, as you said, but then you said it was in storage. The main reasons it was not being used were lack of trained and available personnel. That is another reason to increase assessments. And it has and is being used on parking lots in colder weather when the cracks are the widest and the work is most efficient, and it is not raining. And it was not lost recently; it had to be repaired–that happens when you use it. And yes we need to continue crack sealing our roads, but our roads are not ticking time bombs like Frank likes to say without having any evidence or engineering knowledge or experience.
And most of the crack sealing work done on our key roads will be done by a contractor who has the manpower and equipment to get the work done quicker and at least impact on HSV residents.
Please come to our next volunteer POA Public Services committee meeting where we can meet face to face, and we’ll tell you everything about the history and use of the CSM. And bring Tom and Lorri and Frank and his crew and Dick with you. We keep inviting them but they never show up.
Thanks
Tom Blakeman
05/08/2020 — 5:52 pm
John,
Stop the double speak and BS about coming to committees. Deeds not Words. Just produce the spreadsheet I asked for and then we can talk.
BTW, if your committee was worthwhile you’d already have one. Bet you don’t.
And, if your committee doesn’t have it then Mr Temple should. . . .
John Sowers
05/08/2020 — 8:55 pm
Tom. Was it dehydration? I hear often it can be caused by a minor stroke or someone having a bad side effect from using or not using prescription drugs.
Your words: double speak and BS; are you angry again?
Come to our meeting and Jason will help educate you.
Thanks from John Sowers
Minn Daly
05/08/2020 — 3:59 pm
Mr. sowers, thanks for the question. NO, I am not a road engineer an apparently you aren’t either. If the legacy BOD/ CEO had not spent $500 thousand plus on a disastrous CMP plan an Tons of money on Gate a Security company, plus getting us into numerous law suits, we would have retained trained employees for the Crack Sealer machine to be in use instead of stored away. Perhaps our infrastructure would be in better shape. I have lived in HSV fo 32 years & in the past 8 ‘years HSV infrastructure has been totally neglected. Now with our NEW BOD getting our financial situation straighten out, I am certain infrastructure updates will be top of the agenda. Crack Machine will be in use & not stored away, culverts will be replaced an the streets will be resurfaced. They will not need a committeeor a member to tell them it is necessary. Minn Daly