By Cheri Nelson, January 22, 2020
Charrette 2.0
Brought to you by the Deliberative Engagement Committee
Meetings are currently being held to discuss what is now being referred to as the “Coronado Complex”. I must admit I have always known this area as the Coronado Community Center/library, the fitness center, and the tennis courts as separate entities. Now they are apparently viewed as one large complex.
The January 20, 2020 event was the fourth of small group meetings of Property Owners. The event was sponsored and run by members of the Deliberative Engagement Committee, I must admit:
- First, that I had never even heard of such a committee until the previous day (January 19, 2020) and,
- Secondly, my mind went What??? Who??? Where did they come from??? This group is apparently a subcommittee of the Recreation Committee. So, I was very surprised to hear the name of this group. It sounds like something out of Star Wars. I looked around for the storm troopers I expected to come stomping into the room. I was really kind of disappointed when the only person who stood up to speak and start the meeting was NOT Darth Vader, but our very own Stacy Hoover.
Limited Seating
To initiate this meeting, letters were sent out to folks who are registered users of the fitness center, those who register to use the tennis courts, and those who are known to rent space in the Coronado Community Center.
There were also flyers about the meeting handed out at the fitness center last week. Seating was limited to 60 seats and you had to register with the POA to attend. Those who responded were signed up and then as we arrived and checked in, we were randomly assigned a seat at one of six tables.
To begin the meeting, Stacy Hoover made a few brief remarks, and then a member of the Recreation Committee, assigned to each table began the discussion. The first statement by our table leader was to dispel all the rumors and assure us that there are NO, None, Zilch, Nada, NO plans to build a lodge in this area at this time. We were assured by our leader that the purpose of this meeting was for the Recreation Committee to hear from us as Property Owners and gather our ideas about what could be done to improve the usage of the complex. In that spirit, they provided all participants with four questions which we all answered verbally.
Deliberative Engagement Meeting discussion
Each table, held their discussion and then when finished, those participants left. So while some tables were finished within 30 minutes, other tables took a bit longer. I understand from participants seated at other tables that they experienced a bit more livelier conversation than what occurred at my table.
Within the group at my table, the consensus seemed to be based on the very limited and broad statement, that the decrease in usage of the fitness center, and rental of the Coronado Community Center, are both directly related to the increased fees. We all realize it is difficult to compete with “Free” rental in regards to the Community Center. Having “Free” facilities close by makes it even more imperative that we have lower competitive pricing.
We also discussed, issues like lack of parking for big events or multiple events within the complex.
One gentleman insisted that the Silver Sneakers program was a problem affecting revenue, although my personal opinion is that if we didn’t have Silver Sneakers and similar programs, the fitness center would be in dire straights and likely have to close.
We made suggestions such as for the fitness center to remain open later a couple of days a week to accommodate those with families and those who are still working, and to advertise that they were actually doing this.
Everyone agreed that the Coronado Community Center needed to be cleaned up, ceiling tiles fixed and or replaced, rooms painted, etc. and the kitchen renovated and brought into this century.
Another lady suggested a big screen TV that could be playing a picture of the trails to simulate walking the trails at the fitness center for those working on the exercise machines.
Once we answered the four questions provided for us by the committee, we were excused to leave. There was not a discussion between the group as a whole. The conversations were solely contained in the small groups at the individual round tables.
The Deliberative Engagement Committee members will take their findings back to the Recreation Committee for further review, then make their suggestions to the POA and Board of Directors.
It would have been nice if we could have moved amongst the tables answering each of the four questions so that each member would have heard directly from each participant, rather than relying on the memory of each table moderator to portray what was said. It would have been even nicer if, at the conclusion, they would have opened the discussion up to the group as a whole.
By Cheri Nelson, January 22, 2020
Linda Arnn Arteno
01/22/2020 — 8:58 am
I have rented the Coronado center several times last year and I never received a request to come to this meeting. I wowuld have liked to have participate I. This.
RT Stony
01/22/2020 — 9:08 am
Here’s another example of where the POA should NOT be functioning.
What to do with the Coronado Center should be the responsibility of the BOD (surely not this current spineless, do nothing BOD) but a BOD that recognizes their responsibility for activities that go beyond “maintaining our amenities and infrastructure.” Maintaining our amenities and infrastructure is where the POA responsibilities should START and END!
We need to restore the POA to its original purpose of maintaining our amenities and infrastructure, remove the CEO and reinstate a reasonable salaried General Manager.
Lesley must GO!
Mary odom
01/22/2020 — 9:48 am
Agree 💯.
M D Eaves
01/23/2020 — 5:37 am
Amen! You hit it right on the head.
Anne M Shears
01/22/2020 — 9:10 am
My table came to the same conclusions. As for Silver Sneakers and Silver & Fit. Those programs benefit both the individual and the Fitness Center in the following way:
Fee for Service is the actual membership rate, which is quite high. Silver Sneakers and Silver & Fit are provided as part of Seniors’ supplemental insurance (that which covers what basic Medicare may not cover.)
Each time an individual uses that service, the individual gets in free and the visit is logged. Periodically, all those “free” visits are paid for at a contracted rate. This amount is less than the full fee for service, but it is a guaranteed payment to the Center.
Yes, a lot of villagers use these benefits and most would not use the center at all if it were not for Silver Sneakers and Silver & Fit. This is high-volume traffic and without those contracted rates generated by these individuals, revenue would drop significantly because the center would lose those users.
Since over 70 percent of villagers are over age 65, Silver Sneakers and Silver & Fit are not a “loss” to the POA, but are, in fact, revenue.
Phil Lemler
01/22/2020 — 9:13 am
Just another behind the scenes … slight of hand … “pay no attention to the man behind the curtains” (Wizard of Oz) … continuance of the implementation of the CMP.
Just like the charrettes … fool the sheep! Make the Villagers believe they have some input into the process! “We are from the government and are here to help you!”
Judy Weatherly
01/22/2020 — 11:05 am
I agree but we can give comments and ideas and when its not done another reason shown that Nalley needs to go bother another community.
I went knowing it won’t happen but at least after posting my short article fro Table 6 folks will know others have ideas that management ignore plus if we can get her removed we can actually have ideas to work from.
Kilroy
01/22/2020 — 9:27 am
What alternative universe do these people live in? What is wrong with a good old fashioned “Town Hall”?
They are just dying to build something. Anything!
Poor Jason Temple. He supports CMP. Comprehensive Maintenance Plan.And they are having charrettes with his $$$….lol
Judy Weatherly
01/22/2020 — 10:54 am
Table 6
Monday 1/20/20 another Round Table discussion regarding the Coronado Community Center was held. Each had a facilitator from the Recreation Committee..ours was Director of Recreation Stacy Hoover. Stacy stated that the Lodge was a rumor and these meetings were to receive ideas from the Villagers on how to improve usage of the CCC. These meetings will continue through March. All ideas will be compiled.
On April 27 2020 at 6:30pm all Villagers will be invited to the CCC to view the ideas and vote on ones they think will enhance the Village, increase usage of CCC and be profitable. Then comes fisability studies.
Although I had many questions from all of you it wasn’t possible to weave them in. But I’m keeping them for the future.
Here are some of the ideas from Table 6:
1. Coffee/juice bar with snacks
2. Internal facelift of CCC for a fresh new
look.
3. Upgrade patio area to be more usable year
round.
4. Additional health/fitness activities in
CCC rooms such as: Health education
classes and Business or health seminars.
Fitness and health education for Seniors
along with Senior activities. Rooms for
hard core fitness like spinning or kick
boxing. Rooms for additional massage
therapists/chiropractor and for art groups.
5. We didn’t for get the children. Place for
fitness and fun activities for the kids.
6. Nursery so parents can work out
I hope someone from the other 5 tables will post their discussions. Keep the ideas coming!
Tom Blakeman
01/22/2020 — 12:08 pm
“ Villagers will be invited to the CCC to view the ideas and vote on ones they think will enhance the Village, increase usage of CCC and be profitable. Then comes feasibility studies.”
Gee, is it just me or does anyone else think this sounds a lot like the infamous ‘’charrettes”where the whole thing was based on giving everyone a big sticker labeled ‘Town Center’ and telling them to past it on a map where they think it should be?
Beverly Murphy
01/23/2020 — 10:57 pm
This sounds like the farce the Board/ceo pulled off last year with Balboa Club/Golf Course. Board has a meeting to get villagers ideas and then “kick that worn out bucket down the road again”……..let’s fool the village people in believing we’re listening to ideas/suggestions other than our own. Ha!!!
steve bylow
01/22/2020 — 11:30 am
In most business effective leaders follow a model of…
1. plan,
2. do,
3. check and
4. adjust.
It may just be me but I feel like the Ms. Nalley’s model as CEO has been…
1. plan
2. hire someone new
3. plan
4. hire someone new
5. plan
The bottom line is a lot of time and resources are spent “admiring problems”.
Karen Bump
01/22/2020 — 11:58 am
In the CMP on pages 177-179, re-purposing the Coronado Center and the area around it is clearly laid out in detail with an illustration although I did not see what use it suggested for the center itself. It also states “Improvements should be pursued quickly” so it looks like this is just the beginning of implementing the plan. An aside comment, I seriously do not think the Catholic Church and the other church in the neighborhood is going to give up their parking lots to build two-story apartments and green space, so I doubt the housing density it talks about will ever come to fruition. Just my opinion, and I am wrong often.
Trying to find ways to better utilize the existing building is fine, but not implementing the changes and structure of the neighborhood as the CMP shows.
Any Non Moose
01/22/2020 — 12:31 pm
Well, they removed and relocated the bocce ball courts to over by the dog park so there’s a nice big area there. . .
I can visualize three levels of below grade parking garage with eight stories of section 8 apartments above. It would fit right in nicely.
Let’s see, eight stories times six units per story, that’s 48 units times $69 per month of new revenue. Quicker and much easier than 50 new home starts per year.
And the state or the feds guarantee the rent and fees be paid for section 8 housing so guaranteed income. And, of course this could all be built with state or federal grant money. No money out of pocket for the POA. Wow! What an idea.
Maybe we could even house the new refugees from 3rd world countries which Arkansas is now seeking. Gets better by the minute!
We could also bill the state or feds for 12 step recovery programs to be held in the CCC. Even better!
Best of all, those apartments would be right by the helo pad so that the crack overdosers could easily me medivacked to a hospital.
Those apartments would rent out fast too, what with a nice view of the lake and all.
Lloyd Sherman
01/22/2020 — 2:08 pm
The POA should not be in the development business. I have suggested many times in the past that the amount of staff resources dedicated to following the development aspects of the CMP is directing resources away from the core responsibility of the POA. Maintenance! Now we have entered into a new phase where we know the RFP for the CMP was a series of requested outcomes. Not a set of recommendations that could actually help the Village, but a series of plans all centered around the new urbanism movement. As for the CC, it is outdated and had the POA been doing their core job, we likely wouldn’t be at this point. The reality in the absence of increased revenue the result has been increased fees and surcharges. The POA is driving business away from the CC by the increased fees. Other less expensive venues have arisen and functions are being planned in those locations. There are people making getting the Village back on track more difficult than it actually is. This trend is likely to continue until we quit doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
Frank Leeming
01/22/2020 — 2:11 pm
It is a sad commentary on the state of things in our Village when a group like the Recreation Committee and the POA staff like Stacy Hoover have a good idea and we smack them down. Stacy and the committee are taking the time to ask us what we think. That’s good.
For too long this POA administration has given a cold shoulder to our committees, which were once the backbone of our Village. This one seems to be doing good by us. Let’s not let our disapproval of other things get in the way of what they’re trying to do.
Kirk Denger
01/22/2020 — 5:27 pm
What is sad Frank, is when a recreation committee with a cmp appointed chair, recommends destroying 2 full basketball courts and 3 tennis courts, with fencing and lighting with a half-million-dollar value, and spend another $418,000 of a pool budget on 14 pickleball courts that benefit 1% of our members. Last Monday there were 2 dozen kids trying to play on the two hoops supplied by this committee, while there were two pickleball courts out of 14 being played on serving a half dozen players. This committee effectively stole our DeSoto Family Park and locked out 99% of the property owners. After they recommended destroying our DeSoto pool and bathhouse we are in debt another million and a half (because if we have millions in debts, then you cannot claim we paid cash) on their recommendation of building a replacement 1 third the size at three times the price. With these new charrettes (Charades), will there be new recommendations to destroy our indoor pool and bathhouse also? Because it is 45 years old and made with cinderblocks? The committee’s track record speaks for itself.
Donna
01/23/2020 — 9:38 am
Kirk, there are so many untruths and opinions in your comment, I just don’t know where to begin!
First…I have been a member of the recreation committee for 6 years and chair for the last three. My involvement began long before the start or completion of current CMP. Many good residents over the years have given of their time and talents to the rec committee. You’ve questioned our integrity and motives. I find this personally offensive.
If we want to debate the maintenance of the previous pool (which was 40 years old at the time of shut down) that is not this admin’s responsibility. That would have to go back 20 years. I own a pool.. I have spent funds every year to keep it in tip top shape. Blame the GM and Board 20 years ago.
As far as cost of new pool.. I’m not sure whether we were able to get the best deal possible as we only received one full bid on the pool. I do believe still, that more competitive bids should have been sought. But let’s be clear.. there is no debt related to this pool. No loans were obtained.
The committee does its best to listen to the needs and wants of residents. I played PB on our previous courts, (and quit when we were tripping over cracks) and after years of patchwork repairs it was apparent that the funds used for those repairs were not creating a safe, attractive place to play, so it was necessary to move forward with replacement. And we found the most efficient, cost effective method of doing do.
Anytime you would like to actually obtain facts on any of these projects, Stacy and I are happy to provide the correct information.
Julie zimmermann
01/23/2020 — 1:55 pm
Donna—
If the rec committee wants to hold a deliberative meeting, it needs to publicize same in a manner that truthfully reaches out to everyone. I go to the gym 5 days out of 7. When here in town. There were zero notices at the gym of this meeting.
If there is a meeting affecting any portion of the community, it needs to be made public so that We are aware of it. I have a lot to offer in the idea dept., by the by. Reach out to me and I will lay out my ideas. Coffee bar and snacks not among them.
Kirk Denger
01/23/2020 — 11:04 pm
The Fay Jones DeSoto Pool and Bathhouse were destroyed 3 winters ago, not 20 years. Thank you for confirming that the new ceiss-pool had no bids. Thank you for doing your best, but is it really the most efficient, cost-effective method of fixing a crack, a million assessment dollars and loosing 2 full basketball courts and three tennis courts in the process? There is no debate, I know the facts, and they are not correctly provided by you.
kilroy
01/23/2020 — 7:49 pm
i agree w/Kirk Denger…..except for his last sentence. But he is paranoid. Hell I’m paranoid. We come by it honestly because they are dishonest. Greeks bearing gifts?
Kirk Denger
01/23/2020 — 11:46 pm
Where is the face that launched a thousand ships?
Julie
01/24/2020 — 5:49 am
Your point would be valid if the “ceo” and/or the board actually ever listened to input from any of the committees.
Melinda Noble
01/22/2020 — 3:37 pm
I attended the meeting and sat at table 1. There was no table 6 this group was taken to another room and lead by Hoover. This meeting was for people who use the tennis and/or fitness center and how the Coronado Center effects that usage. Meetings had already been held with business owners, property owners, and Coronado shoreline owners. The next meeting will be for library users. The same CMP talking point was repeated, this is not about a Lodge that is a rumor. Since the first meetings were with business owners, property owners and shoreline owners I see a lodge, town center or marina in our future. The final results will be disclosed in April. As I pointed out to our table a vote is coming in March and this may all be a waste of time. We and only hope. There was also a meeting with people/groups that rent the Center. We had 2 people at our table with groups that have used the Center in the last year or so, neither had heard about the meeting but both agreed since the fees to rent the Center have gone up their groups now use churches at half the cost or less.
Tom Blakeman
01/22/2020 — 4:56 pm
Last summer I visited a real master planned community. It is 10 years older than HSV. It also has a non-profit corporation which runs and maintains it’s facilities. It separately has an HOA (voluntary membership for only $10 per year) which does things like manage compliance with restrictions and community issues. It happens to be a 55+ community but that’s really not a difference that matters.
What does matter is that all, repeat ALL of their facilities appear modern, up to date, fully functional and serving the needs of residents/owners.
What does matter is that their total annual assessments are lower than ours.
What does matter is that they have over $35,000,000 in either cash & investments. That’s right, over 35 million dollars.
What does matter is that they have zero debt.
What does matter is that if they decide they need a new – whatever – they just get the Member’s ok and write a check.
What does matter is that they also have eight (8) golf courses.
What does matter is that they also have seven (7) recreational centers – all with different amenities. Several have gyms which are like or better than our CFC, a couple have auditoriums which are similar to our CCC, two have bowling alleys, most have swimming pools (one indoor) and there are tennis courts, pickel ball courts, bocce ball, lawn bowling and the list goes on and on.
What really does matter is that all, repeat ALL of the facilities are free to the Members to use, the only exceptions being golf and bowling. And their golf green fees and other related costs are comparable to or less than ours. (Bowling is about $2 per game.)
What really, really does matter is that they have an annual operating budget of only about $22,000,000 and only 375 full and part time employees, 65% of which are also residents/members.
And, finally, what really, really, really does matter is that they are run by a GENERAL MANAGER, not a CEO.
Anybody want to guess which place this is?
Maybe it is a place worth our leaders visiting and finding out how to actually run a POA. Maybe they could find out how these folks have managed their financial issues over the years. Maybe? Maybe? Maybe?
George
01/22/2020 — 8:23 pm
Tom,
I think I would like to visit. Is it Arizona?
Julie
01/23/2020 — 7:11 am
We stayed there many years ago (Sun City, AZ) and it was a lovely place. Good to know that it still is.
Also shows what is possible when you have a good management team and a well-thought plan.
The bad news here is that anyone coming from Sun City to visit HSV would be speechless to see first hand the degraded state of our village and the sad state of our board and “ceo”.
The only words they might come up with are, “What happened?” And, perhaps, what the heck is a “charrette”?
And I suspect they are not planning on cancelling Silver Sneakers. Or even building a lodge.
Wake up people. Things are worse than you think.
Now the board and the “ceo” have both defied a judge’s orders. What’s next? More police at the meetings? More threats of legal action against the Voice? Renovation of the Coronado Center (hope it is better done than Desoto Club) with even higher fees and less use?
I think the board and “ceo” need to buy another gas station. Think of the possibilities!
Or a cocktail pool for the east end (SoBo) where we are short amenities. Those west enders get everything.
Developers are just itching to get inside our gates. Let’s open them once and for all. That seems to be the plan.
Del Webb did not spend $500,000 on a boilerplate plan either, from some unknown company whose religion is New Urbanism.
I wonder what Del’s marketing plan was. He expected 10,000 visitors the first weekend they opened. They got 100,000.
https://suncityaz.org/discover/history/
Tom Blakeman
01/23/2020 — 9:14 am
Exactly.
Vicki Husted
01/23/2020 — 2:39 am
I’m rarely at a loss for words, but about all I can say is Whoa! Thank you Cheri, Anne, Judy and Melinda for sharing your experiences with the rest of us.
One thing that really struck me in Cheri’ report was “there are NO, None, Zilch, Nada, NO plans to build a lodge in this area at this time.”
…”at THIS time”
Tom Blakeman 01/22/2020 — 4:56 pm, I’d like to know the location, please.
George 01/22/2020 — 8:23 pm Want to share a ride to the airport?
HSVP C
01/23/2020 — 8:02 am
I think that we should take into consideration that the Recreation Committee is working diligently to research and make sensible suggestions. The Recreation Committee is comprised of our friends and neighbors and they work very hard for absolutely no pay and very little thanks.
They are an advisory committee and do not make any decisions. What they are doing here at these Deliberative Engagement Meetings is gathering input from the community.
Whether HSVPOA management considers or uses any of these suggestions is not the fault of the Recreation Committee.
Please be kind and let’s lay blame where it belongs. Thank you for your consideration of my suggestion.
Tom Blakeman
01/23/2020 — 9:13 am
Let’s be clear. No one is blaming All the individuals currently on the recreation committee. The blame here is squarely on the shoulders of our last two CEO/COO’s and most of those on the BOD for the last 10 years. (Most, not all – we all know who the bad apples were and are.)
All you have to do is go back and look at the list of names. Most of those board members who made so many bad decisions (can you say “two tier”?) have all also been on (and still are) most of the committees too all along the way. And if they didn’t make bad decisions they abdicated their fiduciary responsibility or did nothing or they ignored sage wisdom and advice from residents/Members and those committee members who did give sensible recommendations. I’m referring here specifically to the RASP Committee who advised against “two tier” and warned of unintended consequences. RASP also warned against the self defeating practice of continually raising fees on everything. RASP was, of course, disbanded by our leaders.
And while we’re at it, and this goes back more than 10 years, let’s not forget the idiotic practices then and now with what was/is done with those defaulting on lot assessments. Things like “just taking them back”; basically then just giving them away in hopes someone would pay the assessments; not pursuing collections for years; selling “memberships” for a pittance; and allowing Members to “assign” their privileges for a song so people could play golf here without being a member. And the list goes on and on.
If you don’t believe me just go back and read the records; if you can find them. It will be difficult of course because now the practice is keeping everything secret and threatening those who speak out with legal action or restricting their access to benign information when they request it not to mention violating court order in the process.
HSVP C
01/23/2020 — 10:19 am
Tom, I know you are not blaming the current Recreation Committee. Kirk Denger is. I agree wholeheartedly with everything you have said except the second sentence.
Kirk Denger
01/26/2020 — 6:38 am
No blaming, just rational fact-based observations with proof if necessary to confirm.
Kirk Denger
01/26/2020 — 9:00 am
HSVP C01/26/2020 — 8:28 am. Reread the previous comments to find that it is you who are playing the name blame game. Your site is heavily censored and only allows comments that support your narrative. Please do not advise me to perpetuate your game and blame what you consider to be the “right parties”.
Donna
01/23/2020 — 10:00 am
Thank you Cheryl. I do understand everyone’s need to question motives after the charades (charettes) of the CMP. I just would like to hope that those who know me would come to me with questions instead of offering potential theories that just aren’t true.
However… I appreciate those who are attending the CCC meetings and offering their input and will look forward to hearing from all who wish to comment as we go forward.
I know you all only want the best for HSV!
Julie zimmermann
01/23/2020 — 1:57 pm
Make the meeting public. Solicit email responses for how to improve, monetize and expand upon offered amenities.
Minn Daly
01/23/2020 — 9:18 am
With respect for recreation committee, NO decision should be made by POA STAFF! Staff should not be makeing BOD decisions. Meeting like this should have BOD involvement. These decisions should be made by HSV BOD & directed to CEO by the BOD! This sounds like Smoke & Mirrors for another agenda called the CMP! We need NEW leadership, nothing should be done until we have the elections. Minn Daly
Steve Rittenmeyer
01/23/2020 — 10:52 am
I’m the present president of the HSV Democratic Club. For the past decade or more, our club has used the Coronado Center exclusively for our meetings. This entails renting the auditorium 4-5 times per year for general membership meetings drawing 100 or more people per meeting. Plus, renting a room for monthly board meetings. We didn’t get a letter. Interesting.
Had it not been for the Hot Springs Village People website, we would’ve never known about this shadowy group and whatever it’s doing. Thank you!
Julie
01/24/2020 — 5:51 am
You might want to consider holding your meetings somewhere else. It would be a lot cheaper.
Steven Rittenmeyer
01/23/2020 — 11:37 am
Wow! What service! I posted my comment and mere minutes later I got an electronic response confirming my subscription. Now I (the Democratic Club) will go from no information to information overload. But I guess the latter’s better than the former. But, since I’m commenting I think I’ll press forward with information( rumor) that has recently surfaced among some club members and officers. Had we been aware of the Deliberative Engagement Committee and its meetings I’m sure the club representative in attendance would’ve asked the question to test for truth. Here it is:
Within the past week, it has been brought to the attention of club leadership that in meetings(perhaps the meetings discussed in this article) the Recreation Committee discussed closing the Coronado Center. As it is losing money. The report goes on to say that one proposal was to turn the Coronado Center into an assisted care center to handle the demand that Good Sam and Mount Carmel are unable to meet. True or false?
Chipmunk
01/23/2020 — 12:50 pm
I heard that rumor too. Who can state its origin and factuality.
Donna
01/23/2020 — 1:04 pm
Steve, As chair of Rec Committee I can say we have never discussed closing the CCC or converting it to assisted living!
Julie zimmermann
01/23/2020 — 2:00 pm
Make the meeting public. Solicit email responses for how to improve, monetize and expand upon offered amenities.
Julie
01/24/2020 — 5:53 am
Discussion has been made about a “medical” town center, however, so this may not be only a rumor. Who ever knows with these people?
Jayne
01/23/2020 — 2:22 pm
I attended the meeting. It’s great they want to hear our suggestions. It just seems like they’re way over doing it. Meeting with groups who rented the Coronado Center, meeting with people who use the natatorium or tennis center, close by residents, close by businesses, then everybody.
Donna
01/23/2020 — 2:59 pm
The reason we are breaking it up by stakeholders (people who use, live nearby or use neighboring amenities) allows people to speak. When the crowd is too large, many times residents aren’t able too or are reluctant to provide their ideas.
Kirk Denger
01/23/2020 — 9:43 pm
Are “stakeholders” people with wooden or silver stakes?
Kilroy
01/26/2020 — 6:37 am
Oh Kirk. You’re scaring the kids.
Steve Rittenmeyer
01/26/2020 — 8:06 am
Donna:
Thank you for your response disclaiming any discussion of closing the CC and converting it to an assisted living center. I’m sure those who contacted us will be reassured. BTW: We held another general membership meeting at the CC last Friday. It drew well over 100 people to fraternize, partake of fine food and drink. And to listen to excellent speakers.
As to the commenter who responded to my earlier post that the Democratic Club should’ve considered other, cheaper, venues. Why? The club is made up largely of Village residents and guests. Hence the name, Hot Springs Village Democratic Club. We are a secular, inclusive group with liaisons to both the Garland County and Saline County Democratic Central Committees. We exist to support what we see as the best interests of the entire Village and the two counties in which it exists. The “cheaper” venues the commenter speaks of are mainly churches of specific denominations with missions of their own. Such missions may or may not work to, what Thomas Jefferson advised, “doing the greatest good for the greatest number”. “Cheap” is not always the most beneficial motivator.