By Patty MacDonald, January 18, 2022
Martin Luther King month seems an appropriate time to revisit an unfortunate decision our own POA took several months ago. First, a bit of background: when my husband and I moved into our new home here in the Village in 1984, we were registered as Democrats. It had rained for days on end, so secondary roads just outside the Village were slick with mud, and county road signs were non-existent. In that November’s General election, we went to Coronado Center along with our patriotic neighbors to vote. Once inside, we presented our registration to election officials, who passed it along to other officials. Finally, we were told that there was not a Democratic ballot for us because no one had foreseen the need for one. By this time it was growing dark and a squall was descending on us. We were told to drive up Danville Road to a church where we might find one. We didn’t vote that year. That was my introduction to “voter suppression.”
I’ve never thought of that incident as purposeful, just neglectful–until something similar happened this fall with our current HSV POA board. A high-ranking election official told me that when he approached the board last fall to finalize where the Village polling places would be for this upcoming Special School Election, one of the women on the Board quipped dismissively, “These people [Villagers] can go outside the gates to buy groceries. They can go outside the gates to vote.” Accordingly, the Board approved the motion and we have no polling places inside the Village for this important election on February 8. It was too late to correct this snap decision when our Saline County JP Keith Keck went back to the Board a month later and asked them to reconsider their decision, which they did unanimously. Whether it was done with intent or naivete, this is “voter suppression.”
This Special Election over Fountain Lake School District’s 5 mill tax increase will be won or lost on voter turnout. You can be sure that with a polling place on campus every employee and their family members will vote for the increase, but it is mostly Village homeowners who will pick up the tab if it passes. Mix in a little bad weather and lots of elderly and/or disabled Villagers will be unable to get to polls outside the gates. OR they may be wary of exposing themselves to Omicron. The outcome of this election is highly uncertain. If you agree with my reasoning VOTE NO!
Three Ways to Cast Your Vote
The three voting options for the proposed 5 mill increase are (1) regular Special Election Voting, (2) Absentee Voting, and (3) Early Voting.
***There will be no polling places inside the Village Gates.***
(1) Special Election Voting
Regular Special Election Voting is on February 8, 2022. There are three voting locations where FLSD Villagers can cast their votes on February 8. Polls are open from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m at all locations.
- FLSD Campus
- Community Baptist Church, Hwy. 7 N.
- USA Self-Storage, (Old Cranfords), in the East Gate Plaza
(2) Absentee Voting (Deadline to request is February 1)
Click here to download an application for a Saline County absentee ballot. Click here to download an application for a Garland County absentee ballot.
For more information you can call:
- Garland County taxpayers in FLSD contact County Clerk – 501-622-3610
- Saline County taxpayers in FLSD contact County Clerk – 501-303-5630
Click here to check your voter registration information – confirm your address, party association, ballot status, and polling place locations.
(3) Early Voting
Early voting is February 1-7, 2022, (closed Saturday & Sunday) at the Garland County Election Commission Office at 649 A Ouachita Avenue, Hot Springs, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Questions? Email NoFLSDmillageincrease@mail.com
✺ ✺ ✺ ✺ ✺
Thank you for reading. If you like, please comment below; we love to hear your opinion. Thank you for keeping the comments polite and on topic. Please use your real first and last name. If you are an HSV Property Owner, please join us in our private Facebook Group. Click here to join the group. If you would like to submit an article for publication, please contact us through this website. Be sure to bookmark this website.
Earl Wilde
01/18/2022 — 5:59 pm
Oh, come on …… complain to complain …… we always vote outside of Hot Springs Village ……
John M Szczepaniak
01/18/2022 — 7:07 pm
Didn’t we have polling places in the Village for the last general election?
Cathie Moeller
01/19/2022 — 7:23 am
This isn’t voter suppression, it is Villager Protection. If one watched the Board discussion of this issue, having an early voting site means anyone and everyone (resident or not) must be allowed in the Village if they say they are voting. Though everyone is entitled to their viewpoint, I support the decision to keep the Village safe and not overwhelm the gates which are already quite busy.
Lynda L Narug
01/19/2022 — 2:39 pm
Anyone can already come into HSV just by saying they need to speak to a financial advisor, do banking business or see a medical person. It’s well known by outsiders, but not newbies in HSV.
Patty MacDonald
01/19/2022 — 8:25 pm
Cathie, There is some confusion about “early voting”. The only place to early vote is at the Garland County Election Commission office in Hot Springs. Better get directions from the Garland County Clerk at 1-501- 622-3610. It is not in the Courthouse. In all the past elections I remember, there have been at least 2 polling places inside the Village plus several outside, open on election day only. They were not always the same places, but I never heard any complaints. Mark your calendar for Feb. 8! Patty MacDonald
Cathie Moeller
01/21/2022 — 12:01 pm
Thanks for correcting your information later in this post.
Larry Tobias
01/19/2022 — 7:54 am
Thank you for the link to verify voting registration. I will be sure to add my YES vote to make sure this Conservative voice is heard.
You know, its funny that democrats are always quick to spend other peoples money, but when they are asked to spend just a little of their own, they start websites and write editorials urging others not to support the valid causes.
HSVP C
01/19/2022 — 8:09 am
Larry, thank you for commenting. Just to be clear, this website was not started because of the FLSD vote. This is a community website that has been ongoing for over 3 years now. Also, the author of this article is not an editor on this website, meaning the article is NOT an editorial. It is a letter to the editor of this site. Thank you. – Cheryl
Tom Blakeman
01/19/2022 — 9:13 am
YES is not a “Conservative” vote. It is a wasteful “Tax and Spend” Liberal vote.
Kirk Denger
01/22/2022 — 7:50 pm
Larry, not sure if you noticed it in your comment, but it sounds like it is you who is quick to spend other people’s money.
Larry Tobias
01/23/2022 — 6:56 am
Hi Kirk, The two most important functions of government is to provide a common defense (military and law enforcement) , and education. A good education means higher income, higher standard of living, better health, lower crime rates. So, in this case, you are right, I am in favor of it. Don’t you want the children around us to have a good enough education to be able to support themselves and their families without relying on government handouts? I am retired and my grandkids live in Ohio, so I don’t have a dog in this fight. However, it is important enough to me that I will vote yes.
Tom Blakeman
01/19/2022 — 7:56 am
I’m with you on voting NO on this school district money grab. On the other hand, given that HSV is a private non-municipal community, our POA and BOD need to stay out of local politics. This includes NOT endorsing candidates or issues and NOT accommodating voting or other political events.
bob mollerberg
01/19/2022 — 12:54 pm
Patty,
Would you please give us the name of the woman on the BOD who “quipped dismissively” about the Villagers? This information might be helpful in deciding who not to vote for in the upcoming Board election. Thank You
John M Szczepaniak
01/19/2022 — 4:14 pm
Whether we like it or not we are part of the community. Most of our property tax goes to schools. We are not on a self-sustaining island in the sea. We have dozens of kids here that use the schools and that will only grow as us boomers and what is left of the “great generation” passes away. I get it that nobody likes to pay for something that does not directly benefit us but we all do. We all pay into supporting parts of the village we will never use. Many will never play golf or pickleball yet we all support that. So what is different about supporting the future of the children. I think a YES vote is a small sacrifice that we can be proud of. Call your county tax office and see how much it will affect you instead of listening to the usual people that down most everything. It will probably be less then you think.
“
Patty MacDonald
01/20/2022 — 8:30 pm
My apology for misleading you with my recent statement (1/19/22) about early voting places in the January 8 Special Election. I gave you the best information I had at that time. Here’s a welcome up-date: In addition to the Election Commission Office in Hot Springs, a second polling place for early voting will be at the Community Baptist Church, 3518 North Highway 7 (about ½ mile south of the Wal-Mart stop-light and on the east side of the road, across from the intersection with Mountain Valley Cut-Off.)
Early voting can be done from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm on Feb. 1- 7, except Saturday or Sunday. All polling places, including this church, will open for regular voting at 7:30 am until 7:30 pm on February 8. I’m sure that most voters appreciate this added convenience for our elderly and disabled Villagers. Patty MacDonald
HSVP C
01/21/2022 — 12:47 am
Thanks, Patty, for the update.
Kirk Denger
01/22/2022 — 8:01 pm
This has got to be the most un-American HSV POA BOD. Eliminate voting??? Never before have we not been able to vote within our community.
Sue Posner
01/23/2022 — 7:38 pm
I’d be questioning the HSV association election ballots that are not secured here but going states aways or some post office box. Why is handling HSV election ballots done by an outsourced entity, no way knowing security of the ballots or if they reached destination in mailing especially with recent shortfalls in trucking etc. As for handing in ballots here on day of count with only couple hours for seniors to stand out in weather not much time given to do that way. Why not have a locked secured drop box inside POA reception next to receptionist who must take ballot from voter and insert it into lock box (usually a slot on top) mailed in could be sent to POA member service placed in lock box, give key to police chief or HSV lawyer till count day. Used to be ballots stayed in POA, just need secured place, yes volunteer members should be seeing the count. Number sent should be checked posted with number received.