Bella Vista

Did I see on the sign that you guys are increasing the dues $45? Seeing as we get no services or facilities for our dues, I don't understand the need for us to pay more.

This increase is my preliminary observation from the 2011 budget worksheet that I received from Greenacres Property Management. It's not final yet. Tomorrow, Thursday Sept. 30th at 5:00 PM is the pre budget meeting between the board and Greenacres. I was informed that their accounting people would be there. Any resident is welcome to attend to hear more and ask any questions. We'll get to the bottom of this. I don't want any increase either my friend.

More information to come. Stay tuned.

I have been on record as being opposed to increases but someone posed the question to me: Would you pay more if they enforced the rules? Meaning the attorney fees to take people who violate rules and inconvenience their neighbors to court to make them comply. I say HELL YES! Enough of people who don't keep up with their property, park opposite their neighbors driveway overnight, blow their yard waste into the street. The other night I drove thru both sides and was amazed at the work trucks either with signs of their work materials in the back-purely visible from the street-both against the community rules. Dirty driveways, screen doors on front doors. You probably think-he probably has some form of violation and maybe I do and would welcome a letter from the lame ass company that manages Bella Vista. There is the real problem-an over priced management company who has done this budget and recommended the 45.00 increase. I never see them in Bella Vista checking on things. They were supposed to get bids to pressure wash the entrance walk ways last year-last time I asked-they never got back with the board-allegedly.   

       Bottom line-some of the residents don't pay-maybe because they can't, the common ground needs to be maintained, lake maintenance and issues are some real cost. I bought here at the prime of the housing market and bought into a DEED RESTRICTED community but don't see many restrictions at all. Last year a board member was soooo concerned about legal fees-right after he announced they were switching landscapers and saving thousands of dollars! Talk about contradicting oneself! It's always about the legal fees! Raise the fees and clean up the place! Not looking for a super policed neighborhood but at least make the term Deed Restricted mean something. I have an investment here and I and others have cleaned up some of the vacated properties to try to keep our neighborhood looking nice. Not for an at-a-boy but because it is a proven fact-crime increases in neighborhoods where houses look run down and unoccupied. But we can't do it alone. Take the banks of the foreclosures to court as well.               

   Look -I try to do my part but it isn't fair that I signed a contract to pay for a home and the community fees and while I keep up my end-management doesn't.

    I give them credit for putting those signs up-in the past you get a payment book and a letter announcing an increase-MERRY CHRISTMAS! At least we are for-warned before it is decided this time. I can respect that.

Our Treasurer, Francine, and I were at the meeting at Greenacres offices today at 5:00 PM. I understand that 5:00 PM is early and most people are not getting out of work until then. Our property manager picked the time.

Sharman Killian, our property manager and Helen Parkhill, director of accounting services for Greenacres Properties, Inc. were on hand to go over the financial statement and our proposed 2011 budget. As has been done in the past, each line item was gone over and explainded and our questions were answered.

It was understood at the end of the meeting that our dues would only increase by $10 a quarter per resident. I don't know how I was so far off when I put $45 dues increase on the meeting signs I placed out at the entranceways but I did want to give a heads up ahead of time.

Our landscaping contract budgeted line item was increase as to take into account the need to replace the oleanders that have died.

After expressing displeasure with the way the commons have been taken care of this year it was suggested that the board come up with a redesigned contract specifications and present to the landscaper for lowering their fee. This will now be a priority. One thing I brought up that the landcaper was not taking care of the irrigation system as contracted in the agreement. One sprinkler head has been busted on the first entrance as your exiting for I know, the three years that I've been here. Sharman stated that anyone can call to complain and that things would be taken care of. I told Sharman that I had just sat and watched to see how long it would take to be noticed but it never was so I brought it up tonight. So, what does this tell us? There are some things that aren't being noticed and it's up to us to report it.

Another thing I brought up was the palm trimming and lack of fertilizing. Sharman stated that due to all the rain the fertilization has not done any good. Also, that the palm trimming was done once a year in October and was coming up. As I sat there with my laptop I pulled up K. Johnson's contract and there is a chart in it and it shows palm trimming to be done twice a year, once in May and again in November. I didn't say a thing.

I'm sure there is a lot in that contract that I have pulled up on another screen right now that I need to go over with a fine toothed comb. But, you know what? I'm only one man. That's what we have committees for. No one wants to step up to the plate and be a committee or form one. I did have Danny Crawford, Francine's wife committ to being our new landscape committee chair just yesterday. That's a start. If just one person will commit to do one thing we could get a lot more done, the more the better of course.

So, I guess what I'm saying is if you want to do more than bitch and complain, balance that with some positive movements like getting on the phone, talking with vendors, getting quotes. I'm always here to help coordinate things. Even better, let's use this discussion area for a keeping in contact, discussing things, etc.

I hear what you are saying, Rich, about why you bought here too. I happen to like a deed restricted community for the rules it gives us all to go by to have a happy and neat looking community. If only more people would think about this and try to comply with the rules we'd all be happier and the community would look great. But, we know there are plenty of reasons why people do what they do. For the live of us, we don't understand why they do the things they do sometimes. Sometimes I think it's up to each and everyone of us to remind ourselves what we are supposed to be doing to get along and enjoy what we have.

It's all about talking like we are doing here. Get out and talk to your neighbor, ask him what he thinks of the neighborhood and why? If you want to really do something, get a neighbor to join you in some positive good for the community. There are about a half dozen of us now that are trying our best to maintain the abandoned and foreclosed homes that the owners and the banks aren't doing. That's a great start but if you look around there is a lot to keep up and we could use more help.

Back to the deed restrictions and enforcement and dues. Legal is doing all they can by sending out letters to the residents who violate the rules or bylaws. Some may not agree with the rules but hey, it's the rules and I really don't find they are that hard to follow. I think some are just not aware and at times, yes, don't care, for whatever reason.

I'm not sure just how far legal can go to enforce the bylaws but we'll find out in time I'm sure as we proceed ahead. Dues. Okay, the economy, it sucks and it's taking people with it. That means the rest of us will have to take up the slack. Those not paying will have to suffer the legal process or try to pay up. It's not pretty and it's not fun but it's a process that has to be followed.

That's all I have to say at this time.