Bella Vista

Let me try to answer you. As for services, we are maintaining the common areas. ie. grass cutting, hedge trimming, trash picked up. Facilities? We don't have anything like that. No clubhouse or playground or swimming pool. I am glad we don't too as you know the dues would be a hell of a lot more for 115 residents to have to pay each year. Maybe when the economy gets back on it's feet and all the members are up to date with the dues we can talk about those things.

And to answer the last question, we are having to ante up the dues to pay for those that are not paying, for whatever reason.

I can tell you that after having been explained the upcoming 2011 budget tonight at Greenacres that we are not asking for a lot to pay for the minimum that's being done here. We are also taking $125 a month and setting aside for wall painting. That needs to be done about every seven years and there are five more to go until the next time.

The biggest expenses to us are the management company and the landscaping. It's no secret. It's also the hardest to deal with in trying to keep the costs low.

We can go out and get quotes every year for landscaping contractors and management companys. But, again, who's going to do this? Don't just think that your board is going to take care of it all and then gripe and complain when things don't go right. You can get involved too and input into the picture. The board can only do so much. We really are relying on the property management to handle things for us. We pay them for this service. It's up to the board to watch over the property management to make sure they are doing their job. If not, we look somewhere else.

It's hard enough trying to get all board members in a consensus about anything except in meetings. Meetings are not often enough if you ask me. I will be doing my best to work with the board in trying to make things work. At this time we have a vacant board position. The position doesn't have a title, only director at large. But, that one position could be another voice to be heard. I'm looking for anyone to step up to the plate and take this on. You could be a big help here if only you could give some time.

Hey, we've heard all the excuses. I could use them myself but I won't. I'm giving my family time and time I could be doing a lot of other things, to this community because I want to help.  If you want to try something new and lend a hand, just say so. We'll show you the way. Now I'll go watch some t.v. that I've been missing...

You want to save $50 a quarter on your dues? Or, maybe even more?

Then, pitch in and be of help to your board.

Yes, $50 of your $135 a quarter goes to Greenacres Property Management, Inc. Don't quote me on this exacting amount though but it's very close.

$16,380 I'm looking at here on this proposed budget, showing this as a 2010 year end estimate so far. You see, I'm not happy with this either and I'm going to do my best to cut this down.

First, I've got to break down what it is we are paying for and post it here for you to see. Then, we'll have to figure out if we can get some board members and find some people that want to be in committees to handle some of these things. It's hard to negotiate a contract for services and remotely think about saving money if no one is willing to do some of the work. You and I are not happy with what we are paying and for what we see is being done or not being done. So, do you want to get involved or do you just want to keep throwing your money into the wind? Speak up and stand out or forever be a lemming and follow the majority of residents who don't have a clue about this and just want to repeat the same old tired out lines.

Who is 'Raysfan'? Are you from Bella Vista? I don't see you under the 'neighbors'  but it does show you  registered on 9/28/10 and made this one post. I hope you'll come back and become more involved with the discussion here.

Sharman stated that due to all the rain the fertilization has not done any good.

Is she serious. Sharman SUCKS and needs to be fired. She is unprofessional and lacks specific knowledge on the various communities she gets PAID to monitor. The last meeting I attended she took up approx. half the time allowed to go off topic discussing other communities therefore the meeting lasted to around 9:30PM or later. I have not been back since because I'm afraid of what might come out of my mouth if I witness her stupid behavior again. Furthermore, why do my trees/shrubs/lawn look so healthy and nice when I live within feet of these palms???? It rained just as much at my house and I don't consider myself a professional gardner!