Meet David Harper

On February 1, 2024, I enjoyed talking to David Harper, newly promoted HSV Superintendent of Lakes, Dams, Common Property, Forestry, and Wildlife. Longtime employee since 1985, David started his career with the Hot Springs Village POA as a seasonal winter worker on a construction crew, laying water and sewer pipes. After that job, Harper accepted a full-time position in the Recreation Maintenance Department, where he operated a weedeater and performed other lawn care tasks.

Harper managed the village lakes for 19 years and then moved to the Building Maintenance Department under the purview of Mike Sykora. “That is where I was when I received the call about the superintendent position.”

Harper was promoted to superintendent at the end of December 2023 and says he is still learning the role.

David Harper – Native Arkansasan

A native Arkansasan, Harper grew up off of Mountain Pine Road in the Hot Springs area. As was common in those days, he learned how to operate a tractor when he was just a boy. David’s family moved to the Jessieville area in 1979, where his parents purchased a grocery store. A small country store, Harpers Grocery, had two gas pumps and was operated by David’s mother. No stranger to hard work, David helped his mother in the store when time permitted. David’s father worked as a water plant supervisor for the City of Hot Springs.

Storm Cleanup

As a superintendent, David and his four-man crew have been working on storm damage debris cleanup resulting from Friday’s January 12 windstorm. On the day of the storm, Harper was the first person on his crew to arrive at 4:50 in the morning. The crews cleared the roads of trees but left the debris on the sides of the road. Harper said, “Our first priority was to open up the roads.” Harper said he used his truck headlights to illuminate the job. “Everything was under pressure. When the trees are blown over, they have stump balls on them; most of the time, the fallen tree has an arch in it. You have to know what you are doing, as it is a dangerous job as the trees are criss-crossed. You have to figure out which one should be cut first. It is a nightmare. You have to have experienced people operating the chainsaws. Safety is our big concern. It always was, but safety is being emphasized more and more now.”

We are in the cleanup stage now and working from a list,” detailed Harper. His crew operates a truck equipped with a hand-operated Knuckleboom loader. This equipment picks up storm debris and loads it into the truck. Harper said he would not sacrifice safety by pushing his crew too hard. When he receives a downed tree call, he responds as soon as possible but doesn’t want his guys to get hurt because they are in a hurry. He also believes in doing the job right the first time.

David said they are still receiving downed-tree reports, as storm-damaged trees are still falling. He estimates that the cleanup from the January windstorm may take many months.

What do Harper and crew do?

Harper’s crew also handles property pin location requests and weekly trash pick up on the side of DeSoto Boulevard on Friday mornings. The superintendent said if the crew is driving down the road en route to a job and they see trash on the side of the road, they stop and pick it up. “Since the ice and snow have left, we are finding quite a few car parts on the side of the road.”

When the grass grows higher in late April or May, Harper’s crew will mow all the Village roadsides. Starting with DeSoto Boulevard, Ponce de Leon Drive, Balearic Road, Barcelona Road, and Cortez Road, the crews then move on to the side streets. The goal is to make two passes throughout the village during the mowing season.

In years past, the POA crews mowed half of the village, contracting out the other side. Three months ago, an additional mower was purchased to eliminate the need for mowing contractors. It was determined that doing all of the mowing in-house was more economically prudent. Harper said, “This is subject to change if it is determined that contractors are needed.”

Harper will also continue the Free Dirt Friday program and supervise the controlled burns at the Terlingua Pit later this year.

David said he would always join his crews if they needed an additional hand. Happy with his job, Harper said he feels he has a good working relationship with his co-workers and supervisors.

Harper said, “There is no gray area with me. If you don’t want to know the truth, don’t ask. If my supervisor instructs me to do something, I do it. I believe in working when at work, and my team knows this. I won’t ask my crew to do something I wouldn’t do myself. I have a good group and can’t complain.”

What is the biggest change in the village in 38 years?

When asked what the biggest change in the village has been, Harper said, “There have been a lot of changes in 38 years. When I came, DeSoto Boulevard ended where Woodlands Auditorium stands. There was a gate across the road.”

Harper continued, “We have a lot of new facilities. When I first started, all of the events and meetings were held at the Coronado Community Center. Then Woodlands was built in the late 80s. Lake Balboa was dry when I first went to work for the POA.”

Away from the job

The self-sufficient father of six said he stays busy seven days a week. He spends most of his time away from the POA job working around his home if the weather permits. He has a garden and enjoys hunting with a bow and muzzleloader. He can access fresh eggs from his parents, who trade garden vegetables.

As if all of this wasn’t enough, Harper has volunteered at the Jessieville and Buckville Fire Departments for twenty-plus years. With the Jessieville organization, Harper assists on the rescue boat at North Shores Resort. He has helped save a few lives over the years and finds his volunteer work to be interesting and satisfying.

Harper expressed his appreciation by saying, “I would like to thank Ken Unger, Kelly Hale, and Matt Broom for allowing me to serve Hot Springs Village as superintendent. I appreciate the opportunity and will fulfill the job to the best of my ability.”

Harper can be contacted at DHarper@hsvpoa.org.

David Harper, Hot Springs Village Superintendent

By Cheryl Dowden

Click here to access the online request form on the public services webpage, where you can ask a public service-related question or report a non-emergency public service issue.

Click here to sign up for the POA Digest and e-blasts.

Click here to join Cheryl and Joe’s private Facebook group.