General Manager Kelly Hale gave an optimistic update to the HSV Board of Directors at the August 16, 2023, Board Meeting. He spoke about budget issues, new member services software, working to obtain better internet, staff succession plans, and overhauling some fleet vehicles to extend their useful life and save money.
Budget and O and M Tables
“The 2024 Budget process is currently underway. The 2024 Fee Schedule draft is being reviewed by leadership with committee involvement. Full budget drafts are due from the department managers at the end of August. The Finance & Planning Committee will begin their review of the full Budget packet in early September, with a final version expected in October,” said Hale.
We continue to update our Seven-Year Operations and Maintenance Tables. The schedule evolves with updates every six months as new information and solutions are found.
Hale acknowledged the Village Employment Benefit Fund (VEBF), Village SCAT, and groups like the Evening Lions Club that pick up roadside trash.
VEBF collects donations and provides a bonus for hourly employees at the end of the year. (This is only part of VEBF’s efforts.) Click here to visit the VEBF website.
SCAT provides transportation to Villagers for a modest fee. Hale said, “I call them the Uber of the Village. They are very important to the community.” This group breaks even and is operated by volunteers. More volunteers are needed. Click here to visit the SCAT website.
Hale thanked the groups that performed cleanup efforts on DeSoto Boulevard. “This is needed,” encouraged Hale, who said that all trash alongside the roadways does not come from the back of contractor trucks. Hale asked golfers to secure loose items, such as empty water bottles, etc., before leaving the course.
Staff Trained on New Member Services Software
“The implementation of the new member services software system, Northstar, is well underway. Staff underwent a week of training on the new system the first week of August. We are scheduling a full changeover to the new system later this year, with contractors on site the entire week to ensure smooth implementation. Property owners will begin to see more information on navigating their online experience, like booking tee times and paying dues.” stated the GM.”
Hale said by moving to the new software system, “We will save over $100,000 a year after 18 months, with the implementation of the new system.” This savings is the result of a reduction in software licensing fees.
The Explore the Village website is being streamlined for a better user experience. Expect a few unavoidable bumps at first.
The General Manager said the POA will set up some “help” stations where those Villagers who need it, can learn about the new site. Volunteers will be available for coaching—more on this later.
“We’ll include more information and instructions weekly in the Friday Digest within the next few weeks.”
Better Internet Coming? The POA is Working Hard Towards the Goal of Better Internet in the Village
Hale’s report detailed, “We are working with the Garland and Saline County Quorum Court judges and major local internet service providers to develop a long-term plan to address any service gaps in our community where access to high-speed internet service may be an issue. Our goal is to ensure the needs of our community are heard by the State of Arkansas and that we are well represented as the State plans infrastructure spending in the future.”
Click here to read “BETTER INTERNET IN HSV? – LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL?.”
Hale said the POA met with First Electric last Monday. Connect2First (First Electric) wants to ‘come back into the Village.’
Click here to read “CONNECT2FIRST APOLOGIZES TO HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE CUSTOMERS.”
Director of Public Services Ken Unger, Hale, and others have met with four additional internet providers. “Approximately $1.2 B in the State of Arkansas for Broadband is up for grabs,” shared Hale.
Garland and Saline County have Village representatives on the Broadband committees, with Unger serving on the Saline Broadband Committee and Will Rainwater on the Garland County Broadband Committee.
Hale stated, “We want to get a chunk of the $1.2 B.” This money would not go directly to the Village; instead, it goes to the internet vendors.”
Saline County Quorum Court Judge Keith Keck has actively worked towards better Village internet service. Hale enthused, “I can’t compliment Keith enough on how he has been pushing this for a long time.”
Keck said, “It will take a Village to go after this money. We always talk about how we never get any federal, state, or local [tax] money [back]. This is our opportunity. But we have to have a good plan in the future, and we need to be out front because there is a lot of money out there, and I can tell you other communities are [also] forming their plans. The challenge is getting everybody to take the speed test.” Click here to take the speed test. This test records the test information, which goes into the state database.
Keck said we are positioning ourselves to show we need the money.
Hale said, “We need everybody to take the speed test, whether you have good internet or bad.”
Hale said they would use pure data to build packets for the Quorum Courts, State Senators, and Representatives. “We are going to Little Rock and start working through the Secretary of Commerce, We have a very structured and organized plan on how we can go after the funds,” explained Hale.
Only seven of the seventy-five counties in Arkansas have formed Internet committees. “We are running hard and fast. We are organized and will not present something written on the back of a napkin,” shared the General Manager.
Hale said, “You can’t win if you don’t play,” alluding to the possibility the plan may not work, but we still have to try.
Succession Plans for Staff
Hale reported, “Staff are developing succession planning as part of our long-term strategic plan. They are identifying and developing specific high-potential employees for critical roles within the organization with strategy development to replace key people over short and long-term periods based on individual needs. This is part of our long-term strategic planning process to ensure stability and continuity in our services within the organization.”
Evaluation of Fleet – Overhaul Instead of Buying New Equipment
Hale explained that the POA continues to evaluate the fleet needs (cars, trucks, backhoes, dump trucks, golf carts, etc.) Hale said he, Unger, and Mike Sykora (golf) have evaluated the fleet. “Just in the past month, we have salvaged two dump trucks, a backhoe, and a skid steer.” In the past, we would have sold this equipment, which was entering the customary end-of-life cycle. “Two new dump trucks would cost us about $310,000, a replacement backhoe would cost $150,000, and replacement of the skid steer would run about $90,000…Instead of spending $550,000, we took these pieces of equipment and overhauled the engines and transmissions. All four pieces of equipment were overhauled for $47,000.” Hale estimated we could get five or ten more years of usage out of the overhauled equipment. Hale credited Public Services Director Ken Unger for the approximately half-a-million-dollar savings.
“We may not need to buy any new fleet next year,” opined the GM.
Cover image: (left to right) Board Member Mark Quinton, General Manager Kelly Hale, Administrative Assistant to the GM Katrina Heap
By Cheryl Dowden
I tried to take the survey but got the following message. “You cannot submit records to the survey since you are not Submitter or the Owner”
Will connect 2 return to the village before the end of the year?