Hot Springs Village POA General Manager Kelly Hale shares optimism with the Finance and Planning (F and P) Committee.

General Manager Kelly Hale addressed the committee members at the Monday, June 12, 2023, Finance and Planning Committee meeting. Discussing a wide range of pertinent subjects, Hale praised the committee and shared updates for work on 2024 amenity and fee rates, sewer upgrade news, rebuilding our relationship with CCI, possible declining fuel rates for the POA, and more.

2024 Amenity Rates

After expressing his appreciation to the committee for their work, Hale shared that the HSVPOA Directors are working on amenity rates for 2024. Hale stated, “We know there will be an increase in outside play rates at Granada Golf Course to help pay for the new bunkers.” Hale said they would examine the remaining courses to see if increases are needed.

“Our objective is to market and increase outside play with more guests and visitors to help us maintain the golf courses. “Please know that there will be some increases, but we look to keep constantly moving on that,” stated Hale.

Hale Shares Proposed Sewer Upgrade Details

Public Services Director Ken Unger has been working with Crist Engineers, Inc. to develop a plan for proposed sewer upgrades. Click here to read “HSV proposed sewer upgrade plans”.

The General Manager said they received a rate study and Crist Engineering’s proposal. Hale will review the rate study and the proposal from Crist with the Board. After the Board review, Hale will bring this information to the Finance and Planning Committee for input and advice. Hale estimated the sewer upgrades would be accomplished over 15 years and require bonding. “We will look strategically at when we bond out. We have a better road map now than ever, based upon what we have learned in the past year and a half,” detailed Hale.

The POA is looking for a long-term sewage plan that will work well far into the future.

Crist Engineers, Inc. also works for the City of Hot Springs at Lake Ouachita.

Hale Rebuilds CCI Relationship

Hale is meeting with Coopers Community, Incorporated (CCI) in Rogers, Arkansas. “I will sit down and break bread with them. We have rebuilt those relationships,” said Hale.

POA Fuel Costs May Decline

Hale said he received news from the fuel company that the POA may be able to obtain a lower rate, and he might bring this information to the Finance and Planning Committee for their review. “We are going to meet with them and see if we can get some type of structure put in place. They want to include us with the area Shell Stations as far as being a zip code,” explained Hale.

Budgeting

Beyond the updates above, “it has been a little crazy. My normal routine is to meet with the Controller, Frank Hubbard, and his team one week before the monthly Board Meeting.” At this meeting, Hubbard reviews all of the financials with Hale. (The HSVPOA Board meets on the third Wednesday of the month.)

“I look at a number, then I use the divide by two rule and then divide by two, again. Then that is our budget…We will continue to find creative ways to make the Village attractive for our members and guests, but also not break the bank. Our latest and greatest plan is for the tennis facility. We feel we can come in way under the amount originally set aside and make it look very nice at the same time,” shared Hale.

The remodeling of the Hot Tub Room is very nice and should last us the rest of our lives. “I think everybody is going to be very pleased with the work,” said Hale. Click here to read “Coronado Fitness Center Spa Area Grand Transformation.”

Hale stated, “It has been a unique journey to get to where we are now, and we didn’t do that without this committee and all the support that you folks have [provided].”

Committee News

On another note, after reviewing the duties of the F and P Committee Officers, Board Director, and Corporate Treasurer, Jama Lopez conducted the annual officer election for the Finance and Planning Committee. Jeff Lofgren was selected to be Chair. David Moore will serve as Vice-chair, while Tom Heau has volunteered to serve as Secretary.

In a Board update to the committee, Lopez shared that the Board has held three or four meetings to work on the recommendations from the Ad Hoc Rules and Regulations Committee. The rules should be finalized and voted on at the next Board Meeting on Wednesday, June 21.

The committee also discussed holding a monthly meeting before the Board Meeting and scheduling work sessions as needed.

Report by Cheryl Dowden

Don’t live here but would like to check out Hot Springs Village? For more information and to book a Discovery Package or Day Tour, visit https://www.explorethevillage.com to begin exploring Hot Springs Village.

Schedule a golf round or a Stay and Play Golf Package here: https://www.explorethevillage.com/visit-us/play-golf.

Go here to visit the HSVPOA Official Facebook Page.

Click here to join Cheryl Dowden’s Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Facebook Group.