Bob Pettey, Chair of the Hot Springs Village POA Governmental Affairs Committee, gave the semi-annual committee report to the Board of Directors on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. Pettey discussed ongoing and new committee projects. He also announced the addition of Keith Keck to the committee and the resignation of Bob Shoemaker.
Ongoing Governmental Affair Committee Projects
“The Governmental Affairs Committee continues its work in evaluating the Village Economic Impact Study to determine its impact and usefulness, ways to improve the distribution of the report’s contents, and ways to decrease the cost of the report. We are working with Kevin Sexton and Pam Avila on this project.
“Our second ongoing project is a study of alternative revenue sources for the Village and ways the Village can position itself to become eligible for these revenue sources. This project is being conducted in parallel with the work Kelly mentioned as being done by the POA General Manager and staff to achieve these same goals.
“Once we have completed these studies, our findings will be presented to Kelly Hale for his review and comment.
The Governmental Affairs Committee has two new projects
“We have two new projects I want to review with you today. First is a Thank You Lunch for elected federal, state, and local representatives. Kevin Sexton compiled a list of 39 invitees, and we expect an additional two dozen HSV representatives or sponsors to attend. This will be a great opportunity for Village representatives, including members of this Board, and local businesses to meet with the invited representatives and thank them for their service. The event will begin with lunch at Granada Mexican Grill. After lunch, each guest is invited to play a round of golf or take a guided tour of the Village. The HSV Thank You Lunch will be on May 21, 2024, and I hope you can all attend.
“Our second new project is a candidate forum in advance of the general elections in November. This will be an opportunity for Villagers to hear from the candidates and learn their positions on various issues important to Hot Springs Village. Candidates for local state and federal offices will be invited. The Garland County forum will be on Wednesday, October 2 at the Coronado Community Center Ballroom from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. The Saline County forum is scheduled from 2:00 to 5:00 pm the next day and it will be held in the Ouachita Room at the Ponce de Leon Center.
Keith Keck rejoins Governmental Affairs Committee
“In closing, I have two items relating to membership on the committee that I would like to address. First, the good news. Keith Keck has joined the GAC and is participating both as a GAC member and as a Saline County JP through the end of his current JP term. This is important because Keith has headed up the GAC’s efforts to bring reliable and affordable broadband access to unserved and underserved areas of Hot Springs Village.
Bob Shoemaker resigns from Governmental Affairs Committee
“The bad news is that, due to health reasons, Bob Shoemaker has resigned as an ex officio member of the Committee. To give you a little history of Bob’s involvement with the GAC, he and Tom Arwood were on a POA committee that led to the formation of the GAC. Bob was one of the original members of the GAC and, for the past 15 years, has served as a member or ex officio member of the Committee. Compared to Bob, most of us on the GAC are relative newcomers. Bob, along with our other ex officio members Tom Arwood and Jim Zahnd, bring institutional knowledge and their vast experience to the work of the Committee, and we greatly appreciate their efforts.
“Thank you, and I will happily address any questions.”
General Manager Kelly Hale thanked Chair Pettey for his committee leadership.
Bob Pettey, Chair of the GAC, Addresses Board Directors
Click here to read a report on the most recent GAC meeting.
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