POA board meeting

Yesterday’s POA board meeting was quite lengthy. The presentations by Linda Grasse regarding Village SCAT transportation and Keith Keck and Wilbur Smither regarding the strategic plan took up most of the morning meeting.
Grasse described in detail the arrival of a wheelchair accessible van on March 22 from Malvern ready to provide low-cost rides to Villagers for $4 one way trips from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday by SCAT, south central Arkansas transportation.
To reserve a ride call 915-0087. Rides provided are inside the Village gates and just outside the gates. No rides to Hot Springs or to Benton.
Grasse described the success of the rides so far including trips to the beauty parlor, doctors, lawyers, car repair, shopping and to visit friends and family as far as the Fountain Lake Rehabilitation Center on Highway 7, the outer limit of a SCAT ride.
The mission of SCAT is to keep Village residents independent by offering low-cost transportation to Village residents unable to drive.
Smither and Keck presented a detailed review of the gathering of information impacting future decisions in the strategic plan. They presented the board with possible mission and vision statements to be decided upon in the upcoming board retreat on May 19 through 21.
Three of the five subcommittee chairs were available to clarify information and answer any questions presented by board members.
On May 18 the strategic planning committee moves on to its next phases identifying SWOTs, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, confronting the Village over the next ten years.
Board members were also briefed by planning and inspections director Steve White on the phase VII timber sale contract changes. There are approximately 89 acres of large pine trees in this bid with an estimated 2841 tonnage that have an approximate age of 50 years or older.
The board met in special session following the working board meeting to approve the selective thinning of phase VII contract with Gill Logging, Inc. The vote to approve the contract was four to two. The contract for plantation pine was approved unanimously.
Bill Walker, a forestry consultant, will oversee phase VII.
Director of public works, David Whitlow, went over several suggestions presented by both the lakes and water committee and the public works committee.
Lakes and water is suggesting the removal of catch and release on certain Village lakes. Previously a "catch and release all black bass" was in effect on Lakes Granada, Estrella, Sophia and Maria to create the possibility of trophy size black bass. The other lakes had a "slot limit black bass only 14 to 17 inches catch and release." The committee is recommending all lakes have the "slot limit black bass only 14 to 16 inches catch and release."
The lakes and water committee is also recommending the Village adopt the same rules and regulations as the State of Arkansas regarding the time skiing, knee boarding and tubing can take place on Village lakes. Currently Village lakes allow these activities from 9 a.m. to sunset. The state enlarges the time of these activities to "water sports that involve towing are not permitted between the hours from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise."
Lakes and water recommended replacing Patrick Leuhring following his resignation on the committee with Bob Pullen. Pullen will complete Leuhring’s term through April 2012.
The last item discussed regarding lakes and water committee recommendations was the draw down of Lake DeSoto instead of Lake Balboa this fall. The action was requested by the golf department. Lake Balboa’s draw down would be postponed to 2011.
Whitlow also outlined the 2010 road paving program. The budget for the program is $1,245,000. The outlined project calls for $950,000. The remaining funds will be used for maintenance, emergencies and paving new roads per the transfer of reserved property with Cooper.