BELLA VISTA — Does water bond make sense?

On April 16, the Bella Vista POA Board of Directors spoke of transferring the Bella Vista Water Department to the city.

New Business (agenda)

item D - (POA Board) Chairman Roberta Dale said there has been dissystem going to the City. Director George DeGroot made a motion that the Board direct the administration to contact the City in writing to see if they have an interest in operating the water distribution system and under what terms and conditions. The motion passed unanimously.

On Aug. 25, Frank Anderson, mayor of Bella Vista, sent (POA General Manager ) Tommy Bailey a letter: "Reference: City Interest in POA Owned Water Utility." The mayor wrote: "Transfer of the water utility to the City is definitely acceptable in concept to the City. In summary, the City is definitely interested in transfer of the water utility to the City and would be available for any further discussion you desire."

On Sept. 17, in an article in The Weekly Vista, it stated, "The Bella Vista Property Owners Association took the first step toward a $10 million bond issue that would improve water capacity to residents on the east side of the city:The program would involve the POA committing to the bond sale, which includes about $6.4 million in principal and $3.6 million interest, at 4.5 percent for 20 years."

Why is the Bella Vista board of directors looking at a $10 million bond issue when the City is ready to discuss transferring the water department? If you agree the City of Bella Vista should control your water department; write the POA or email your POA Board directors at Board@bvvpoa.com.

Harold Akridge Bella Vista Where's the payback?

The other day my dog Teddy and I were taking a walk. (I have had many people ask me if Teddy was still alive. He is, but I think with all that hair he gets hot and lazy during the summer.)

As we walked, we were talking about the articlein the Village Voice magazine that listed the projects on which the Property Owners Association is going to spend our excess funds. I asked Teddy if he had read the article.

"I certainly did", he answered, "and I suggest you keep a copy so you can refer to it when the POA Board asks for a vote on the automatic cost-of-living-assessment increase that is probably coming soon."

"I'll do that," I replied, "but what did you think of the projects overall?"

"Overall they are OK, but there are no projects with any real payback! You don't get a lot of payback on an $85,000 bathroom remodel."

"What do you mean by payback?" I asked.

"Well, for example", he replied, "one of the major problems the POA Board has been trying to address is the decrease in the number of golf rounds being played. While sprucing up the courses is a step in the right direction, it does not generate any positive and measurable response.

"However, let's say that for Christmas this year our POA Board would give every child in Bella Vista under the age of 12 a new set of golf clubs. Let's say there are 500 children in this category.

Let's further say each set of golf clubs costs $100. That is $50,000, just a little over half the cost of remodeling a bathroom. Then, you also give each one of these children one free round of golf a week at Branchwood Golf Course for all of next year. Most of them would probably bring some one with them when they play golf and you get some payback.

"Also, after they play Branchwood for a while, they want to move up to Brittany. When they get a little older they want to play the other courses. And, when they turn 65, they might even retire here. Now that is payback on both a shortterm and a long-term basis. That is a whole different kind of payback than having someone come up to you and say 'Hey, that's a really nice $85,000 toilet you have there.'"

"Good example," I said, "I see what you mean." Larry Blech Bella Vista Where were you?

Did you see my picture in the paper Sept. 23?

I was standing in the parking lot at Town Center West, with Weekly Vista Editor Douglas Grant, waving my American flag as the procession of motorcycles, the "Ghost Riders," rode by. They were escorting the replica of the "Tomb of the Unknowns" to Avoca.

Check us out. We were the only proud Americans there. The Ghost Riders appreciated us being there, paying our respects to the Unknowns and to them.

Marian Polson Bella Vista Many made event successful

To quote Henry Ward Beecher, "A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessities of life."

Therefore, on behalf of the Bella Vista Library, I wish to express my gratitude to the generous folks of Bella Vista for making our Tourney for Titles, held on Sept. 19, a success.

Although the day dawned drizzly and dreary, the sun came out and shone upon us as our 74 golfers went out on the links for a morning of good golf and fellowship. To them, I say thank you for participating in our tourney.

Our thanks also go out to Shane Sparks of Humana for providing the doughnuts to fuel us up; to Macadoodles for providing us with generous bottles of water to quench our thirst; and to the staff at the Kingsdale Complex for taking excellent care of us. Chuck Ritter of golf operations handled our tourney with his usual efficiency so that all ran smoothly.

In addition, thanks to Ruth Hatcher for giving us her day and her camera - my heartfelt thanks. We owe you big time, Ruth.

Thanks also go out to the staff at The Weekly Vista for the publicity they provided to us.

Many thanks also to all who were generous enough to sponsor a hole or provide us with items for our silent auction.

Moreover, thank you also to our patrons who provided a competitive and sometimes successful bidding on our silentauction items. These were the backbone of the tourney and helped to create the profit of a little over $7,000 that we made.

As you know, our library is not a public library supported by your tax dollars, but beholden to the generosity of the Bella Vista Property Owners Association, the city and your generous donations. This will help us go a long way in our day-to-day operations and in our striving to provide you with a first-class library.

The inscription over the door at the library at Thebes reads, "Libraries: The medicine chest of the soul."

Thank you for helping keep our soul alive.

Pat Swessel Chairwoman Tourney for Titles How many souls have been lost?

I recently became aware that religion in America has progressively become commercialized and our government spiritualized.

Christians in America have led countries around the world for over a century in feeding, clothing and education of the impoverished, but somehow throughout this well-meaning discourse they failed to balance this earthly servitude with the New Testament message of God - "born again" conversion that leads to righteousness, sanctification and redemption. To provide for the social needs to the people without ministering to their spiritual needs is putting the horse before the cart anunfaithfulness to the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A man with a full belly and an empty soul is still a man in great need.

The Communist Party in China said it took them 10-years to do what Christianity had failed to do in 100-years; why?

Christians built churches, missions, mission hospitals, schools, etc but failed in their efforts to instill the message of God in the populace.

Communists hand printed their message and spread the literature throughout China.

How many souls have been lost from this unintentional oversight?

Recently the "Golden Rule" was lectured to me, "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." [Matthew 7:12] Truly, a trait of Christianity, however without the ministry of God's Word, it too, falls short of Christ's teachings.

Has a majority of the American public turned away from God, banning Christian symbols and literature from the public venue and our rich heritage, preferring instead to worship at the altar of the current progressive secularism inour government in Washington, D.C.? Our founding fathers would turn over in their graves.

"What shall it profit a man if he, gain the whole world and lose his soul?" [Mark 8:36].

Hiram B. Cooper Jr. Bella Vista Early Christmas Thanks to Obama Claus

Christmas arrived early for the National Institute of Health on Sept. 30 when President Barack Obama reached in his bottomless sack of taxpayer dollars and awarded $5 billion dollars in support some 1,200 research projects. The jolly elf said we can't rely on the private sector alone to foot the bill.

Vice President Joe Biden will watchdog to ensure every dollar is spent the right way - he is still looking for the number to the Internet.

The President stated that cuts in Medicare waste would pay our $900 billion dollar healthcare bill. Why did we need a $900 billion dollar simulus? By the way, how much is left? Fox News reported that as of Sept. 25, the government has paid out $300 billion.

The Obama administration has determined that an economic triage is necessary. I guess if you talk about health care enough you believe you are a doctor.

Who is keeping track and why isn't it available to us? Is it just me, or is he using his magical sack to obtain political support? No need to leave this Santa any cookies folks, he owns the cookie jar and we buy the cookies.

Here is why I can't get into the Yuletide Spirit just yet.

While Congress debates healthcare with over 500 amendments to consider, we are in the dark. Last week, Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated that the bill will be placed on the Internet for the public to view at least 72 hours prior to voting on it. Sen. Max Baucus said it would be too difficult to put such a large document on the Internet and would take two weeks to do so. If you can't manage to put the bill on the Internet, what makes you think you can manage a government-run healthcare program?

Transparency was only an election campaign promise, not a reality.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (DNevada) pulls a fast one.His recent proposal will relieve the state of Nevada of all monetary responsibility and the federal government will pay for healthcare in Nevada. This is not a national program when all states are not administered equally.

Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee (D) has signed a letter asking for healthcare coverage for illegals.

Republicans are trying to block an attempt by Dems to use this bill to provide federal dollars for abortions.

Two weeks ago, President Obama denied missile defense in Poland and Czechoslovakia.He based his decision on new intelligence that Iran does not have longrange missile capabilities. Since then, Iran tested medium and longrange missiles while disclosing a fully operational secret underground nuclear plant. That is great intelligence work.

We now have French President Nicolas Sarkozy leading the U.S. in a charge to sanction Iran.

Then there is Afghanistan. What is the plan there? Bring them home, or give them what they need to secure a victory.

Mike Leimkuhler Bella Vista

Opinion, Pages 6 on 10/07/2009

Comments

To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Suggest Removal" link in the comment to alert our online managers.

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.