BELLA VISTA -- The Property Owners Association unanimously approved a limited terminable license agreement with Bella Vista during its meeting Thursday evening.
The 25-year agreement allows the association to retain ownership of the property while allowing non-association members to use the new trail system without having to belong to the association. The City Council unanimously approved the agreement at its meeting Monday evening. The agreement also involves the Bentonville/Bella Vista Trailblazers Association, which are facilitators for the Walton Family Foundation.
The agreement also contains option to renew the agreement for an additional 10 years.
In addition, the board approved a trails maintenance agreement with the city calling for each entity to provide up to $20,000 a year for the maintenance and upkeep of the trial system after the trails are finished. The agreement includes a fee schedule for personnel and equipment used by the association in the upkeep of the trails.
Because covenants forbid the sale of association property without a two-thirds approval of the membership, the agreement overcomes the issue of land ownership. It also allows for the termination of the lease if the licensed area is used for other purposes other than for pedestrian walking, hiking, jogging, cycling and other human propelled uses.
"This is the best thing to happen in Bella Vista in a long time," said Brad Morris, board vice chairman, who led the meeting in the absence of chairman Bob Brooks.
Morris said he was delighted to be part of approving the agreement. He also voted by proxy for both Brooks and board member Dave Barfield, who was also absent.
The trails will be constructed by the Trailblazers at no cost to the city. Bella Vista's trails plan was approved in May by the city and the association and outlines the integration of roughly 155 miles of trails within the city over the next 10 years. The plan was developed through a grant from the Bella Vista Foundation who facilitated it for the Walton Foundation.
Roughly 38 miles of soft-surface trails on the east side of Bella Vista are scheduled to be completed by June 2016.
The first segment spans 6.7 miles from the Bella Vista Public Library to the east end of Lancashire Boulevard. The second segment runs 6.3 miles from the east end of Lancashire Boulevard to McNelly Road. The third segment is longest, running 9.8 miles from McNelly Road back to the library.
In other business, the board unanimously approved the 2016 budget. It calls for $16.04 million in revenue.
The approved budget included several full-time position being added in the golf budget and some part-time positions being removed in the golf maintenance department. Each course should end up with one extra person year-round and one part-time position will be become full time.
The budget also included additional money for up to $100,000 for the vacant general manager's position.
NW News on 11/20/2015