Andra Atteberry

Staff Writer n andraa@nwanews.com

Starting out the new year giving villagers better service is just great with Patrick "Pat" Frazee, membership service manager.

By adding two more hours to the work day, the Bella Vista Property Owner's office will help people who have to work until five, he said.

"Members told us in our 2005 survey that their busy schedules are making it difficult for them to conduct POA business," POA General Manager Tommy Bailey said. "The demographics of our community have changed, with more families moving in and more of our retired residents returning to work."

Starting Jan. 3, the POA offices will be open two extra hours each day from 7:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. They will be open 11 hours a day Monday through Friday.

Prior to the decision to add hours, the members services department added extra employees to give better service. Once the POA decided to extend the hours, Frazee said they figured out they could extend the hours with the staff they had by staggering hours.

"The work schedule is very complicated," he said. "Just about everyone will be working the first week because it's a short work week, from Jan. 3 to Jan. 6."

The staff is relatively new, with just an average of 2 1/2 to 3 years of service. When Frazee came to Bella Vista four years ago, the average was 10 years.

Fee increases approved by the POA Board make the additional hours possible. The transfer fees in the village rise from $50 to $100. Water account review for account audits, leak investigation, meter calibrations rise from $10 to $50. A new $50 fee to research property transfer information was added.

"One staff member does nothing but that," Frazee explained.

In addition to new people, the department added new computer software a little over a year ago.

"The new computer system is pretty well set," he said. "Our IT (information technology people) worked wonders customizing the system for our very specific use."

A second service, express golf registration, should also reduce the lines at the POA offices. It is available through the Bella Vista Web site at www.bellavistapoa.com/golf/registration/index.htm. Golfers can renew their photo identification cards, buy golf value cards and register carts over the Internet. They will pick up their cards and registrations at the Country Club Pro Shop.