Hart Center Fun Olympics

The Hart Center is proud to announce the 2009 Fun Olympics on Friday, July 3, 2009 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Come join in the fun and games with the free-throw contest, water balloon toss, pool games and more!!! We will also provide freshly grilled hot dogs and refreshments. The cost per team (4 players) is only $20. This event is for everyone not just members, so come out and test your skills against others.

Please pre-register at the Hart Center by June 26, 2009. For more information contact Kelly Farrell, Fitness Coordinator at 501-884-7777.

Bay View Pool Nears Completion

Construction of the Bay View pool is almost complete. Once completed this will be a fantastic amenity for the Club and will be one of the nicest and most scenic pools in the region. A renovation party is scheduled for June 20 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. the public is invited. the cost is $10 per person with entertainment by Brenda & Ellis.

A Magical Reading Program

The Summer Reading Program at the Fairfield Bay Library began June 12 with a special performance by Tommy Terrific, a wacky magician who travels to various libraries and schools to entertain and promote reading.  Nearly 100 people were in attendance and Tommy wove his spell encouraging tremendous participation from the youth.  A single red round ball multiplied, empty bags became filled again and again, playing cards catapulted into the audience with the card a young assistant picked showing up in Tommy’s hand, a large purple bird had some eye opening hysterical fun with the magician, and on and on.

After the show families came to the pavillion at Woodland Mead Park and made several crafts……mini windsocks, tambourines, and sand necklaces.

It was a fun and creative day for all who attended.

While the Summer Reading Program is designed for children ages 1 – 12, anyone is invited to attend the entertainment events throughout the summer.

The SRP participants will always have the front row seats reserved for them. If you haven’t signed up your child or grandchild yet, come in anytime to pick up reading logs for the summer.  Right now we have 56 children participating.  The program continues through the summer with logs to be returned to the library by August 3 and an awards show and ceremony on August 5, 2008.  Join us and have a great summer!!

Greers Ferry Lake Get’s Stimulus Funds

The Little Rock District of the Army Corps of Engineers will receive about $137 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The funds will be used on 57 projects, mostly to repair, rehabilitate or modernize existing water resources infrastructure in Arkansas and southern Missouri.

The work will be contracted out to engineering and construction firms, with the first contracts expected to be awarded in May.  Some similar projects will be bundled together into single contracts to save time and money. In addition to creating jobs quickly, there are huge long-term benefits.  In 2008, district projects prevented nearly $430 million in flood losses.  The district’s seven hydropower plants generated enough clean electricity to power nearly 400,000 homes.  About $2 billion in commodities were shipped on the Arkansas River.  District parks generated $294 million in visitor spending.  These facilities are aging, and many are in need of extensive repair and updating.  The funds will help ensure these projects continue providing substantial benefits to taxpayers for years to come.

“This provides a unique opportunity for us to make a tremendous and long overdue difference for the Corps, the region, and our Nation,” Little Rock District Engineer Col. Ed Jackson said.  “Successful execution will require a team effort, and in doing so, it will energize businesses and help stimulate job markets.”

The lists of Corps projects nationally and information on the Corps’ role in the Recovery Act are available on the Web at . Information about bidding on Little Rock District contracts is on the Internet at , or you can call 501-324-5720.

Here is how part of the stimulus money will be used on Greers Ferry Lake.

Award construction contract to clean spillway foundation drains, hone risers to remove calcification, replace damaged risers and install sleeves to extend life to reduce the risk of failure and increases safety. $300,000, Award construction contract to repair powerplant roof and rehab elevator to protect equipment from failure and increase safety during operation.  $1 million, Award construction contract to construct tainter gate bulkhead closure structure to enable repairs to the tainter gates, reducing the risk of failure and reduced future maintenance costs.  $3.5 million.

Fairfield Bay to Benefit from Gas Drilling

On April 28th, during a called Executive Meeting, the Fairfield Bay Community Club Board of Directors voted unanimously to accept a financial agreement from Wyndham Resorts, Inc. and Chesapeake Energy Corporation.  This agreement follows many months of discussions seeking to secure a direct benefit for the residents of Fairfield Bay.

The Community Club, Chesapeake, and Wyndham have agreed on financial commitments that include a payment to the Club of $1,500,000 and a 2% royalty on approximately 4,600 acres.

The agreement is contingent upon a successful modification of the Community Club Covenants & Restrictions, which currently ban drilling activities in the Bay, and Chesapeake exercising its lease option with Wyndham.  A ballot initiative to approve these modifications will be mailed to all Club members by May 30, 2009.

Under the terms of the proposed agreement, within 60 days following Chesapeake’s exercising of the lease option with Wyndham, the Club will receive an initial payment of $500,000 with $250,000 paid to the Club annually for the next four years.

Of the 2% royalty, 1% will first be used to set up a dedicated evergreen account for the Club in the amount of $500,000 to be used for the purpose of the Club funding the future improvement of roads and the installation of sewer and water service to the undeveloped lots of Fairfield Bay.  Money spent from this dedicated account must be replenished from the future revenues to be received from this stream.

“Following the appointed Oil & Gas Committee’s work and the review and passage of the ordinance by the mayor and council last year, we began having serious discussions with Wyndham and Chesapeake to reach an agreement that will ensure that the City and the Club (resident and non-resident members) will benefit.  It has been a constructive and successful undertaking so far, one that could benefit us all for many years to come,” said Carlene Barra, President of the Fairfield Bay Community Club.

The FFBCC Board of Directors recommends a “FOR” vote on the ballot initiative that will be mailed later this month.  More details will be provided in next week’s issue of the Fairfield Bay News as well as a Town Hall Meeting scheduled for 4 p.m. on May 18th at the Indian Hills Country Club.