Bob Parks, newly elected member of the PCHOA Board.
Pat Ingalls
Transparent decision-making and fiscal accountability take priority for Bob Parks, newly-elected member of the PebbleCreek Homeowners Association Board. As the victor in the November 9 election, Parks begins a two-year, resident-volunteer position on the board, effective January 1.
“Ensuring effective management decisions, especially regarding the budget, compelled me to be part of the solution,” Parks said after the election, of his decision to run. “If nothing else, I’d like to provide more transparency on how the board operates and makes its decisions and to communicate that to residents.”
By attending a variety of HOA committee meetings, Parks said he gained “enlightenment on a new direction in my perspective” and “saw a need for some modification.”
“We need to make sure we keep close tabs on our limited monetary resources,” Parks said. “We have approved some projects that are nice and are well done, but are they necessary, when we’re working to avoid possible future reserve-fund deficits?” He said he would like to shed more light on justifications behind proposed expenditures to confirm they are in the “best interests of homeowners.”
Parks also plans to be “an independent, community voice on the HOA Board” to ensure that all residents’ legitimate concerns are addressed and afforded respectful consideration.
In addition, Parks values maintaining high-quality services by ensuring professional staff have the background and experience required “to run the small city” that PebbleCreek has become.
“I was gratified to receive a lot of support from people of like mind,” Parks said about emails and phone calls from homeowners during the election campaign. He also heard opposing views but, “that goes with the turf.”
He hopes more residents will actively volunteer to participate in planning PebbleCreek’s future. “Many of our volunteers are quite knowledgeable and represent a great pool of talent.”
Parks, 70, and his wife of 36 years, Janet, have lived full-time in PebbleCreek for six years. They have a grown son and daughter who reside in Oregon, Park’s native state. Bob’s career experience includes five years as a sheriff’s deputy in Oregon, 23 years as a special agent for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in domestic and overseas locations and ten years with the Central Intelligence Agency in counter-terrorism programs. His travels, mostly for business as well as some for pleasure, have taken him to 103 countries, including living and working in Thailand and Pakistan. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Western Oregon State University.
Parks replaces Gregg Clymer, who completed his two-year term December 31. Clymer served as the PCHOA Board’s liaison for PebbleCreek’s Golf and Rules Committees.
“Gregg has made a positive impact during his tenure, working hard to represent homeowners’ best interests and to sustain the exceptional community that we enjoy,” said John Kiekbusch, board president.