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Diamondhead Property Owners Association
Annual Membership Meeting
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Minutes of the Meeting
The Annual Membership Meeting was called to order by President Don Kraemer at the Diamondhead Community Center per Article III, Sections 3.1 and 3.3 of the Bylaws on Saturday, June 16, 2007 at 9:10 a.m.
President Don Kraemer stated that according to Article III, Section 3.6 that the number present did not constitute a quorum and that there could be no transaction of business.
The meeting adjourned and an informational session was held.
Board Members Present: Don Kraemer, Paul Mucho, Hilda Bourg, Phil Carriere, Mark Duffy, Mario Feola, Jim Hunt, Stewart Nutting Lloyd Ramirez and John Yarbrough.
Board Member Absent: Burt Schnadelbach
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Vice-President of the Board, Paul Mucho, led the
Pledge of Allegiance.
MINUTES: Mario Feola moved to dispense with the reading of the June17, 2006
minutes, since they were printed in the Diamondhead Newsletter and the internet.
Mark Duffy second. The motion passed with one vote in opposition
GENERAL MANAGER REPORT. John Bannen gave a status report of Diamondhead.
Architectural & Engineering. So far this year, seventy-five (75) new
home permits have been issued. The letter to the property owners on the south side to clean up the property has been slow; however, many people have removed trash from their property and mowed the brush and grass.
Administration & Human Resources. The lifeguard program is in full
operations with each pool having two shifts of two guard each. Guards
have been given the authority to close the pools at the first sound of thunder. The lifeguards are present to provide safety and protection and to keep order. Guards are vigorously checking for resident ID’s to keep out non-residents.
Aviation. The hanger has been repaired, new doors are in place and the electricity has been restored. The fuel pump and credit card reader are working. On May 30, the Mississippi Department of Transportation inspected the airfield and found everything satisfactory, but recommended that the runway be remarked.
Country Club. Food and service continue to improve. The new menu has been well received and provides a good balance of selection.
Golf & Golf Courses. The golf courses have grown in nicely and the greens are in excellent shape. There are two areas causing drainage problems, #3 on the Pine and #14 on the Cardinal. These areas will be fixed shortly.
Tennis. Steve Garman reported that there are 26 youths in the first camp of the year and this is the largest turnout ever. Resurfacing material for the course has been received and is being applied as time permits.
Security. There has been vandalism at the swimming pools and on the golf courses. Patrols have increased and security cameras at all the pools and recreation areas are being installed. The cameras are in operation at East Recreation and are monitored at the front entrance guardhouse. Some juveniles have been apprehended trying to enter the pool, so the cameras have proven effective in preventing vandalism.
Facilities Maintenance. Work on restoring the reflecting pool at the front entrance is in progress. The cleaning of the finger canals and channels at the marina was begun on June 4 and will continue with an expected completion date in late September. The boat ramp has incurred some damage, but Mark Boyd was able to repair it temporarily. Plans call for a contractor to be engaged to do the permanent repairs.
FINANCIAL REPORT. Controller John List reported for the first four months of this year the POA had an operating loss of $168,900.00. Fortunately, the POA carried
over $300.000.00 forward from last year to help pay for capital improvements
deferred. The road paving for this year was completed in the first quarter.
Revenue. Revenues from membership play on the golf courses and merchandise sales at the Golf Shop are disappointing. Sales revenue at the Country Club and 19th Hole are less than anticipated. Nancy Perkins, Marketing Director, should generate additional revenue as she markets our facilities for corporate meetings and weddings.
Insurance Proceeds. John List stated the insurance proceeds totaling $1.2 million for the Marina restoration has been reserved. Under the tax laws, the funds committed for capital improvements for future years, may be carried without paying federal income taxes.
Membership. There has been an accelerated effort to collect past due membership assessments from the 3% of property owners who have not paid their property assessments promptly.
Auditors. The auditors completed their work this spring and submitted a clean report to the Board with no recommendations for the year, 2006.
Software System. A software system that will allow us to integrate our membership records and accounting information is being investigated. The existing membership software and computer system have been in use for many years and IBM has stopped supporting the equipment. Jonas’ accounting software system had been identified to meet our needs and will be installed this summer at a cost of $60,000.00.
Employees. John List stated that the POA is fortunate to have an excellent group of employees handling the financial and membership needs. They work hard every day to satisfy you when you visit or call the office.
PRESIDENT REPORT. President Don Kraemer said it was hard to believe that a year
has passed since being elected President.
Yacht Club Site. The old building had to be torn down for safety reasons.
A professional firm was hired to do a best use study, including such things as
traffic count, age of people in area, income level and many other factories. They
advised us on things not to do. That site will not support a high-end restaurant,
in addition, a medium priced operation was questionable which would take business from the Country Club and the 19th Hole. The final recommendation from this company was to rebuild the piers and boat slips to the former number or even larger; to build a small ship store; and to look for a small restaurant operator to serve a limited menu of sandwiches with a small sitting area or for take-outs. . A recent presentation from a developer stated he would install as many as five brand new state of the art floating piers with 70 to 90 slips; relocate the existing boat ramp with two ramps; and build a 12 to 15 thousand square foot building that they would manage and find an operator for the restaurant. If this does not work, we will advertise for other bidders. There are 20 slips opened now.
Incorporation. The POA has voted to fund the continuation of the incorporation process by spending up to $50,000.00 to prepare the petition, hold informational meetings, get the petitions signed and filed with the Court. This is the best way to protect the value of your home. An annexation would take our tax money and use it in other places. With incorporation, the city police force will have the authority to carry weapons and make arrest on “private” roads. All of the amenities will stay with the POA. The City will be eligible for about $1 million in State and County revenue. This amount, plus a small City tax equal to the reduction of POA dues, will run the City government and the police force. The City will be able to tax all of the Purcell property, which is not now subject to POA dues. The petition requires approval of 2/3rds of the registered voters and filed in Court in 3 to 4 months.
Tennis Courts. The Board, based on information that the old site was not repairable, taking into consideration the remote location and the regular flooding of the courts, voted to look at moving the courts closer to the Country Club and on higher ground. Board member, retired landscape architect Burt Schnadlebach, prepared a set of plans and these plans have been put out for bid. The bids are due back June 22. At the July Board meeting, a final decision on the future of the tennis facility will be made taking into account cost and location. It is an amenity that has to be continued under the terms of the takeover agreement.
Road Paving. This year the Board combined two years of road paving budget, but got very little for the money. Due to oil prices that have more than doubled, only 6 miles at $600,000 was paved. Nine miles of road have been placed on a “danger list” and the Board will be faced with a major decision at budget meetings in three months.
Covenant Enforcement. The Board voted to put all covenants back in force that were suspended after Katrina. Everyone was asked to move trailers off their property, unless the actual owner is living in the trailer and work is being done to restore or rebuild the house. Everyone is told to remove PODS, boats, trailers, etc. from their property. A project is being started to ask people to clean up their lots as best as they can.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PERIOD.
Child Development Center. Recently the land was purchased and they are
cleaning the property.
Agenda. The monthly Board meetings agenda on the internet will be more detailed.
Ditch Cleaning. The ditch work by Tennis World will be discontinued while
Tennis Camp is in progress.
Increase in Dues. The golf dues were increased 25% for this year.
Incorporation. John Yarbrough and Bragg Williams stated that this is a
community project which needs 3,337 registered voters to sign the petition. If the
community does not incorporate now, Diamondhead will probably be annexed.
The incorporated area includes the perimeter of Diamondhead. The City needs to be established before growth takes place. There will be many town meetings to
present the pros and cons to educate the community on this issue. There will be
100 volunteers to train to get the petition signed and a picture ID will be required
to sign the petition.
Tennis World. There are no female employees at Tennis World and one of the eight sex offenders actually live in Diamondhead and he has moved to an unknown address. Information may be obtained on the internet at www.nationalertregistry.com. The security cameras at Tennis World will be addressed at a later date. The reason Tennis World was not leveled is it can be rebuilt. The number of tennis players and the revenue generated will be published for the community. Some tennis courts flood about once a year at most. John Bannen will investigate the need of an ice machine at Tennis World.
Country Club. John Bannen will look into tablecloths at the Country Club.
Walking Track. If the tennis courts are built in the location of the walking track.
the walking track will be rebuilt before the construction of the courts.
Main Entrance. Burt Schnadelbach designed the plans and Phil Carriere is working with him. A grant was obtained for a portion of this project. The main fountain is being cleaned and repaired.
Stable Area. This area will be looked into for a park for the children.
Subsidized Housing. If we incorporate before the appeal is heard, the community will have a voice in the hearing.
Parking on medium. The Board passed a resolution to discontinue parking on the medium, except on special occasion with the approval of the General Manager.
Two names were drawn for gift certificates at the Country Club. The winners were Lou Hall and Martha Gooding.
Respectfully submitted,
Hilda L. Bourg
Secretary
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