Jim Hannon started meeting by explaining his “opinion” regarding the “secret” meeting.
Dave Johnson “has applied for a city manager’s job somewhere out of state. He is waiting to hear about the results. I think he would prefer to stay in the area. Obviously there is a disparity in the money we could pay and the money he was making previously. He has more experience doing that job than any of us can ever envision.”
John Cummings: So, was an offer made?
Jim Hannon: No. The only thing we did is told him (David Johnson) what Eric (Markle) was making and asked him if he would even consider this job at that price. He said he would have to consider that question after he heard from the other prospect he has.
Sam Porterfield: Excuse me; doesn’t that sound like an offer?
Terry Shipp: No, there was no offer. He came out here to talk with us.
Sam Porterfield: It still sounds like an illegal meeting. You called board members together without any notification. That is illegal – against the ByLaws.
Jim: You are entitled to your opinion, but I disagree with you.
Sam: Well, you can disagree ‘til the cows come home. It was still an illegal meeting.
Jim: That is your opinion.
-More concerning this issue follows later in the evening-
Committee Reports:
Architectural Committee – Jack Watson:
2 new permits for fences
1 new permit for a swimming pool
Community Standards – No info
Finance Committee - no meeting today – Auditors are in the office preparing a statement for the Annual Meeting.
Focus – nothing new
Golf Committee – Sept 24th & 25th Guys and Dolls Tournament
Nominating Committee - We are still accepting ballots to be turned into the ‘Big White Box’
Public Relations - No News
Public Safety – No
Roads – We are on the verge of moving equipment out here. Todd Belz: Next Thursday the project of re-surfacing of the roads will begin. From the Front Gate to the Pool on the Entrance side.
Social Committee – Nothing
The status of the DH Community Web-site – Susie Combs: The Community Web-site does contain a copy of the By-Laws. However, Todd says it is not yet functioning.
There will be an executive Session next week during the Board Meeting to discuss who the “Person of the Year” will be for this year.
De-thatching equipment:
Todd Belz – Eddie had an old piece of equipment used for de-thatching the greens. He needed to go ahead and place the order for a new one because it will take 3 weeks for it to come in. I called some of the Board members to get the approval on it. So, we have already placed the order for this piece of equipment and it should be in any day. We will vote on that next Thursday.
Marina Update:
There is an interested party that is planning to purchase the Crazy Yankee property and some of the boat docks. Later in the evening more info was added to this update.
-- Todd Belz read from a paper concerning this purchase. “The ‘silent partner’ who lives out here is Connie Metcom, an attorney. The majority owner would be Glen Brashears. Glen has been in the Boat Business in and around
Question: Will they clean up the property?
Answer: “Yes they will. He does address that, as well. ‘This marina, as you can see has fallen into a fairly serious state of disrepair, and will require a fairly substantial investment of time and money to make it into a viable business. We have looked at the books from the previous owner who never turned a profit even when debt service was removed from the equation. We believe we can make it work in time. But we simply can’t afford to defend law suites and engender (ill feelings) among the neighbors.’” Todd explained that they may need to move some boat slips around to have a place to do their repairs.
POA Insurance Program on July 1st. This was renewed at the same price as last year.
John Cummings: Were there any bids on this?
Jim Hannon: One. When you get into a true police department, like we have, there are very few insurance companies that will handle it.
Tom Lockette: I am pleased that we were able to get the same rate as last year.
"That is all for the Agenda" Jim Hannon
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Mary Pracht spoke for 7 minutes. To read her “Good Bye” Speech please click on the separate post below.
John Cummings (past Board president): I’ve got to go back to this Board meeting. There are no exemptions in the By-Laws to add board meetings for any subjects where you don’t post it 3 days in advance. If the Board is trying to say that there are certain topics that we can have board meetings about, and we don’t have to post it and notify the community about a board meeting - you better write down what those exemptions are, or you better put them in the By-Laws. There aren’t any exemptions. When there is a board meeting, it is required to be posted.
Jim Hannon: You can’t talk to prospective personnel in front of a community of people.
John Cummings: You have to post it in advance and say that it is a personnel meeting.
Mary Pracht: …getting together to talk about Diamondhead issues have gone on for 3 years, and years before, to talk about stuff. As long as you don’t vote, and carry on the business of Diamondhead…
John Cummings: I am just saying there is a right way to do it. It has not been done right.
Terry Shipp: John, the guy saw the add in the paper that Eric had been terminated. He had been terminated at
John Cummings: When the board gets together, it is a board meeting.
Charlie Wood: When the board terminated Eric was there a meeting?
Mary Pracht: There did not need to be one. The president has that authority.
Charlie Wood: No, he does not.
Mary Pracht: We were not in on it. We have no idea why (Eric was fired). I have my suspicions, but I don’t know why.
Charlie Wood: Where does the President get that authority? (a rhetorical question)
Tom Lockette: John, we do more business in Agenda meetings, than we did sitting there listening to the guy tell us what he did in
Sandra Shipp: Was it posted for 3 days when the board voted to sell the old country club?
Teresa Cummings: No, and that wasn’t done right.
Sandra Shipp: Well, that is what I am saying. That wasn’t done right either.
Jerry McAnear: The selling of the old country club took place in Executive meeting.
Jim Hannon: That was not any surprise deal. That was discussed several times before it was voted on.
Concerning the firing of Eric Markle –
Mary Pracht: I wasn’t given the reason for firing him. I have 4 pages of reasons why I would have fired him, but I didn’t have that power.
Byron Efird: The president has the power, according to our By-Laws, to fire employees.
[Mary Pracht was talking at the same time as Byron. Mary said "hire and fire".]
Frank Polkamp (past Board president): The president contacts board members and brings them together for a purpose. This does not have to be something that is voted on. He should be giving 3 days notice, posted 3 days in advance and called into Executive Session. That way the general public is not invited into it. That is the way to keep it within the By-Laws. This is the way it should be done.
Terry Shipp: Every time somebody calls and wants to talk to us, we have to give them 3 days notice?
Frank Polkamp: No, only if the president calls the board together.
Teresa Cummings: “Those of us who have been on the Board and their spouses know how hard it is to be a member of the Board. We really do appreciate what each of you do.”
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Geese: A question was asked regarding the large number of geese in Diamondhead. Todd explained that the Lion’s Club will be purchasing two Swans to get rid of the geese.
Police Report – by Joel Tyner:
"First of all I would like to thank the Lion’s club for donating three AEDs. At first we thought we would need to spend a lot of money. I talked with someone at the hospital and they saved us $600.00 off each one of them. One will be placed at the 19th Hole, one will be placed at the pool, and one for the police department.
I know everyone wants to know what is going on with the police department, since I am the new chief. I sold one police car and we will use some of that money to get new radios. New uniforms were donated by the Wild Life Committee."
Chief Tyner has requested the 911 dispatch to designate calls that come in from Diamondhead. This way DH police department will immediately respond. Joel has started a juvenile program for those who have committed a first offense. “They will start working out here for us.” “I have talked with the parents involved.”
We also have an updated map of the DH community.
Rivera Utilities was discussed by DeOtis Cotton and Frank Polkamp. It was explained that when the “Construction fees” are paid in full, the “Operation fees” come into effect.
Hopefully, more information will become available for this issue.
Notes Submitted by,
Diane Porterfield
