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Be sure to read President Rick Noffsinger's closing remarks at the end of this post.
Phone line for information: Dotti Odenheimer explained a plan to add a designated phone line that would be set up with a message / tape recording machine. When a member calls this phone number they will receive a recording of a list of current activities going on in Diamondhead. This will allow more access for sharing information with the community. Dotti has volunteered to update this recording daily with the information provided.
Jack Watson – Resolutions: Correction from June meeting; Resolutions to be rescinded; Combines resolutions; 16 resolutions regarding fees / pulls all together in one document. This is basically an update in organization procedures.
LH Fire Dept. to clear overhanging trees: Fire Chief Matt Simpson will be volunteering his crew to trim trees along the road ways for access of his large fire trucks.
Handicap parking by old golf shop: Lines will be drawn on the roadway / parking area for handicap parking. Golf Carts and cars owners are encouraged to not leave their vehicles unattended under the overhang / front entrance area.
Adding double doors to fire station: The Fire Department plans to add the double doors needed to allow their equipment to enter / exit the building. This will be done at the Fire Department’s expense.
POA to charge $75.00 for property deeded back to POA: Whenever a lot has been given back to the POA there are costs incurred. This charge will allow the POA to recoup this cost.
Kids in 19th Hole: Concern was expressed regarding children using the 19th Hole / Country Club areas. “Friday nights, after the grill is closed – food ceases to be served, the 19th Hole turns into a ‘bar’.” Legally, the children are allowed everywhere in the building because smoking is not allowed in the building. “We are not going against any
The question is: Do we want to make a community ruling that will prohibit children at certain times, in certain places? This question will go toward the Board next Thursday at the Board meeting.
Discussion came back to the Financial Concerns
Mary Pracht stated that the finance committee needs another "3, 4, 5, 6 months of living correctly, with correct figures to see actually what the bottom line is, and it is not going to be as bad with the proper management and controls than it looks like". Kevin Cooper stated, "I can go to town to get a drink and it costs me twice what it does here... We are too cheap on the beer". Others said, "We are too cheap on everything".
Closing remarks by President Rick Noffsinger:
"I have been informed by Todd that he does not feel comfortable being GM/Golf Pro. He would rather go back to being just the Golf Pro. So, that puts the burden on the Board to make some major decisions. The Board has interviewed two people. We have not made any decision, yet. The two people we have interviewed are Dave Johnson, from the Villiage, and Sarah Dawson [our bookkeeper in the POA office]. The reason we interviewed Sarah was my suggestion. These are my reasons: Right now we are over budget. Yes, we budgeted the money for a GM. But like my wife said: If you budget money to go on a Hawian vacation with $2500. The money is in the Budget, but then you get laid off from work. So, you go on the vacation. When you come back you can not pay your bills. To me that is not good judgement.
We did interview Dave Johnson, and he is probably the best applicant this community has ever had. I have personally checked out his cridentials. The Villiage speaks very highly of him. He worked for The Villiage for 10 years at $110,000 per year. He has been unemployeed for a year. They had a change in the Board. He left on good terms. They wanted to change management because they wanted to change some ideas. They spoke very highly of him. When we interviewed him I thought he would be a great guy to run Diamondhead. My only contention with that is: You have a guy that is used to making 110,000 dollars a year. He looked at other options that did not pan out. And come to work in Diamondhead for $50,000 + benefits ( 56-58 thousand a year package). I think he is worth his weight in gold. He could probably show us how to save money, but because of these econimic times, it would be pretty tough for anyone to make up that kind of money unless he can go out and sell houses & lots. This place has survived off of the major lots. Now we are loosing that priviledge. So, as our lots disappear, a lot of our money we can budget disappears.
My suggestion with Sarah is: I feel it would be unjust to have a general manager that we pay $58,000.00. I don't see how we can afford that and a golf pro. I can't see laying off Todd who has been true to Diamondhead for the past 6 or 7 years. He has a house here, and a family. Right now would not be a good time to lay somebody off. Regardless of whether folks in the community thinks we need a golf pro or not. I think he has given enough time to this community that we owe him, to provide him some sort of employement. And he wants to be the golf pro. But we can not afford to pay him what he is making right now. We are going to have to cut him back, if we keep him as a golf pro. He will need to go out and work the streets and bring more members in.
Every GM for the last 5-6 years has had to rely on Sarah Dawson for the numbers. She has a good resume. She is a smart lady. We would not call her the "GM". It was suggested to call her the "Office Mananger of Diamondhead". She would run the POA office. We have some great managers in DH. We have a Chief of Police that was top of his class. We would give the various managers a budget to work with, and the freedom to do their job. Over the next 2 years it will get worse before it gets better. The idea of having her run the helm is to be over the managers and have her run the money.
The next question is The 19th Hole. Wendy is a good person and needs more experience. Here is where we pull from the community in experience. Byron Efird has run a restraunt. He has managed folks, he knows how to cut back. We have stayed up here at closing and are aware of the problems. I would set Byron up as a 'go-between' with Wendy and the Board, giving her hands-on training. Byron has talked with Wendy about this and she is all for it.
So, we have all the tools here. We can jump out there and go hire a GM, and at the end of the year it will come down to the budget. We will not have much money left. But, if we proceed this way, it is my personal opinion, that as we go into next year we will have a dues increase. My goal, as president, is to NOT increase your dues. Period. Because of these economic times I think it is foolish to hire a GM when we can use the resources we have available.
We can not cut corners on the golf course, it is the life-line of Diamondhead. It is a good way that we can bring in money. If we keep the golf pro - cut him back in wages, give him a benefit as he brings in members. Malvern and Belvedeer golf courses are closing. This gives us a chance to bring those golfers to Diamondhead. We can not budget open play.
We are loosing lots. I don't want to open this up for debate. I just want you to know exactly where I stand. We are going to make a decision this next week on the GM situation. I am not against hiring the GM, but I don't think we can have a GM and a golf pro.
Right now I really think we need to save the money. We will need it before the end of the year. We are over budget $60,000, and it will be more next month.
Meeting adjorned
Notes by Diane Porterfield
