Update 3-30-12 ~ Matt Simpson has accepted the Deputy Chief position and is being asked to come back as Fire Chief. This is due to the tremendous responce by Diamondhead members. Thank you! Keep up the Good Work! Your presence will be welcome at the Fire Board meeting on Sunday, April 1st. See information below.Update 3-27-12 ~ Fire Chief Matt Simpson has resigned his position...effective 3-26-12
Lake Hamilton Fire Chief Matt Simpson would like your special support at the next Fire Department annual Board meeting to be held at the Lake Hamilton Fire Station # 2, at 1111 Hwy. 290 on Sunday, April 1st at 2:00 pm.
Chief Simpson has been subjected to unneeded stress by an antagonistic board member whose family relationship (husband and father) to the secretarial staff should probably have excluded his candidacy in the first place, due to conflict of interest. This board member needs to be challenged at the annual board meeting, which was rescheduled to allow for new candidates and full participation from dues paying members. The future of your first-rate fire department is at stake!
All the home owners of Diamondhead pay yearly dues to the FireDepartment through our DPOA dues. However, we only have one vote at the Lake Hamilton Fire Department annual board meeting because these dues are paid at one time from the POA office. Nevertheless, Chief Simpson would like for as many of us as possible to be there to show our support.
Chief Matt Simpson and his wife Suellen have resided in Diamondhead for many years. Matt has been extremely active in our community by responding to numerous fire and first responder calls, bringing fire trucks and personnel to events such as the Fishing Derby, fourth of July and other parades, Trash Bash, Safety Expo and FireWise, and providing hay rides and refreshments at Halloween events at Diamondhead and Lake Catherine State Park. Matt also serves on the Safety Committee here in Diamondhead.
If you know of other ways we can support our Fire Chief at this time, please contact Jennifer Lefevre at LefevreJ@asmsa.org or 262-9726.
Over 600 residents of Diamondhead benefit from Matt's initiatives and professional approach to keeping Diamondhead safe and protected from fire hazards. Matt keeps our community well informed by attending town meetings, speaking at our annual meeting in August for all property owners, and participating with the Diamondhead Lions Club in community events. His persistence in Diamondhead compliance with the objectives of the FIREWISE program has benefited us all, specifically including my property.
We should all get to vote on Matt continuing as Lake Hamilton Fire Chief, but unfortunately, since Diamondhead pays fire dues in one lump sum, we get only one vote. The Fire Dept. is having a board meeting on April 1st, Sunday, 2:pm at Station #2 so maybe we should all show up to support Matt.John Cummings
