Questions
for Candidate’s Night
- Given that there seems to be a number of
residents who are opposed to the decision to charge for vehicle stickers
and gate cards, how could the decision of the board been better
communicated to the community?
- Our amenities seem to always lose money. What would you change to fix that?
- What is your vision for the future of
Diamondhead, and how would your get there?
Mary Pracht:
#1.
- There should have been full disclosure to the residents during the time of the budget preparation outlining choices being considered of possible dues increase vs. usage fees being implemented vs. possible special assessment.
- Presented at least two times at Town meetings prior to any board action, with full disclosure of the terms to be put in place.
- Letters should have been sent to ALL lot and home owners 60 days prior to implementing which included full details of what the new plan would include cost wise and when it would go into affect and what would happen if you did not comply .....especially important to out of town owners.
- New gate software should have been installed & tested prior to implementation of said system.
#2.
- Sell only items required to maintain viable bar and grill since that's the only way it is being run at present. Need to pull in more customers
- Do things to attract more customers.
- Marketing of DH has always been insufficient.
- Force issue with DRC on pool admission fees (fitness agreement was for only three years, so pool should be the same.)
#3.
- We need to get out of the rut we're in.
- Have board more in tune with all residents / lot owners and their wishes / desires.
- Need in-depth financial planning outlined at the beginning of each new fiscal year.
- More marketing initiatives both for golf course and DH itself.
- Capital projects defined in future three to five year increments.
- Amenity upgrades defined in long term strategies.
- Must set budget parameters and strongly stick to a month to month basis.
- DH must be run as a business; stop paying for work before it is done.
- All residents must be kept advised of the state of DH on a full time basis; only legal and personnel matters should be behind closed doors and kept confidential.
Jerry McAnear:
1. The problem was no planning and no
communication. The greatest complaint was not about the $10.00 but the lack of
notification. While the board members may have discussed this within a small
group, there was no communication to and no input from the membership. Then
following that, the gate was closed for two days, during regular daylight hours,
without notice. Again, no planning and no communication.
2.We need to review the cost of operating the amenities, how they are supported and devise a method of cost control that is fair and equitable to all property owners. We need to address cash flow not only for the amenities but Diamondhead Community as a whole.
3.We need more residents and a method to attract them. It has been said that Diamondhead is not in the real-estate business. However the only asset Diamondhead has is real-estate and we have done a very poor job of managing it. When we receive a property, we should not give it to a realtor and tell them to sell it if you can. We need to keep it in our inventory, manage it and create an atmosphere that will attract new members.
2.We need to review the cost of operating the amenities, how they are supported and devise a method of cost control that is fair and equitable to all property owners. We need to address cash flow not only for the amenities but Diamondhead Community as a whole.
3.We need more residents and a method to attract them. It has been said that Diamondhead is not in the real-estate business. However the only asset Diamondhead has is real-estate and we have done a very poor job of managing it. When we receive a property, we should not give it to a realtor and tell them to sell it if you can. We need to keep it in our inventory, manage it and create an atmosphere that will attract new members.
