Blood Drive ~ November 25, 2013

Board Meeting ~ 10-24-13

Board Members Present:

Vice President Joe Claflin       Larry Hibbs

Secretary Faye Taylor             John Cummings

Treasurer John Porter              Mary Pracht

Diane Jones                             Ken Benck

Board Member Absent:

President Suzzi Combs

The meeting began by passing the September Board meetings.

Vice President Joe Claflin announced that the Board had met to discuss accusations against Suzzi Combs as president of the DPOA Board. 

• Conflict of Interest  [Suzzi addressed this issue 9-26-13 at the end of the meeting]
• Autocratic leadership
• Poor leadership
• Allows select individual to speak at meetings.

Joe Claflin stated the Board was unanimous in its support of President Suzzi Combs.  Director Mary Pracht objected to this statement.  Director Diane Jones asked for a vote to be taken on this issue.   A motion was made to support Suzzi Combs as president of the Board ~ “A vote of confidence”.  “We voted for her and we support her”.  The motion carried.  6 votes approved, Mary Pracht denied, Joe Claflin did not vote (acting President).

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A Golf Course perspective

DPOA Treasurer John Porter submitted an article relating to the financial advantage(s) to Diamondhead for maintaining a golf course. Effect of Golf Course on Residential Property [see post Town Meeting 10-17-13]

 

The following articles are submitted by Kim DeFilippis with a contrary view:

The golf housing bust « on: July 21, 2012, 05:46:00 PM » Wall Street Journal describes an ugly environment: Luxury golf communities have hit a rough patch. After years of aggressive golf course expansion, interest in golf declined just as the market for luxury homes plunged. Now, once-pricey real estate is available at below-par prices. Selling a lot for $1." Seems they could have written this article 4+ years ago. If they didn't already. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303703004577474563368632088.html?mod=djemLifeStyle_h#articleTabs%3Darticle ..... Until two recent studies however, scant information had been available concerning the value of a golf course location. Do and Grudnitski (1995) estimate that building a house on a golf course adds 7.6 percent to the property's sale price. They suggest that property owners are willing to pay this premium in exchange for enhanced views, greater privacy, and the benefits associated with lower population density. Asabere and Huffman (1996) find that while golf course frontage yields a 7 to 8 percent premium, the value of homes nearby is negatively affected. The authors suggest that the increased traffic and noise from golfers may depress housing values. The Coastal Business Journal Page 1 Volume 1, Number 1

Fire Chief Matt Simpson

A tribute to Fire Chief Matt Simpson

Town Meeting ~ 10-17-13

All Board members were present as noted in the Agenda Meeting post.

President Suzzi Combs welcomed the Town members to tonight’s meeting.

Committee Reports

Finance Committee ~ Frank Pohlkamp:  Thanked John Porter and accountant Neal Graves for the good work they are doing.  “Most of you don’t realize how bad the financials were.  There have been a lot of changes in the office, a good group, the bottom line looks good at this point.”

An asset analysis is being planned.  We have a problem with the financials ‘for about a year’. The bottom line is ‘relatively accurate, but there are some errors in individual departments’.  ‘…Nothing seriously wrong.’  We should have ‘improved finances in the near future’.  Frank thanked the Board for approving the Finance Committee’s recommendation of having the department managers explain ‘variances’.  This ‘will help the managers learn how to live within their budget’. 

Beautification Committee – Gail Porter:  explained projects currently going on and fund raisers noted.  A special thanks was given to DH members: Sarah Lee, Barbara Burk, Elaine Peterson, Sue Pelt, & Susan Fikes for a donation of $800.00 which went toward the improvement of the Front Gate median.  Chris Chaich, Bill Milligan, Bill Donnelly, Carl Payne, Eddie Gilbreath, & John Porter donated their time to help move the big rocks into place.  Thank you! 

The committee is requesting a Banner to be placed on the Front Gate area and a recognition plaque be placed in the Club House.

 Gail was asked to send her report to this editor.  Please note fund raiser dates as indicated on the Calendar of Events.

Beautification Committee
Report by Gail Porter

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Agenda meeting ~ 10-17-13 ~ 6:pm

Board Members Present:

President Suzzi Combs                   John Cummings

Vice President Joe Claflin                Diane Jones

Treasurer John Porter                      Ken Benck

Secretary Faye Taylor                      Larry Hibbs

                                                          Mary Pracht

5 DH members in attendance

First order of business:  Golf Course / Maintenance Supervisor, Eddie Gilbreath, explained his need for an alternate company vehicle.  His current GMC Truck has been used for 11à12 years with 165,000 miles, burning / leaking oil, needs a new transmission.  Eddie was instructed to search for a replacement vehicle.  Truck with:

• Extended cab
• 4-wheel drive
• New – make monthly payments, or
• Used - $25-28 thousand (?)
• It was noted that the Long Range Planning fund currently has $39,000.00.

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Front Gate Code Access Procedure

Front Gate Code Access Procedure ~ As Explained by Chief Joel Tyner:

1. Stop by or Call the Front Gate: 262-1631
2. Diamondhead Property Owner makes a written request for After Hours gate Access from the Front Gate personnel.
1. The POA member will provide Name, Address, + Phone #
2. Allow 2 business days for assurance of POA dues to be ‘in good standing’ / current.
3. The POA member’s contact information is added to the Gate Phone Directory and a 4 digit code is attached to this contact information.
4. The POA member is supplied with the 4 digit code:

                                                               i.      This 4 digit code may be given to the POA member’s Guests for their personal use.  This code is connected to the member’s name.  By punching in the code, the POA member’s phone will ring.  It does NOT open the gate.  The POA member than answers the phone & dials “9” to activate the opening of the Front Gate.

                                                             ii.      Or….The Guest may click “# - star” to scroll through the Front Gate Phone Directory for the POA member’s name.

1.      Using the 4 digit code OR by clicking onto the name in the directory, a phone call is made to the Member’s home.

2.      The POA member then presses the number “9” while connected with the Guest to activate the opening of the Front Gate.

Note:  The current Computer system will only allow a 7 digit phone number.  Consequently, only local phone numbers will be accepted.

1.      Emergency Access Code is #1000.  This number will be picked up by the Police Department.  The Police Department will then open the Front Gate.

2.      Government Emergency Agencies, such as Ambulance, Fire Department, etc., have been provided with their own personal code giving them immediate access to Diamondhead.

Front Gate Access Code

This information concerning front gate access codes was copied from the Official DH Web-site:

Diamondhead After-Hours Access Code Request Form (Effective 10/1/13):  The following information must be provided, in conjunction with meeting the established POA criteria:  Name,Address, and the Local Phone Number you want the code assigned to.  All POA dues must be in good standing. While we understand that this gate access feature is one that everyone would like to have, it is unavailable to those with long distance phone numbers.  This is based on the nature in which the initial system was set up.  Upon requesting an after-hours access code, please allow a minimum of two business days for approval to be established, at which point you will be contacted with your code.

Chief Tyner’s door is always open, so stop in and visit your Police Department.
http://www.seediamondhead.com/diamondhead-poa/police-department