AUGUST, 2022
www.diamondheadms.org
VOL. 39, NO. 8
From the desk of the President By Ernie Knobloch
T
he deadline for the July edition of the DH News was before the recent elec tion of officers and directors, so no President’s Report was in cluded. The results of the June 2020 election were Ernie Kno bloch (President), Jerry Gillen (Vice President), Nancy Sislow (Secretary), Gary Becker (Treasur er), Bill Blackwood (Director 4 years), Ronnie Lafontaine (Direc tor 4 years) and Stewart Nutting (Director 4 years). Bob Marthouse continues as the ExOfficio for 2 more years while Directors Ron nie James, Lloyd Ramirez, Jr, and Dennis Tauzin have two more years on their terms. Some property owners have suggested that the POA imple ment a “cafeteria plan” for fund ing the amenities. This means that a property owner could select which amenity or combination of amenities that they would join. For instance, they could join ONLY golf, tennis, or swimming. This suggestion was thoroughly researched in 2019 and again in 20202021. Dues/fees are presently: Property owners pay yearly POA dues of $650 to be consid ered in good standing. Members in good standing receive a 15% discount in the Club every time they order something to eat or drink plus a 20% discount on most items in the Pro Shop. A couple with a golf cart who
wants to pay annually for golf, pays in round numbers, yearly dues of $650 plus $3,600 per year for golf. A tennis couple pays yearly dues of $650 plus an additional $900 for unlimited play. A pickleball family pays yearly dues of $650 plus an additional $350 for unlimited play at the Tennis Club. A family paying yearly dues of $650 can use the tennis court/pickle ball courts next to the Club for free during regular business hours. A family that uses just the swimming pools pays the yearly dues of $650. If a property owner docks his boat in the marina, he pays yearly dues of $650 plus a monthly dockage fee based on the size of the boat. If a property owner uses just the ramp to launch his boat, he does not pay for launching. Property owners using the walking trails at Twin Lakes or in front of the Club, pay yearly dues of $650. Airplane owners pay yearly dues of $650 which allows them to use the taxiways and airstrip. Owners in good standing can rent the Community Center and Club for reduced rates. The POA has the fiduciary responsibility to maintain and run ALL of our amenities which are estimated to be worth at least $20 million. If a “cafeteria plan” were adopted, the individual/family would still be required to help maintain ALL OF THE OTHER
AMENITIES as the 2019, 2020 and 2021 research showed on this issue. The actual cost per mem bership would probably be more than what you now pay because there would be fewer property owners helping to pay for all amenities. Picture for yourself what our community would look like if, for example, some of the amenities were to fall into a state of dis repair. Would that help our property values? The Hancock County Assessor consistently says “No.” It would also violate the legal turnover agreement from the Purcell Corp. that requires the amenities to be maintained no less than the standard as when the POA accepted responsibility for the amenities. Based on the above, a “cafeteria plan” is not feasible. All the amenities in DH were originally set up to be maintained by charging All Property Owners yearly. Unless a court makes a legal decision otherwise, we’re still all in this together. We just received notice that the expected date to receive the materials to construct the new pier in the marina is midAugust. The demolition of the hurricane damaged pier and building of a new pier has been a perfect exam ple of supplychain problems and inflation. We received approximately 75 voluntary applicants to serve on various POA committees. Un
fortunately, all requests could not be accommodated, but we did keep everyone’s application so that individuals could be contact ed if a committee member resigns within the next 2 years. Again, thanks to everyone who applied.
The deadline for this article was July 10th, so this is an update as of that date. The deadline to submit in formation for the September Diamondhead News is August 10th.
ALOHA!
POA Member appreciation & patio anniversary luau party! September 30 · 5:00 - 8:30 $38 per person. POA MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING - $15 (Purchase by 4:00 September 29) Live Music PURCHASE YOUR WRISTBANDS IN THE CLUB OFFICE OR AT THE CLUB CONCIERGE DESK