thanks for looking at the blog, been inactive for some time

We have a nice lake and there are a number of properties available, check out Craigs List, Iowa Realty ;has quite a few listings

The Home Owners Association has been working on a web site, check out diamondheadlakeiowa.org i think

A google search should turn up the web site.

The Home Owners Association (LBMC) is currently working on getting the roads and ditches improved and will make a great improvement when they get done next year

phil

Water Quality

I was referred to a web site about Emmetsbrug, Iowa lake restoration project. They give a good account of what they have accomplished in restoring their natural lake. More importantly they talk about their goals and how they measure their progress. I think this would be a great guide for us to model our steps to improve the lake's water quality.

http://www.emmetsburg.com/attractions/lake-goals.htm

Phil Littler

LBMC Letter

I've been thinking about the last letter we received from LBMC, talking about equipment/assets sold off by the board.

1. If LBMC had clearly communicated this in the beginning, it might not have felt that they had to do a special mailing.
2. Is this type of mailing a wise expenditure of our moneys? I am sure LBMC spent in excess of $100 in postage.
3. Apparently LBMC feels it is necessary to personally attack members. What a great way to foster a close knit community

Again, as I have commented in earlier posts, communications is again a problem.

If all actions taken are above board, at public meetings, with membership input and we clearly communicate what was done, I think we would begin to close some of the divisiveness that we now are experiencing.

Phil Littler

RIZ Engineering Study

As a member of the Diamondhead Lake community you owe it to yourself to read the engineering study prepared for the RIZ board by the Howard R Green Company, dated July 2007.

My opinion is that this is a needed tool in the management of the lake and watershed. For an engineering report it is an easy read that seems to make sense.

Our lake has a watershed that is probably too large for the lake that we have, as well as 220 feet of vertical fall in 5 miles of the main tributary, Long Branch Creek.

The study lays out the original design of the dam, the changes that have taken place and the annual events that require road closing for emergency over topping of the road.

The study then identifies various sites/projects to minimize silt infiltration to the lake and then prioritizes them as Phase 1 through Phase 4. Phase 1, as the highest priority is as listed:

1. Development of Dredge Permit Plan. Permit approvals are necessary prior to dredge work.
2. Development of Horse Shoe Bend Sedimentation Basin. Create sediment control at Horse Shoe Bend subwatershed and spoil site for Horse Shoe Bend Dredge/excavation material.
3. Dredge Horse Shoe Bend Area. Complete to provide functional depth in lake.
4. Horse Shoe Bend Subwatershed Sedimentation Basin (Site 7). Construct to add upland containment of sediment in this watershed.
5. Development of Dam/Roadway Crossing Closure Plan. Develop closure plan in accordance with standard road closure practices for roadway when lake overtopping occurs across the roadway.
6. Development of Long Branch Creek/Diamondhead Lake Sedimentation Pond. Provides needed sedimentation control pint at entrance to lake from the significantly large drainage area. Potential for use as any necessary wetland mitigation acreage.
7. Dredge South End of Diamondhead Lake. Dredge and excavate area to create additional lake surface, and more lake depth. Spoil material to existing spoil sites.
8. Erosion Control Ordinance. Control sediment and pollutant flows from lands adjacent to the lake.
9. Channel Erosion Controls. Identify channel reaches requiring treatment. Work with land owners and County Soil and Water District and NRCS for funding and construction.

Phases 2 - 4 follow in the study and I would like to focus on the highest priorities first, so I have not listed Phases 2 - 4.

We appear to have a list of priorities to work on. Where our prior RIZ board was on the highest priorities is not clear to me, but the study should help our new board in its planning.

I was told 12/29/2007 that only 1 copy has been found. Hopefully the others will materialize.

Phil Littler

Rule Changes

I stopped at the LBMC office today and asked Pat for a new copy of the LBMC Rules and By-Laws. She informed me that the version showing the changes was not available yet.

I believe that one of the changes approved stated that any change or new rule or by-law took affect immediately after that annual meeting. Apparently that means after the next annual meeting since we (LBMC) are still distributing the 2007 rules and by-laws.

As I referred to the correspondence that followed that last annual meeting, I see that our president sent a letter talking about his error in stating the quarterly or monthly dues/maintenance fees had been misstated, he said at the meeting an increase of $12 per month, but in reality it is an increase of $24 per month. With the arrival of the first 1/4 billing we can all see the increase.

Later in the letter the president talks about a committee headed by Mike Mars would meet this past fall to work on rules/by-law changes, and if anyone was interested in serving on the committee to contact Mike Mars. I wonder if this committee has been working and if anyone who wanted to participate has gotten the opportunity????

Phil Littler

Diamondhead Dispatch

I received the December issue of the "Diamondhead Dispatch" Saturday in the mail.

I have been disappointed in the content of this newsletter for some time, but have not said much in case my thinking is tarnished from other things going on at the lake.

I have kept almost every copy of the lake newsletter since we became property owner there, so I pulled out a copy from a number of years ago and compared.

1. Meeting minutes showed much more detail and content several years ago.
2. Reports contained much more information about finished projects and current projects.
3. Financial data was much more detailed, particularly about special funds.
4. Newsletter appears to come later and later in each month.
   

I have made many of the LBMC meetings recently, not all but many, and have noticed that actions taken at meetings, or discussions or questions at meetings are very seldom communicated in the newsletter. This is not only the newsletter, but also applies to minutes of prior meetings, and not just LBMC.

At the October LBMC meeting, the board voted to approve a very open contract with an excavation contractor to do ditch work on the east side of the lake to be completed in November of 2007. I do not remember the exact dollar amount, but it was in excess of $10,000. The board voted unanimously to proceed with the open contract. As time progressed and no work was completed I wondered what happened. Nothing was in the November newsletter or the December newsletter. Rumors, and I repeat, RUMORS, tell me that it was decided later not to proceed with the ditch work contract.

I give this example because I am quite confident that I heard the contract approved and then nothing in the newsletter in November or December.

Clear, accurate, timely communication would benefit all at our community.

Phil Littler

Accountability

This is a subject that has bothered me for some time.

First let me state that I am honest enough to admit when I am wrong. I am also responsible enough to include my full name in all correspondence, written and electronic. I do not like anonymous letters, email or blogs. If the writer is not confident enough to include his/her name, I personally have to question how factual the material is.

If this blog becomes anything more than my personal ramblings, I don't think anonymous comments will be allowed. If they are to be allowed it would have to managed by a number of moderators that I trust explicitly.

Phil Littler