By Laws Suggestions

Some of my thoughts on changes to the current By-Laws:

1. Board of Directors abide by Iowa's Open Meeting Law
2. Include Term Limits approved at 2006 Annual Meeting
3. Process for Directors to make or change rules that would require multiple public hearings with a means for the members of LBMC to require a vote of the membership
4. Process for Directors to fill vacancies on the board by appointment, special election or next candidate voted on at last annual meeting. Again a process for the members of LBMC to petition for a special vote if not happy with appointment or next candidate.

My reasons:

Open Meeting Laws:
By adhering to the Iowa Open Meeting laws we could minimize the talk of meetings taking place before the regular meetings as well as better notification of LBMC members of Agendas.

Term Limits
I felt that the term limits approved in 2006 made a lot of sense.

Board of Directors making or changing rules
I understand the need sometimes for the timeliness of changing rules or creating new ones. But also feel that if the Board of Directors utilized the process city councils use that the members would still have input. Any new rules or changes would be proposed, require 3 public hearings and votes at 3 different meetings. Then if LBMC membership felt strongly enough agains a process of petition requiring a general vote of the LBMC membership.

Filing vacancies
Again, utilizing the process that city councils fill vacancies, but adding our current means of filling a vacancy by appinting the candidate from the last annual meeting with the next highest populace vote. Again with the option for the LBMC membership to petition requiring a general vote of the LBMC membership.


Phil Littler

President's note thoughts

The road work on the entrances are much needed and will be appreciated when completed.

Explaining the budget differences seems overly complicated. I wonder if it wouldn't be easier to understand if he just compared a "sample" members quarterly bill showing the current year against the proposed next year's.

Phil Littler

Quick note from our president

Received this letter from the LBMC President about the Annual Meeting:


"Dear Diamondhead Lake Member,

Just a quick note to say thank you to everyone who attended the annual meeting. As I was talking with my lovely bride of 29 years, she mentioned that I might not have been real clear on explaining the budget. After 29 years of marriage, I am sure she is correct. The 2007 budget passed at the 2006 Annual Meeting consisted of four parts, GA - $276 per member - per year, Dredge $100 per member - per year, Water $450 per member - per year, and Maintenance $2 per foot of road way - per year. The 2008 budget only has two parts as the Dredge budget was included with the GA budget and we no longer have a Water budget. The 2008 GA budget is $300; the Dredge budget remains the same at $100 per member as does the Maintenance at $2 per foot. As I looked over the budget you were mailed, voted on and passed at the 2007 Annual Meeting the $400 for member's dues includes bothe the GA and Dredge budget numbers combined. (GA - $300 per member - per year, Dredge - $100 per member - per year.) My wife also informed me that I said the increase was $12 per member - per year. The increase is $2 per monthe - per member for a total of $24 for the year, not $12. I apologize for miss quoting the increase, the budget numbers you voted on and passed were correct, the messenger was a little off.

I also want to thank everyone for the good discussion on the Bylaws and Rules. The Bylaw document is a great starting point for the future. As I thought about the discussion, several of you had very good questions and insights and it appeared if a few changes were made to certain areas, we as a community would be able to approve this measure in the future. As I mentioned in the meeting Mike Mars will be heading up a rules committee this fall. Please call or email Mike or myself if would like to be on this committee: Mike Mars @ 523-1292 or bowandarrowprod@earthlink.net, Dean Osborne @ 523-1677 or deanosborne@diamondheadlakeia.com.

Important notice:

Road work is planned for the North entrance starting September 17th. According to Guthrie County, the North entrance will be down to one lane during the construction. When the work is finished on the North entrance the South entrance project will begin. This entrance will not be accessible during the construction and the folks that normally use the South entrance will be required to use the North entrance. Please use caution during the construction, we don't want anyone to get hurt.

Thanks again for everyone who attended the meeting, the 2008 board looks forward to working with each one of you and the future looks very bright for the Diamondhead Lake community.

Sincerely,

Dean Osborne
LBMC President"


Phil Littler

RIZ Board

The RIZ Board will be meeting @7:00 pm on Sept. 13 at the LBMC Office


Phil Littler

Annual Meeting

The annual meeting the LBMC was held 9/8/07. There was a large turn out of members eligible to vote, in excess of 120.

The results of the ballots are from my notes. If I have any errors I apologize now and will make corrections.

The Budget for 2008 was approved.

• This includes a $12 a year increase per member over last year.
• There was much discussion about how the dredge funds were included in the budget.

Election of Board of Directors

• Vince Schmitz, Jack Williams and Jeff Shepard were elected.

Voting on Bylaws

• The proposed Bylaws were soundly defeated.

Voting on Rules

• #1 Membership required.....passed
• #2 Gasoline storage......passed
• #3 New members required to watch safety video......passed
• #4 All new rules take effect immediately........passed
• #5 No resident may have more than two vehicles.........defeated
• #6 Demolition permit, work completed in 90 days........passed
• #7 Minimum size of dwelling shall be 1000 square feet.......passed
• #8 Only one additional structure can built per member........passed
• #9 Because any LBMC member may choose to own........passed
• #10 LBMC reserves the right to control the amount of rental permits.......passed
• #11 Garbage removal........defeated
• #12 Manufactured Home to meet code........passed
• #13 Nontypical dwelling........passed
• #14 Lake privileges tied to being current on dues, fees, fines........passed
• #15 Boat ownership and registration.......defeated
• #16 Registration sticker fees to be determined by the Board of Directors......passed

For complete wording of the rules please refer to the mailing sent to members

Golf Course Lease

• After some discussion the lease on the golf course was not changed

2006 Water Assessment

• The decision was to credit the 2006 water assessment back to the members who paid the assessment and are current in their dues, fees and fines. Credit would be determined in January 2008.

Election of Officers

• The only officer position that I noted was Dean Osborne as President again. But that is only my opinion.......

Phil Littler

Lake Blog

This blog is an effort to communicate the challenges and joys of our wonderful community at Diamodhead Lake near Dexter, Iowa. Please join us as we share our thoughts.