HIHA approves funds for flags, eyes new project requests

The three flagpoles at the entrance to the community were bare for several months after Holiday Island Development Corporation notified the suburban improvement district its contract to market Holiday Island had been voided by actions of the commissioners.

At the quarterly HIHA meeting July 12, President Nile Carrothers announced Rotary had put up new flags.

Rotary President Ben Helmer said there will also be a sign listing Rotary and HIHA as contributing for the flags.

Carrothers said the flags have to be changed out three times a year due to wear and tear. Rotary paid $1,624 for nine flags.

"I suggest we pick up $800 a year to chip in to do that," he said. "HISID will do the maintenance."

Although the motion was approved, some question arose as to whether there was a quorum present to be able to vote. Treasurer Wes Stille looked up the rules, which say it it requires a vote of one-fifth of the membership, and membership is by household, not by individual.

Current and former board members noted there has "never been a quorum" to vote on things.

Carrothers said later, "We'd never get anything done otherwise." He added the board will discuss changing the bylaws to reduce the quota needed for a quorum and will present that to the membership.

Also up for discussion are other projects suggested by members, such as replacing the refrigerator in the ballroom and splitting the cost half and half with HISID.

"They haven't responded yet, but we will follow up with them," he said.

He said Golf Pro Barry Storie discussed constructing a pergola or patio in front of the Clubhouse and will bring figures.

Another suggestion was brought to the board to cover the fishing bridge on the marina side of the lake. There is a covered handicapped fishing pier on the Point side.

A member asked whether the board would consider spending $500 for a pool volleyball net.

The board will take all requests under consideration, Carrothers said.

"We have $20,000 and don't have any major projects," he said. "We'd like to spend around $3,000 a year."

That $3,000 amount is a suggested cap, partly based on offsetting the cost of ballroom rental each year.

In 2011, the Board of Commissioners voted to start charging room rental fees to Holiday Island organizations, even for regular meetings, with some rooms still free, but not the Clubhouse ballroom, the Island Room or the Barn.

In response, several groups, including HIHA, argued they were volunteering time, money and resources to help HISID with upkeep and improvement of the community, and that should count for something.

The board agreed and added provisions that groups who gave such resources could get credit toward their room rental fees.

The Clubhouse ballroom rent for HI organizations is $100 per year, if they meet Monday through Thursday. Weekend rentals are higher.

Vice-president Bob Marshall said, "We spend a lot of money on HISID projects, but if we don't use our facilities project money as credit for facilities charges in that year, we lose it."

The guest speaker was Carroll County Sheriff Bob Grudek, who gave a mid-year review of law enforcement operations and statistics.

He made some specific comments about Holiday Island, praising Deputy Jennifer Sibley and calling her a "perfect fit" for the community.

"You are fortunate to have her," he said. "I wish I had 10 more of her. She's not aggressive in issuing citations -- she wants to get to know you."

She'll give warnings and then give tickets, he said.

He joked that Holiday Island is "kinda unique."

"If we don't issue citations, we get complaints. If we start issuing citations, we get complaints. You can't win!"

Grudek said he is again searching for a second deputy to dedicate to Holiday Island.

"It is difficult to keep deputies in Holiday Island because they come out of the academy and want to fight crime."

Holiday Island's "crime" is mostly speeding, he said.

He said Holiday Island does not have a major crime problem but added the department arrested two drug traffickers the day before who had been selling drugs in Holiday Island.

He cautioned residents to be careful about leaving prescription drugs where grandchildren can get to them.

"Young kids are on prescription drugs and stealing them from parents and grandparents and selling them for $10 a pill in school."

He said the department's efforts at the high school level are not very successful because "teenagers don't want to listen to us," so the department focuses its efforts at the elementary level.

The drug dogs are particularly popular with young children.

"They don't remember the names of the officers, but they remember the dogs' names," he said.

He said drugs are a huge problem in the county.

"It's amazing the number of our inmates who are taking drugs for some sort of mental problem, probably bipolar. It's hard to know whether they have the problem or whether they got addicted to prescription drugs."