KIAWAH PROPERTY OWNERS GROUP, INC.
Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors
April 1, 2008
MINUTES
The Annual Meeting of the Kiawah Property Owners Group (KPOG) was
held at the Sandcastle on March 1, 2008 starting at 9:00AM. The
meeting was called to order by Diane Lehder, President of the
organization.
Diane began by introducing Senator Glenn McConnell the current
Majority Leader of the South Carolina Senate and the Chairman of
the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator McConnell is also the
state senator whose district includes Kiawah Island. During the
course of his 45 minute presentation the senator discussed a
number of important issues currently before the state legislature.
These included property insurance rates and tax relief for home
owners who rent their property in excess of two weeks a year.
Additionally the possibility that the tax on the purchase of new
vehicles may be specifically earmarked for a transportation fund
was discussed and the tax on gasoline (currently the lowest in the
US) may be changed from a fixed number of cents per gallon to a
percentage of the actual cost. Finally the senator highlighted the
need to address illegal immigration which is having a major,
negative, impact on the state budget.
The senator’s presentation was followed by an informative
presentation by Roger Warren, President of the Kiawah Island Golf
Resort. He discussed the current progress on the 2012 PGA Open to
be held here on the island, the commissioning of the new Ocean
Course Clubhouse, the fact that negotiations are proceeding with
the Town on the new Development Agreement (although he declined to
give any specifics) and he echoed the concern of many island
residents on the need to improve the roads on Johns Island. In
response to a specific question as to the resorts intentions on
the use of the old inn site he said the resort is formulating
plans but he said he would not reveal at this point what they are.
Obviously this will not occur until the new Development Agreement
has been finalized.
At the conclusion of Roger Warrens remarks President Lehder
announced that as of the end of the 2007 fiscal year more than
1900 of the approximately 3700 property owners had joined KPOG….a
new record.
Diane then called on Sandy Williams, the Chairperson of the
Nominating Committee, to report on the slate of the candidates for
the next Board of Directors. The candidates proposed were:
President – Art Morgenstern
Vice President – Arie deZanger
Treasurer – Pete Silveston
Secretary – Ron Ritchie
Board Members – Bob Oakman and Charlie Smith
Katie Kotz, a current Board member, will automatically serve the
second year of her two year term.
There were no additional nominations and by a unanimous vote of
the membership the slate was approved.
The last order of business was a vote on some amendments to the
KPOG By-Laws. These changes were posted on the KPOG web site well
in advance of the meeting. The by-law changes were approved with
no modifications being proposed from the floor.
Prior to adjournment the new President, Art Morgenstern, made a
few closing remarks in which he emphasized that the role of KPOG
was represent all property owners. This included making sure that
all KPOG members are aware of significant island issues that may
impact them. While KPOG as an organization rarely takes a stand on
an individual issue it does see its role as asking some tough
questions on pending issues, or expressing concerns, to the key
decision making entities on the island e.g. the Resort, KICA and
the Town. Finally, he concluded by encouraging property owners to
express their points of view and/or concerns to the KPOG Board and
to attend the monthly meetings of the organization.
The meeting
concluded at 11:15 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ron Ritchie
Secretary
