I do not golf and I have not visited Grand Island since Uel Kemp was employed. What I have learned is that the January 2011 books for the facility closed showing a profit of $83. Doesn’t sound like much, right ? Wrong!
I also learned that the January 2010 books closed on a loss of over $19,000. That sounds to me like the club netted $19,000 more revenue under the management of Mr. Kemp. Now, the club is to enter its busiest season sans a manager. Management by committee? Management by the employees? Management by our experienced and accomplished Board of Commissioners? I don’t think so. How many ships do you know to operate without a captain? How many airliners would you like to fly on without a captain?
I can’t say if Mr. Kemp was encouraged to leave, required to leave, or left because he was unhappy. I do say that the commissioners should have encouraged him to remain through the upcoming three-month busiest season while they seek a replacement. I suppose now that we shall have commissioner Muggridge, parks and recreation commissioner, trying his hand at the GI helm.
For a business the size of GI, which to me is quite significant, to succeed, I think it needs the full-time attention of a qualified leader. If I am correct in my assumption that Mr. Muggridge is stepping into the position, I think he should show us his resume’ of qualification for the job. I also think that the owners of the business, the taxpayers, deserve to hear more details about the sudden parting of the manager who produced $19,000 more revenue than the same accounting period in the previous year.
What kind of a stunt are those commissioners pulling?
Herbert Gladin
Leesburg
