Welcome to HHP360 - Issue # 1
2024 Resident Opinion Survey
Welcome to the kick-off issue of HHP 360° where our incredible team of PWJ’s (people without jobs) will share stories, news and opinions related to our fabulous community here on Hilton Head Island that you may not hear elsewhere. We love our community, we love our neighbors and we love living on Hilton Head Island. But nothing is perfect. It’s important, therefore, to recognize that advocating for change or debating the need for change is an honorable course as long as it’s open and honest.
It seems our first issue coincides with a perfect example of a concern many seem to share -- the 2024 edition of HHP’s Resident Opinion Survey where all the issues and options for an “opinion” are pre-selected for your convenience and there is literally no space provided to elaborate an actual opinion. One comment in a discussion on NextDoor hits a main issue on the head -- It does not appear that the board is actually interested in our opinions but rather interested in forwarding their individual agenda. There are lots of ways to ask questions on a survey, one of which is to word questions in a manner that either intentionally or unintentionally influences the answers. Valid surveys strive to eliminate this sort of bias – this survey doesn’t. And what information can this survey communicate if 20% of respondents, for instance, marked on question 29 that they "never” feel safe in HHP when there is no option for explanation?
While we have concerns with the manner many of these questions are posed, the one that creates most of the concern is #26, providing three alternatives for the next Capital Improvement Project – three alternatives without any cost or time estimates. So, how can we compare one to the other? Is it by design that those alternatives pit interest groups against each other? For example, dog park advocates pitted against the pickleball club. This occurs without an actual commitment to a dog park. Instead, they are only offered a “possible inclusion” with the Plantation House. And oh, by the way, there’s another “possible inclusion” of a band shelter, or is that instead of a dog park. It’s just not clear, is it? Is that confusion by design to get more votes for the Plantation House, or could it be unintentional? We are not sure because we don’t know the agenda of the Board. We must ask, why can’t we have several of these smaller projects such as dedicated pickleball courts, additional bocce courts, and a dog park, regardless of whether the larger, more expensive Capital Improvements occur such as the Plantation House and a band shelter? We don’t know the likely costs of each, so how can we determine why we can’t have several at the same time? What about the third option? The security gate houses are in deplorable condition with poor heat and air conditioning. Why is the workspace of employees viewed as optional, and pitted against resident amenities such as tennis or a dog park? Is the purpose of this question to justify the capital expenditure that was always intended – improvements to Plantation House – or is it intended to give residents more of a voice in how their fees are spent? If so, going about it in this fashion does not reflect a sincere effort. We hope the Board will hear the loud outcry against this survey and find a more transparent, constructive method of listening to, and communicating with the residents.
Anyway, love us, hate us or just be curious – we want you as a subscriber and maybe even as a contributor from time to time. HHP is loaded with incredible minds, and we’ll welcome your feedback if you just reply to the email that delivers your next newsletter. And we promise there won’t be constant complaining. In fact, I may give updates in the next issue on our new alarm clock, Larry the white-eyed Vireo, and his unyielding determination to attract a mate by banging on our windows. Visit our Substack page or click the subscribe buttons embedded above to start your FREE subscription now and opt out anytime you like – hope we’ll talk again soon.
