Author: Kristie Wells
As the October 30th IVGID Board of Trustees meeting nears, an urgent concern has surfaced: the current board is pressing forward with hiring a new General Manager, despite the imminent end of several trustees’ terms in just 60 days. (Agenda)
By pushing this decision, the outgoing board risks depriving the incoming trustees of the chance to shape IVGID’s future on their own terms—without the weight of previous board agendas or questionable financial decisions.
In only 11 days, three board seats will be up for re-election, yet Board Chair Sara Schmitz remains intent on proceeding with candidate interviews for the General Manager position. With three trustees in a lame-duck position, this decision holds the potential to entangle the new board in a multi-year contract with no clear exit, echoing past administrative missteps that have burdened the District.
The pressing question now is whether the current board’s legacy will be one of continued turmoil, leaving the incoming board with a leadership structure that may not align with the community’s evolving vision for IVGID.
This current board has already failed the District in significant ways.
- The ill-fated decision of Schmitz, Tulloch and Dent to fire former General Manager Indra Winquest a year before the end of his contract, wasting funds with no tangible benefit.
- The hiring of Bobby Magee who resigned after only three months.
- Wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars to get another audit performed by Rubin Brown that told them largely the same thing as the Moss Adams audit.
- Trustee Schmitz was also heavily involved in the hiring of Tim Sands, and with that, the expansion of his responsibilities from Director of Golf to the General Manager of Golf, which included food and beverage. Unfortunately, Sands only lasted a few months in the role.
The board’s persistent missteps underscore a troubling inability to make sound personnel and financial decisions.
Pushing forward with the hiring process now is not merely imprudent; it’s a move that risks actively undermining the incoming board’s authority to appoint its own General Manager. Locking in a candidate at this juncture places undue constraints on the new board while introducing unnecessary pressures on applicants—individuals who could face an uphill battle against the shadow of the current board’s controversial legacy.
Interim General Manager Karen Crocker is already at the helm. Allowing her to continue in this role until January would provide stability and time for a well-considered selection process by the newly seated board. Not only could Crocker prove to be the right person for the position, but it’s also clear that any permanent decision should lie with those who will work directly with the new General Manager.
This is not a criticism of the candidates themselves; indeed, they bring impressive qualifications to the table. But given the stakes, doesn’t it make sense for the choice to rest with those who will be accountable for managing and supporting the hire?
With IVGID in need of clear, unified direction, a rushed hiring process risks stalling progress and deepening divisions. The District deserves a General Manager who reflects the vision of its leaders and community—a vision that the new board, and only the new board, should have the authority to shape.
The community’s voice matters now more than ever. We urge residents to make themselves heard, both on social media and at the upcoming meeting, and to call on the board to cancel these premature interviews. Let the new trustees have a say in choosing a leader who will serve all of us, grounded in the collective interests of our future. The time to speak out is now.