Diamondhead, Mississippi

City of Diamondhead, Mississippi

My friend George K0NNO has constructed a 45 foot tower in his back yard in Diamondhead, Ms. Diamondhead just became a city this year and previously was a deed restricted community under the iron fist of a Communist Property Owners Association (POA). While their symbol wasn't quite the hammer and sickle they sure did run the community the way they saw fit and only their way. Now as a city the POA is dissolved or so I thought. HE received a letter in the mail a couple of days ago from some SS Colonel (everybody say Seig Heil!) in the POA that demanded he remove his tower within 30 days or face a fine. What's interesting about this is the City of Diamondhead (not the POA) has an ordinance protecting amateur radio operators and installations. This ordinance is stated below:


13.3.2 Amateur Radio Antennas
This ordinance shall not govern any tower, or the installation
of any antenna, that is under seventy (70) feet in height,
located in the rear yard of residentially zoned parcels,
and is owned and operated by a federally-licensed amateur
radio operator.
13.3.3 Grandfathered Towers and Antennas
Any tower or antenna existing on the effective date of this ordinance shall not be required to meet the requirements
of this ordinance, other than the requirements of any a
nd all preexisting zoning ordinances and any state, FAA or
FCC requirements.
Any such towers or antennas that fail to meet the requirements of this ordinance shall be
referred to in this ordinance as grandfathered towers or grandfathered antennas.



This man has been a ham operator since long before I was born and has also served and retired honorably from the US Navy. He is a disabled veteran and also has the only 220 repeater on the coast (until mine is up which will be linked to mine) as well as one of only two repeaters in Hancock County which is the link between the Biloxi and Gulfport areas to the Greater New Orleans Area. The POA is trying to extort money from Vietnam Veterans and anybody who has any decency about themselves should be as repulsed as I am. He has the entire support of the WQRZ 103.5 FM-LP Radio Station and the Hancock County Amateur Radio Association. If anybody knows of any legal council who is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association and would like to take the case pro bono please let me know.

Also it probably wouldn't hurt to bombard the Diamondhead POA with your phone calls on your thoughts about what they are doing to this man. If you feel the need please call Darrel Kitchens at (228) 255- 1900 extension 125


Thank you and 73
Anthony
W6CSA