Patrolling the Pond, Masters in our Midst
April 17, 2025
Mike Miller, Member Lake Lotawana Board of Directors
One of the true signs that spring is here is Master’s weekend. I spent about four years of my life in Augusta back in the 80s. It was when the Master’s wasn’t quite as popular as today. Then, you could get a $10 ticket to the practice rounds and $15 to the Par 3 tournament the day before the real tournament begins. The only thing that hasn’t changed is the price of the pimento cheese sandwiches: Still just $1.00! And even if you aren’t a golfer or fan, the Final Round of this year’s tournament was one of the best I have witnessed, culminating in a win for the ages with Rory McIlroy completing the final leg of the Grand Slam of golf. That is something that only five others have done in all of golf history! Amazing and fun to watch.
The Master’s is unique among golf tournaments, bringing together the best of the best. We also have some ‘Masters’ at Lake Lotawana who bring their best daily. One of those is Scott Johnson, our Operations Manager. I had a chance to sit down with Scott recently to get a full perspective of what it takes to be in charge of operations at Lake Lotawana. Here are some of the highlights of our interview:
Mike: Thanks for taking a few minutes of your day, Scott. Let’s start by telling the readers a little bit about yourself.
Scott: I grew up in South KC but have always had a love for lakes. It started during the summer when I used to go to a family lake house at Lake of the Ozarks. I started driving a boat when I was young and got my first one by the time I was eight. I still have it! My wife and I moved to Lake Lotawana in 2009 and live here full-time.
Mike: So you are a full-time resident? That’s great. What did you do before becoming the operations manager?
Scott: Before the full-time position as Operations Manager, I was hired to assist Harold Mitts with dock and boat inspections. Before that, I worked for a chemical company that serviced several different manufacturing facilities around town. I also helped with my wife’s business, Tru Moss Interior Landscapes.
Mike: What do you like most about your role here?
Scott: I really enjoy leading other people. I get a lot of freedom in the way I lead, and it’s great. Keeping the staff motivated and engaged is really important.
Mike: Tell us about your leadership style.
Scott: I want to make sure everyone knows that we have to deliver results. I make sure they know what the objectives are for each project. I listen, and keep things laid back, and focus on the details because I know what matters to the membership. I am a person who really pays attention to the details.
Mike: Can you share an example of where your attention to details mattered most?
Scott: Let’s just say I think there is a certain way things should be done. One is making sure things are cleaned up after a project better than anyone expects. Another example is some recent work on a culvert W block. We could have done it one way, which would have been acceptable. But that wasn’t enough. Adding riprap would just take the project to the next level. We went the extra mile since it was visible from the road and we wanted to consider the neighbor’s views. I tend to raise the specs on the ordinary common way of doing things and keep it all within budget.
Mike: That’s great to hear. What else can you share about the way you see the world of operations?
Scott: Well I have to say that it’s really about being proactive vs. reactive. Getting things done before we have to respond or react is always the best path.
Mike: That’s awesome. I think the members will all like hearing that because it helps save time, money and works for the best interest of the community. If there is one, what does a typical day look like for you and your team?
Scott: We do a lot of inspections. I typically am the liaison between the owner, office, and Lake Improvement Board. We inspect docks, boats, PWCs, golf carts and work on the parkway. Then, there are all of the check-ins that need to be done for the projects around the Lake. Right now those include work on the silt ponds, ditches, the new maintenance building, and several other projects. I am the middleman.
Mike: How do you keep track of all of it? A lot is going on all the time at the Lake.
Scott: I have a big “To do” list and a white board at the office. Also, keeping in communication with Jeff Clemow and Marilee at the office is critical. I typically get around the Lake several times a day.
Mike: What are the priorities right now?
Scott: Getting the ditches ready for the road resurfacing that will start in May. We can only pave in the summer. We have to start early as the entire west side of the Lake will be repaved this summer. We need all the ditches cleaned and completed before that work begins. I know some are unhappy about this activity, but rest assured, it needs to be done BEFORE we resurface the roads.
Mike: What’s on your wish list as the Operations Manager?
Scott: I have a great staff. The support is really excellent. It would be great to have more assistance on inspections as those are a very important aspect of what we do. As I mentioned earlier, I like to be proactive vs. reactive when it comes to issues.
Mike: What are you most excited about for 2025?
Scott: The new building at Gate 1 is really going to be helpful. The old building was not very useful and needed to be replaced. The City of Lotawana also helped out by helping us connect the sewer to the new bathroom. Even having a bathroom on that side of the Lake will be great!
Mike: Sometimes it’s the little things, right? What would you like to say to the membership?
Scott: Be patient. We have a lot going on, and things don’t always happen overnight. We try to triage to ensure that the most important and urgent issues are handled first. We have to consider the entire Lake when making these decisions, and sometimes that may mean that a single-owner issue is not the most important or urgent. Be patient. We will get to you. That’s our job. That’s my goal.
Mike: Thank you, Scott, for sharing more about what you do and who you are as a leader. I speak for the membership when I say, “Thank you” for your attention to detail and your leadership.
This past weekend, the 2025 Master’s Champion was crowned. I think it’s safe to say we have some true “Masters” in our midst as well. Scott Johnson is one example of someone who cares about his job and cares about the Lake. When we have people like Scott on staff, we are all winners.
Safer Seven is taking a break this week. See you in the next edition when we start with a contest about some of the rules on the water.