October Board of Directors and Management Activity Summary

Complete Management Reports, Board of Director Meeting Minutes and October Financial Report, are available in the Dunes West POA Documents Website.  

Board of Directors Report Summary: 

• Town hall for Deer Management October 8, 2025.  
• The town hall was well attended.  
• There was significant feedback addressed to the Board from residents on their new understanding of the deer management problem.  
• Deer survey indicated 2.6 acres/deer compared to DNR’s sustainability metric of 20 acres/deer. 
• Residents feeding deer has contributed to increased birth rate and disruption of natural feeding habits.  It is important not to feed the deer.  It is not good for them according to biologists and DNR. 
• Financial impact on Dunes West, over ten years, should be manageable depending upon the deer management approach used.    
• No legal options for culling the herd exist today in Mount Pleasant but the Board has begun discussions with the Town to amend the ordinance that currently prohibits discharge of firearms or shooting archery.  
• On-going efforts to assess community perspective continue in the annual survey and is required by SCDNR permitting. 
• Board of Directors will continue to engage with the community regarding deer management as options and the process evolves.  The Board is committed to being well-informed, fact-based and transparent. 
•  Town Hall update on Grand Oaks, October 8, 2025
• Town of Mount Pleasant, after 3 concurring arborist assessments, issued permits to cut down four of the most dangerous grand oaks.
• Remediation of the ground and replacement trees will be planted.
• Continued monitoring and health plans for remaining grand oaks are planned.
• Assessment of highway 41 project impact on Dunes West POA assets is in process to enable effective negotiations. 
• Website refresh project is underway with a review of content and development of videos.
• Communications to Residents:
• September Board of Directors and Management Summary
• Presentation on Deer Management published to residents
• Debris Policy reminder and linkage to Town of Mount Pleasant collections policies and procedures for trash, debris, and recycling.
• Reminder sent to all residents that dogs must be kept on a leash when outside fenced property or the home.  
• Response to signage and a website opposing deer management to clarify misinformation has been sent to all residents.  

Management Report Summary:

• Prep for town hall meeting.
• Town hall meeting on Grand Oaks and Deer Management.
• Final budget review.
• Work on new barcodes.
• Seamon Whitesides survey contract regarding highway 41 impacts.
• Pond 34 fountain repaired.
• Two alligator incidents reported.
• Replaced alligator sign in Marsh Cove.
• Multiple trees removed – Rush Haven, Ayers, and River Vista.
• Pine trees damaging the road on Downing Place Way were removed.  Remediation plantings are to be determined. 
• Curb repairs complete – Pignatelli.
• Reclamit applied to several streets in the last week of October.
• Insurance paid
• Work on annual mailing
• Online voting set up

Dunes West POA September Financial Report Highlights: 

Full Financial Report for September 2025 is located here: https://duneswestpoa.com/documents/september-2025-monthly-financial-report/

• Major Revenue Variances: 
  • Assessment collections are very close to budget on an accrual basis of accounting
  • 89 owners owe more than $100, down from 252 last month.  This is typical of collection process 
  • Other YTD revenue is $73,315 over budget totaling $386,920 vs budget of $313,605
• September expenses,  $327,569 with YTD $2,276,404 which is below budget by $67,902. 
• Major Expense Variances: 
  • Positive Variances greater than $20,000:
    • Staffing payroll had a positive variance of ($42,383) due to staffing positions not filled early in the year.  All positions are now filled. 
    • Ground maintenance ($21,724) less than budget as repairs are less than previous years.  
    • Contract repairs ($20,876) spending on third party contractors to make repairs. 
    • Insurance ($22,696) relates to a timing issue.  However, cost negotiated dropped to $115,000 vs the budget of $140,000
  • Negative Variances greater than $15,000:
    • Taxes, ($17,769). DWPOA, as a non-profit corporation, is having to pay taxes based on interest earned on invested reserve funds in FDIC insured funds. 
    • Legal Collections, ($44,613) exceeding budget due to dispute with property owner and work being done related to the SC41 project impacts on DWPOA assets. 
• Operating Surplus for the year: $1,469,859.  $981,465 moved to the reserve fund.
• Reserve Funding Revenues:
  • Improved interest rates generated $82,716 of income, nearly twice the budgeted amount.
• Reserve Spending YTD: 
  • Reserve Fund spending year-to-date totals $1,589,001. Total budgeted Reserve Fund spending for 2025 is $2,791,414.
  • The largest expenditure this year has been towards the major paving project that was completed in July at a total cost of $1,200,825. 
• Balance Sheet:
  • Total all DWPOA assets at the end of September 2025 amounted to $7,234,213.