Dunes West is pleased to announce a free major training opportunity. The Town of Mount Pleasant is offering our residents the basic national Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) course in October. The course will train and certify (or re-certify) students in the national emergency disaster process used when recovery from a natural disaster is unavoidable. Participants learn skills in areas such as fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster medical operations, and team organization.
The purpose of CERT is to train residents to be prepared to help themselves, their families, and their neighbors during disasters when professional responders may be delayed or unavailable. The dates are Friday, October 17, Saturday, October 18 and Sunday, October 19. The course is a total of 20 hours. More specifics on times of the classes will be available shortly but we wanted everyone to be aware of the dates in case they have an interest in participating in this course.
It can’t be stressed enough how important emergency preparedness is and how it can benefit your family and community here in Dunes West as well as in the general Mount Pleasant area.
If you are interested in attending this course or have questions about CERT in general please feel free to reach out to Andrea Sykes who is our Dunes West CERT coordinator with the Town and County. Andrea can also provide you with a more detailed description of CERT as well as the emergency preparation and volunteer support team activities at Dunes West.
Andrea can be reached at <aasykes99@yahoo.com>
Read MoreRead MoreNovember 18, 2024, the Dunes West POA held a town hall meeting to make residents aware of the dangers associated with 18 of the Grand Oaks lining Wando Plantation Way. The trees had been dropping sizeable limbs on the sidewalk and road leading up to the golf course clubhouse. This created both a concern for the community in the risks of someone being hurt by falling limbs and for the potential loss of the majestic trees. An arborist was hired to assess the health of the trees and to recommend appropriate actions addressing both concerns. In the town hall, the arborist provided the following insights:
Based on these inputs the POA Board of Directors proposed the next steps at the town hall:
The Town of Mount Pleasant approved a plan to address the failing Grand Oaks in July 2025. A town hall is planned for October 8, 2025, in the Exchange Buiding to share the plan with the community.
Activities Since the November 18, 2024 Town Hall:
The POA process of working with the arborists and the Town of Mount Pleasant Planning Board has been rigorous.
The POA Board of Directors appreciates the efforts of the management team, the town of Mount Pleasant, and the community input in working to develop the best possible outcome for these historic trees.
Read MoreRead MoreComplete Management Reports, Board of Director Meeting Minutes and July Financial Report, are available in the Dunes West POA Documents Website.
Management:
Board of Directors:
Dunes West POA July Financial Report Highlights:
Positive Variances:
Negative Variances:
Next time you pull away from a stop sign, ask yourself, “Did I just decide to spend $500 or more to save 3 seconds?” A complete stop involves a complete lack of forward motion at or behind the stop line. Typically, you can feel this as the momentum of the car stopping resets the body of the car over the stopped wheels.
In Mount Pleasant, SC, running a stop sign is a misdemeanor that can result in a fine of up to $500, though the exact cost can vary due to court costs and potential additional penalties. You are also likely to receive 4 points on your driver’s license. It’s important to note that a “rolling stop” or incomplete cessation of movement is considered a violation.
The cost of car insurance has been on the rise without points being added to a licensed driver. Adding 4 points will add to the cost for another three years. To avoid points in South Carolina traffic court, you can try to get the ticket dismissed or reduced to a no-point offense. This may involve working with a prosecutor or a lawyer allowing you to take an approved National Safety Council Defensive Driving Course after the violation date for a point reduction. This option is typically limited to once every three years and can only be taken after the points are assessed. The court cost and the cost of the course can add to the total cost of the violation. Also, don’t be surprised if a community service requirement is attached.
So, take the Dunes West Stop Sign Challenge. When you pull away from a stop sign, ask yourself, “Did I just make a decision to spend more than $500 to save 3 seconds?” You can be pretty sure you will ask yourself that question often once you do get a violation and deal with the consequences.
Read MoreRead MoreDunes West has many miles of sidewalks and walking paths across the community for residents to use. They provide opportunities for exercise, social interaction, quiet contemplation, and communing with nature. To allow users to feel safe and secure while using these common facilities here are a few ethical guidelines for pedestrians and bicyclists.
For Pedestrians:
For Bicyclists:
For Both:
Complete Management Reports, Board of Director Meeting Minutes, June Financial Report, and Annual Master Reserve Study are available in the Dunes West POA Documents Website.
Management:
Board of Directors:
Dunes West POA June Financial Report Highlights:
Complete Management, Board of Director Meeting Minutes, and Monthly Financial Reports are available on the Dunes West POA Website.
Management:
Board of Directors: