Nature

Fripp Island's Night Skies

As spring approaches, many animals are waking from their winter slumbers. This also includes the creatures of the night. Many people only focus on the animals they see during the day. Little thought is given to the bats and birds that make the night sky their dark playground. A close observer of the night sky will be amazed at the activity that takes place when the lights go out.

During the brief period between day and night many people see tiny flying mammals (Microchiropterans), that are often mistaken for small birds. A good way to discover you are looking at a bat and not a bird is the erratic flying pattern and rapid wing flapping. South Carolina is home to over fifteen different species of bats. These animals have always been mistaken as scary creatures that are only out to do harm, but in reality, bats have the opposite effect on the ecosystem. Bats are the vacuum cleaners of the night skies. On average, a single bat can eat 600 insects in one hour. This includes those annoying sand gnats and mosquitoes that can ruin a relaxing evening outdoors. Bats use a special kind of sonar called echo location to find their prey. This echo location allows bats to see as clear as day during the night by using sound and hearing.

Black Crowned Night Herons, owls, and a group of birds known as the Nightjars are all very different in many ways but share one common interest. They are all active and feed from dusk to dawn.

Many people can recognize the different types of herons seen during the day, but few are aware of the Black Crowned Night Heron. These herons have adapted a lifestyle of the night to avoid competition with other herons that use the same habitat during the day.

In addition to the night herons, there are four species of breeding owls found in South Carolina with five others that show up while migrating. These silent flying birds can take up to forty mice a night to feed a growing family. They hunt in the darkness using their exceptionally acute vision, but rely exclusively on their ears to locate prey on a moonless night. Along with the night herons and owls, Night Hawks, Chuck-Will's-Widow, and the Whip-Poor-Will are a few of the other nocturnal birds known as Nightjars. These small birds, between 9-12 inches, rest motionless during the day on the ground or on tree branches until nightfall arrives and it's time for them to feed. These Nightjars feed solely on insects such as moths, crickets, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and the occasional small songbird.

There is a completely different world of animals that have adapted their lives to living and feeding in the darkness. Although we may not always see or hear them, they are a vital part to our ecosystems here on Fripp Island. The next time you decide to take a twilight walk take a look up in the night and appreciate the creatures who call it home

* * *
• (TOP)

Island Services

CHIEF'S CORNER

Several new Regulations or changes to current Regulations have been approved and implemented during the past year and these are now in effect. I will cover each of them over the next couple of issues of The Trawler.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT OR BREACH OF THE PEACE: It shall be unlawful for any person, on Fripp Island, to create, bring about, or assist in creating a breach of the peace, or to engage in any disorderly conduct. Any person who shall do so or engage in any of the following, on POA or Resort property shall be deemed to have violated this Regulation:
1. 1. Any person who shall act in a violent or tumultuous manner toward another, whereby any person is placed in fear of safety or his/her life, limb or health;
2. 2. Any person who shall act in a violent or tumultuous manner toward another, whereby property of any person is placed in danger of being destroyed or damaged;
3. 3. Any person who shall cause, provoke or engage in any fight, brawl or riotous conduct so as to endanger the live, limb, health or property of another;
4. 4. Any person who utters in the presence of another, any lewd or obscene words or epithets;
5. 5. Any person who shall create or cause to be created any disturbance as annoyance to the comfort and response of any person;
6. 6. Any person who within public view urinates or defecates on public, POA or Resort Property.

Violations of this regulation could result in a fine of $100.00

With the beginning of the Spring, I want to remind everyone that feeding of deer and or alligators is detrimental to their health, causes behavioral changes that could result in injury or death to the deer and or the alligator, also to property. It is unlawful to feed deer on Fripp Island and could result in a Fripp Island citation, with a fine of $15.00. A state citation of $465 can be issued for feeding alligators.

If you have any suggestions on how we can improve the quality of life on the Island, or wish to discuss a particular problem, please contact me in person, telephone at 838-4113 or e-mail

I am looking forward to speaking with you.

* * *

Know Your Officers

This issue we would like to highlight officer Mike Senecal. Officer Senecal has been a member of the Fripp Island Patrol since August of 2005. He currently is a Patrol Officer on the 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm shift.

Officer Senecal is originally from Topeka, Kansas and currently lives on Lady's Island with his wife Phyllis. Prior to joining our team, Officer Senecal was in the United States Marine Corps and retired as A Sergeant Major after 30 years of service.

In his off duty time he enjoys playing golf.

* * *
• (TOP)

Volunteer Firefighters

Have you ever been to dinner, Chapel or any function on Fripp and heard the ear splitting sound of a pager going off and then see people dashing for the door not to be seen again that night? Wondering, you ask a spouse of one of those 100 yard dash runners, what is going on? Then you learn that they are a Volunteer Firefighter with the Fripp Island Fire Department. Though our reliance on volunteers has been somewhat reduced, they still play a vital role in our operation. There are some who come by the station daily “to learn something; (or rib the Chief about nothing in particular)” some who come by to offer golden words of wisdom, and some who just come by once, twice, three times a day “just to check on things.” Most will do all those things and then some during the course of their visit. I truly hope that past, present, and future property owners realize the value of having a group of men and women who have given their time and dedication so freely and never expected anything in return. There is the strong tradition in the Fire Service that is Volunteerism.

The Fire Service in this country and around the world was built upon the backs of the volunteer. Often leaving their family and friends at some of the most inopportune times, the volunteer firefighter is a breed that you really don't see a lot of today. For over 40 years, the Fripp Island Fire Department had been made up of an all volunteer force. From it's very humble beginnings we can look back and see that Fripp Island was well protected by enthusiastic and conscientious men and women who laid the framework for the Department you have today. Today's volunteers responds to a variety of calls and performs various duties at those calls such as operating the Fire Pump, deploying and operating hose-lines and controlling access to the scene. Although since October 2003, when we began the part time firefighters, we still rely on volunteers to come by the station to pick up trucks during an emergency and perform many critical tasks on the fireground. Without the volunteers of the Fripp Island Fire Department, we would be limited in what we could accomplish.

I am very appreciative for the opportunity to work with such an outstanding group. They all share one common goal and that is to do their part to provide the best, most professional Fire Protection available to the residents and guests of our Island. I would like to recognize two volunteers who have undoubtedly gone beyond the call of duty. This year Captain Joseph Oppenheimer will have served 29 Years of faithful and dedicated service. Joe has served in the position of Firefighter, Captain of the Firefighters, and Fire Police. Today Captain Oppenheimer is assigned the position of Fire Police Captain where he organizes and oversees the deployment of Fire Police during emergencies. Thank you Captain Oppenheimer. Also, this year Assistant Chief Elmer (Al) Sobol will have served 25 years of faithful and dedicated service. Al has served in the position of Firefighter, Fire Engineer, Mechanic's Helper, Golf Tournament Director, Assistant Chief over the Firefighters, and even serving as Interim Fire Chief. Today Chief Sobol is assigned the position of Chief's Aide where he assists me with training records, management issues and "all other duties as assigned." On a personal note Al has always been there to give advice when I needed it and has always shown a strong desire to support the decision I make. He is truly an example of what it means to be a volunteer firefighter. Thank you, Chief Sobol. To the 28 current and the many past volunteers I say thank you for your diligence. I think this Island will be forever in your debt for the service that you have provided so well.

* * *
• (TOP)

FIPOA Year In Review

2007 Fripp Island Property Owners Association Annual Meeting

All photos of the Annual Meeting by Bob Woodward

• President Paul Hummer welcomed a crowd of close to 75 people to the FIPOA Annual Meeting held on April 14th at the All Faiths Chapel. The telephone conference system was activated so that homeowners could join the meeting from the comfort of their own homes.
• In his opening statement, Mr. Hummer congratulated General Manager Kate Hines for her recent achievement of obtaining the Professional Community Managers (PCAM) designation. Kate is one of only 1,200 managers nationwide who have earned the highest level of professional designation in the field. Congratulations also went to Assistant General Manager Tina Reeves for obtaining her Certified Manager of Community Association (CMCA) and Association Management Specialist (AMS) designations.

• Mr. Hummer introduced the current Board of Directors - Bill Buschur, Mary Cantley, Bob Davidson, Tom Hunter, Buck Mathews, Bob Newby, and Bob Young. He then congratulated the newly elected Board members, Rita Merrill, Micki McCormick, and Buck Mathews. He noted that Charlie Davis and Joe Gannon were unable to attend. Mr. Hummer then turned the meeting over to the General Manager.

New Class of 2010 Directors, Micki McCormick, Buck Mathews, and Rita Merrill.

General Manager's Report

Kate presented a synopsis of FIPOA activities and accomplishments of the past year.

Appeals

• · Thirty-three request for appeals.
• · Four appeals were granted.
• · Four fines were reduced.
• · Twenty-five appeals were denied.

Bridges

• · All three FIPOA bridges were inspected, riprap was added at the Tarpon Bridge and voids were detected in the Fiddlers Trace Bridge. The voids were filled using expandable polyurethane foam in December. Maxwell Bridge needed nothing.

Covenants

• · Covenants Committee and the FIPOA's legal counsel have been working on a draft of amended and restated Covenants. This draft will first be submitted to the Board of Directors for Approval, then it will be offered to the Resort for review and comments, and finally it will be recommended to the owners to vote for approval and implementation.
• · We plan for a very thorough education process using The Trawler, the Internet, and the telephone system for question and answer sessions. The filing deadline is April 2009.

Crossovers

• · Major repairs have been made to crossovers 23, 26, and 29 on Tarpon Blvd., and number 21 on Whiting Road.
• · Assistant General Manager Tina Reeves and a marine dock specialist spent a great deal of time inspecting the crossover structures. It was determined that making many small repairs now to many of the crossovers will greatly extend their useful life and will decrease exposure to injury and liability, and will save money in the long run.
• · In September, DHEC closed the beach due to bacteria for one day. DHEC checks water quality 2 times per month, every month. If a problem is discovered, they close the beach and check it 2 times per day until it's safe to be reopened.

Deer

• · The Humane Society team has captured and ear-tagged 28 new female deer, and recaptured 55 females that were tagged in previous years.
• · HSUS now estimates that 85-90% of adult females in the Fripp population have been tagged and incorporated into the study.
• · Among study deer, there are 15 - 20 untreated control deer; the rest have been treated at least once with the immunocontraceptive.

Grounds Maintenance

• · Deer have proven to be a bother at the front entrance. The deer are eating all plants with color. An expensive deer repellant was used, but it was not a deterrent to the deer.
• · Irrigation problems were detected at the River Club wall. Water loss and repairs cost over $6,000.
• · Ambrosia beetles attacked the Red Bay trees. All Red Bay trees on FIPOA property had to be removed.
• · Palm trees in the FIPOA rights of way were trimmed in February.
• · More dog-waste stations and trash receptacles have been added along the common areas.

Human Resources

• · Newly implemented in the past year: drug testing for new hires, and exit interviews for departing employees.

Lakes and Lagoons

• · Blue Heron Lake had a clogged dam, which required a good cleaning.
• · Low level of water in the lakes and lagoons prompted one fish kill.
• · 6 of 7 aerators currently working

Long Range Planning Committee

• · The Long Range Planning committee was appointed in March. It is anticipated that there will be a six-month strategic planning process with the result of seeing what Fripp might look like in the next 25 to 30 years.

Roads and Drainage

• · Resurfaced Fairway Club Drive, Grouse Point, and Dolphin from Rock Beauty to Marlin.
• · Major drainage corrections were made to Whitetail Court and Sea Otter Lane.
• · A drain line has been installed on south Tarpon. There has been no significant rain since the repair, so we are not able to know if our efforts have remedied the situation.
• · The committee is hard at work planning and trying to budget for a repaving and widening project on Tarpon from Skipjack to Rock Beauty that will include improved drainage.
• · Every asphalt road that's been cut by the installation of the PSD's vacuum sewer system has been temporarily repaired. We have a plan to resurface these roads, but budgeting in light of rising petroleum costs makes it a challenge.

Nominating Committee

• · The Nominating Committee provided the Fripp Island residents with a great slate of candidates. There were four resident nominees, and three non-resident nominees.
• 

Security Committee

• · Even as the number of vehicles of owners, guests, and contractors coming onto the Island has significantly increased, Fripp Island Security has vastly improved. At the same time, costs for the property owners have been lowered.
• · The Committee prepared a binder with a number of charts illustrating the statistics, which is available to see in the FIPOA office.
• · It takes an average of half an hour for Beaufort County Sheriff's deputies to respond to Fripp in an emergency. Subsequently, we must keep at least two officers available at all times to assist with any call for help on the Island.
• · We have a large influx of tourists at various times of the year as well as a significant number of construction and maintenance workers that build and renovate our houses.
• · Over the last five years, the total number of vehicles coming through the gate has increased from 370,00 in 2001 to over 400,000 in 2006.
• · The number of contractor passes issued yearly has increased from 5,000 in 2001 to over 15,000 in 2006.
• · The number of guest passes issued has increased from 27,000 in 2001 to over 33,000 in 2006.
• · We have changed the composition of our security vehicles from four sedans and an SUV in 2002 to two SUVs, a pick-up truck, a golf cart, and a moped in 2006. This change enables our officers to mingle more with the population and will also save money because the engines in these vehicles are more fuel-efficient.
• · The number of state citations has declined and the number of Fripp citations remains level. Our officers are using verbal and written warning where possible.
• · The Security force has been reduced from 20 officers to 15½.
• · Actual expenses of the Security department have declined from close to $520,000 in 2001 to around $460,000 in 2006.

The Trawler

• · Format for The Trawler has changed twice in the past year. The full color newsletter is now mailed directly from the printer.

Miscellaneous

• · In October, the Board signed a five-year contract for post disaster clean up. We feel that, being out here at the end of the world, it is essential to be as prepared as we can possibly be. The contract allows us to be pre-positioned for a disaster, but we do not have to pay for the service until and unless we actually need it. The service for the FIPOA would include clearing the roads and common areas of debris and doing damage mitigation to our two buildings. A second part of the contract offers damage mitigation for individual property owners. To date, 75 owners have signed the right of entry agreement and given the FIPOA the required $1,000 deposit.
• · FIPOA purchased two "Have-a-Heart" traps for owners to borrow to trap raccoons and feral cats.
• · Wireless Internet service is available at the FIPOA Administrative building.

Public Service District and Fripp Island Resort The FIPOA has worked well with both entities again this past year. Communication remains open and strong.

Kate acknowledged and thanked all of the committee members, the FIPOA staff, and the outgoing and incoming Directors. The meeting was turned over to the Treasurer, Bill Buschur.

Treasurer's Report

2006 was a good year for the Fripp Island Property Owners Association. A look at the 2006 Year-end financial status:

• · Total income increased to $2,158,000 (+7.7%), with the largest increase coming from interest income (+117.5%).
• · Total expenses increased $24,000 (+1.4%) to $1,732,000, with the largest increase coming from Crossovers (+50.7%).
• · We had an income tax liability of $28,000. This is a result of our accountants' reviewing our allocation procedures and recommendation of a more conservative approach to our expense allocation.
• · Total net income was $425,500.
• · Slightly over $2 million in cash and cash equivalents at the end of 2006. This is presently invested in Treasury Bills and money market funds.
• · In 2006, Miller Dodson and Associates completed the replacement reserve study, which valued our current assets at $5,167,475. The reserve fund had a year end balance of approximately $1,500,000. The Miller Dodson report details a repair and maintenance schedule and replacement costs of these assets based on normal economic life.
• The Finance Committee reviewed the financial assumptions used for the projections in the Study. The Committee used the following financial assumptions: 7% Assumed rate of return on Reserve Fund, 5% Assumed rate of inflation on expenditures and 4% Assumed increase in Annual Reserve contributions. Based on the assumptions used, the reserve fund does meet the projected expenditures over the next 30 years, but with little margin for error. In 30 years (2036), the Reserve Fund year-end balance is projected to be $3,355,053, which, when adjusted for inflation, will be lower than today's balance of approximately $1,500,000. This scenario also requires a relatively high annual increase (5%) to adequately fund the Reserve Fund over the next 30 years. If expenditures are higher or income is lower, the Reserve Fund will be inadequate.

• 1. Reduce or delay repair and maintenance expenditures.
• 2. Change the assessment mechanism to increase the contributions to the Reserve Fund.
• 3. Increase the long-term average rate of return the Reserve Fund. 
• 
• This can only be done with a careful development of an investment policy that is safe, realistic, and prudent. This investment policy must be within the statutory guidelines of the appropriate governing laws.
• To improve the probability of achieving the above results, the Finance Committee is in the process of developing an investment policy recommendation, which conforms to the South Carolina Prudent Investors Act. Once approved by the Finance Committee, this investment policy recommendation will be presented to the Board for its review and approval.

President's Remarks

Let's look back at some key events over the last ten years:

• · We have had three Resort owners, Hornsby & Willis, Bauer & Keller, and the Wardles. Each owner had different objectives.
• · The number of housing units is up 357, from 1201 to 1558, which is a 30% increase.
• · Taxes paid by the Fripp Island land and homeowners have gone from $2.2million to $7.5 million, which is a 340% increase.
• · New construction estimated at $140 million; remodeling and upgrades estimated $30 million.
• · New Sewer plant and the collection system $10 million.
• · Davis Love and Audubon Park created/completely renovated. Funds came mostly from the Women's Club but with help from the FIPOA.
• · Reserve study identified capitol replacements or improvements needed in the future at a cost of over $18 million.
• · Major expense areas are Roads and Bridges $ 4.3 million and Crossovers at $1.2 million.
• · Change in FIPOA management to strong executive officer management with the induction of the new Bylaws in 2005. Board creates policy, General Manager implements.
• · The 2004 Property owners survey resulted in many changes in Security and greatly increased property owner involvement.
• · We have reinstituted the Long Range Planning Committee to give us a better idea of the future needs of the Island.

Dune Crossover #21

The meeting was adjourned following a brief question and answer session and all attending were invited to have refreshments in the meeting hall.

* * *
• (TOP)