Program areas at Community Services Associates
The association is primarily engaged in promoting the common good and general welfare of the property owners and visitors of sea pines and the surrounding areas. The association lessens the burdens of government by conducting and paying for activities as follows:- open space maintenance and Community safety and security- the association is fully responsible for the landscape maintenance of 1,516 acres of open space and beach access areas within the association and approximately 5 miles of beach (approximately 70 acres of beach land is owned by the forest preserve). The association's open space and beach areas promote the general welfare of the public by allowing use by the general public. These activities are very similar to activities provided by governmental entities, and lessen the burden of the town of hilton head island and beaufort county, which maintains other public-access parks and beach access within the county.- equipment owned and operated for maintenance of open space, landscaped areas, and roads.- private patrol service - the association operates a 16 person private security force to serve the people of the association, which is another important association activity that promotes the general welfare of the public. The patrol service duties include patrolling the association while watching out for unusual or suspicious activity to reduce crime. Minor traffic matters are handled by the association security staff. Security officers are deputized by the south carolina state law enforcement division (sc sled), and within the boundaries of the association, these officers have the same powers of arrest as those of a deputy sheriff. The association operates 8 security patrol cars which are equipped with aed equipment to assist people if the town of hilton head island emergency Services are unable or need additional assistance. Special event security is coordinated with sc sled, beaufort county sheriff, fbi, and homeland security entities via the leadership provided by the association's director of safety.- walking, jogging, biking and equestrian trails - the association maintains 22 miles of walking, jogging, biking and equestrian trails, which are connected to trails that extend beyond the association's boundaries. The trails are available to the public to access open space, legacy oaks, parks, greenbelts, beach access walkways, breezeways, wildlife habitat zones, residential and commercial areas, the baynard ruins national historic registered site, indian shell ring and three freshwater lakes in the forest preserve, six oaks memorial park, audubon park, and other Community, resort, and commercial amenities.- road and bridge maintenance - the association owns 60 miles of roads, causeways, and bridges, and is fully responsible for the maintenance, repair and reconstruction of these roads, causeways, and bridges. The association's road maintenance activities promote the general welfare of the public and, because road maintenance is an essential governmental function, the activities lessen the burden of the town of hilton head island and the county of beaufort.- municipal Services - the association provides private security patrol Services, Community event safety & maintenance coordination, communications to residents and visitors, and public transportation Services via the sea pines trolley company, llc, a wholly owned subsidiary. The trolley operation consists of five 35-passenger trolley vehicles and one 26-passenger trolley vehicle, which are used to mitigate vehicle parking and traffic congestion with designated park & ride lots located away from crowded Community, resort, commercial and recreational areas. The association, in conjunction with the town of hilton head island's storm water fund, also maintains an extensive storm water drainage system for the sea pines Community for which drainage deficiencies are repaired jointly with the town of hilton head island's financial participation.these activities are similar to activities provided in numerous locations by cities, counties, governmental special districts, and recreation and park districts. Maintenance activities consist of:- road-side mowing, debris removal & blowing, power spraying curbs, replacing directional, street, safety signs & road easement leveling, patching & repairing,- leisure trail debris removal & blowing, replacing directional, intersection, safety signs, patching, repairing, tree trimming and root pruning, - pedestrian bridges debris removal & blowing, replacing safety signs & repairing,- information kiosk debris removal & blowing, power spraying, replacing signs & repairing,- beach walks & dunes board walks debris removal & blowing, replacing signs & wood repairing,- drainage inlets, lift gates, lagoon selected dredging, and pipe cleanout, replacement & repairs - some in conjunction with town of hilton head island joint participation,- ditch cleanout, cut & push tree debris from roads & trails after heavy thunderstorms,- herbicide applications to remove unwanted vegetation from open space by licensed applicators,- landscape seasonal plantings & holiday decorations at primary road intersections, traffic circle round-a-bouts & subdivision entry areas,- mulching and installing asphalt millings, sand, topsoil, and rip rap stone for moisture management and erosion control,- open space bush hogging, tree trimming, & understory plant pruning (zero-scape and natural low country flora maintenance & replacement),- road and trail easement landscape, irrigation, lighting, fence replacing & repairs, - contracted tree trimming along roads, leisure trails, beach walks, and in open space, - Community residential plant debris weekly collection near the roadway,- sea pines resort and sea pines country club plant debris collection areas monthly for a fee,- mosquito spraying and storm water drainage ditch treatments as required by breeding-count measurements depending on wet and warm weather by a licensed pesticide applicator (usually april through october because beaufort county pest control does not mosquito spray within sea pines),- lagoon treatment by a licensed herbicide applicator according to prescribed schedule, but no one lagoon is treated more frequently than every ten days, depending on the chemicals used for each lagoon and the type of vegetation being controlled,- emergency Services for quick response to problems such as fallen trees on open space, road and trail safety issues, storm & flood water damage control and exterior restorative cleanup,- sand dune crossings and beach walks that are owned by csa are repaired as necessary - spring high tides may require closing sections of dune crossings (boardwalks) that may have become damaged by rising water or wave action, subject to staff repairs or contractor replacement, including habitat restoration and sea oats preservation and re-planting,- contractor and utility control - csa assists with quality control through reviews of plans and field inspections and an information clearinghouse. Csa may assist, if possible, with temporary storage for contractors working in sea pines and enforce debris disposal at construction sites and facilitate neighbor landscape repairs due to contractor damages.- lagoon maintenance - the association owns and maintains 185 acres of lagoons, canals and ponds and lakes that are open to the public. These activities are similar to activities provided in numerous locations by cities, or governmental special districts and recreation and park districts (including wildlife & specimen trees viewing and bird counts).