D I G E S T The Official Publication of the Kiawah Island Community Association

Transcription

1 July 2015 D I G E S T The Official Publication of the Kiawah Island Community Association When Drainage Pipes Look Like Swiss Cheese KICA spends millions of dollars annually to keep the island infrastructure functioning is budgeted to be a particularly heavy spending year, with over $2.7 million for infrastructure repairs. The $2.7 million figure does not include general maintenance spending. Maintenance is part of the annual operations budget, which is funded primarily by the general annual assessment. The 0.05% Contribution to Reserves (or transfer fee ) for the sale of real estate, and in the last two years, the $300 Supplemental Annual Assessment, fund most major repairs and replacements (MRR). Will Connor, a civil engineer, is KICA director of major repairs and replacements. He is responsible for the management of all KICA infrastructure on the island. He reports to Director of Operations Shannon White. Two tools drive the allocation of MRR funds. The first is a financial forecasting tool, the annual Reserve Study. Specialists estimate the year a repair will be necessary based on the life expectancy and current age of an item. The second tool is inspection of the infrastructure assets themselves, either by KICA s two engineers and staff or with expert contractors. This task has become increasingly time consuming as the over $35 million in infrastructure ages and developers convey more infrastructure to KICA. We have so much infrastructure that we need to stay on top of to be sure it s functional and in good shape. There s no way for one fellow to even attempt all of that, said Will. To handle the workload and develop accurate numbers for annual budgets, KICA's staff includes two civil engineers and also contracts with specialists overseen by Will. For example, engineers inspect the Bass Creek revetment annually, and timber bridges and docks bi-annually. KICA contracted for a road study last year to determine paving needs in the near future. Now we have both the reserve study for financial calculations and a condition survey of the roads," Will explained. "With the two documents together, we can determine what to repair when." Road expenses include curb repair. There are lots of trucks on Kiawah, and everybody hits curbs, Will said ruefully. Continued on Next Page... Where the MRR Dollars Go Each Year (Estimated 3-year Average ) Drainage pipe repair $850,000 Road paving $320,000 Emergency expenditures $240,000 Boardwalk replacement and extension (3 per year) $170,000 Pond excavation $162,000 Leisure trails $140,000 Infrastructure inspection $115,000 Timber bridges $75,000 Curb replacement $50,000

2 2 July 2015 Drainage Pipes (Continued from Previous Page) Work on the Sandcastle seems never-ending. There is always something breaking or going bad there, Will noted. People don t know this: we have 11 HVAC systems at the Sandcastle. One of them is always quitting on us, and there goes $7,500 if it needs to be replaced. Some Sandcastle work is handled in-house, such as decking, playground repairs and non-structural repairs. Storm water that falls on Kiawah s roads and rooftops and other land does not flow gently to the sea. KICA has 115 detention ponds, the real purpose of which is storm water storage, and approximately 43 miles of drainage pipes to transport the water to those ponds and, when water levels rise, to the major creeks and the Kiawah River. This system is essential to protecting the island from flooding. Kiawah has 342 acres of ponds with over 46 miles of shoreline. Just like the drainage pipes that connect them, ponds require maintenance and many need to be excavated and dug four or five feet deeper in order to achieve proper drainage flow. Shannon and Will anticipate spot excavating numerous ponds in the future, with 10 ponds scheduled for later this fall. All the ponds are linked by an extensive system of drainage pipes that run under Kiawah s roads, golf courses and large tracts of land. Drainage is hidden. No one thinks about it, Shannon commented. We all celebrate when roads are paved or boardwalks replaced, because these repairs are highly visible, but drainage is one of the most crucial parts of our infrastructure. To inspect the drainage pipes, Will hires teams of divers (pictured below) who swim through the pipes to do visual inspections, or put cameras into the pipes. In the early years of Kiawah s development, the storm drainage pipes were made of corrugated metal. This material does not fare well in a highly saline environment. The pipes become brittle and filled with holes. As they near 40 years of age, repairs and replacement of KICA s drainage pipes is its largest budget item and a high priority. Much of the metal pipe is in the west side of Kiawah, from Beachwalker Drive to the east side of Night Heron Park, on both sides of the parkway, with a significant amount under the Cougar Point Golf Course. They are riddled with holes; they looked like Swiss cheese, said Shannon. This spring, KICA completed repairs to several major pipes, 42 inches in diameter and larger, under four different streets, including 180-feet of pipe under the parkway near the fire station. They were all corrugated metal pipe and nearing 40 years in age. Each of the four pipe crossings would normally be a different project, but Will and Shannon wanted to recognize savings from grouping repairs together. Will felt some urgency. To be in charge of that much storm drainage pipe that we know is in such bad shape gives me a nervous feeling, he commented. But we couldn t start repairs immediately. We had to survey each pipe crossing to have something for the contractors to bid on. Once we learned about the condition, we had to prepare for the huge cost. This is the largest amount of pipe work we have ever done. Additional pipe work will continue under Cougar Point Golf Course in One set of pipes crosses the 17th fairway, Will explained. The pipe joints were leaking and there was a series of sinkholes in three rows of 48-inch pipe every 8 feet on the course. The golf maintenance crew would patch the holes with sand, which then sank into the holes in the pipes and moved along into the drainage pond. KICA s contractor was able to inject hydroactive grout into the pipe joints, repairing them in two mornings, without causing disturbance to golf course play. This sinkhole cloud had a silver lining. Previous repairs had required the tedious and costly process of digging up the pipe and replacing it, or a method called sliplining, in which the next smaller size of pipe was inserted into the existing hole-riddled pipe and the space between them filled with grout. Besides the lengthy time and high expense of sliplining, it also diminished capacity because the active pipe diameter became several inches smaller. Recently, Will learned about a new system of repairing leaking pipes called spincasting. Spincasting uses specially designed cement that is at least three times harder than typical cement. The cement is mixed with a strong adhesive so that it will adhere to itself. Continued on Next Page...

3 July 2015 Drainage Pipes (Continued from Previous Page) 5. In a manpower-heavy operation, the cement is passed through a hose that must be supported every 50 feet by a worker, to the spincasting unit. 6. The unit spins, centrifugally dispersing cement. It spins so fast, it looks like the cement is a cloud, Will said. 7. Steps 4-6 are repeated for a total of three or four runs. The drying process takes about 24 hours for each run. 8. The contractor provides a high-resolution video of the interior of each pipe, and Will or another KICA employee goes through the pipe to visually ensure good condition. When they are done, we have a nice concrete pipe with no leaks that is about the same size as the existing pipe, Will said. 9. The pipes are re-flooded. 3 How Spincasting Repairs Swiss Cheese Pipes 1. The pipes are emptied. Workers create a temporary dam feet from each end of the pipe to provide working room and prevent water from entering the pipe, then pump the water out of the pipe and over the dam to its wet side. Will said the dam supports look like Tinkertoys. 2. The holes are patched. Workers crawl through the pipes and pump hydroactive grout behind the holes, which expands to eight times its original size and fills the leak. 3. Several tractor-trailer loads of the special cement are delivered. 4. The spincasting unit, a simple-looking piece of machinery that throws out a large circle of cement at high speed, is mounted on a small metal sled that can be pulled through a pipe. Message from the COO On June 3, KICA announced the results of the referendum on Phase I of the Amenity Master Plan, which was defeated by a tally of 57% - 43%. There was significant interest in the issue, with close to 70% of eligible members casting a vote. Thank you to all who reviewed the information and made an informed decision. This issue of Digest includes an article on KICA s never ending task of maintaining the island s infrastructure, which is built by the developer but then conveyed to KICA for ongoing maintenance. It represents a significant portion of KICA s annual budget, and this year is no different. Repairs to drainage pipes, road resurfacing, boardwalk replacement, pond dredging, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in general maintenance projects have either been completed or will be by the end of the year. If you haven t been to the Castle Grille or Sandbar yet this summer, I encourage you to stop by and enjoy lunch, a cold beverage, or both. With fresh local seafood, great burgers and Will and Shannon catalogued the advantages of spincasting. It is cheaper; Will described the cost as significantly lower compared to previous methods. It is faster; work that once took weeks is completed in a matter of days. It carries a lifetime guarantee on the repairs, does not require divers, does not disrupt traffic, and will not even affect play on the Cougar Point Golf Course. This technology is currently available only for pipes of larger diameters, though a similar solution for smaller diameter pipes is in the works. Repairs to major pipes under the roads have been completed this year, and repairs to the golf course drainage will be made next year when the course is scheduled for renovations. Article contributed by Digest Feature Reporter Sue Schaffer. sandwiches, pizza, salads and a full bar, the popularity of the Grille has exploded over the past several years. Orders can be charged to your existing member account, or you can pay with cash or credit card. The Kiawah Shuttle Service achieved a milestone in May by recouping the entire acquisition cost in just over a year. To follow that up, June was a record setting month with $8,000 in reservations to the airport, downtown and other Lowcountry locations. We re pleased that so many of you continue to enjoy this service. Finally, I d like to offer my best wishes to the Town of Kiawah Island in their search for a new administrator. I look forward to building a strong working relationship and supporting the new administrator in any way I can. Have a happy and safe Fourth of July! Sincerely, Jimmy Bailey KICA Chief Operating Officer

4 4 If you have an event you would like included on the calendar, please July 2015 Community Calendar a.m. Edie's Fairytale Theater 3:30 p.m. Quidditch Cup 8:30 p.m. Scenic on the Beach Sandcastle: Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday 01 6 p.m. Independence Kids Culinary Day Camp Festival July a.m. - 2 p.m. Do you have an inspiring chef in your household? This camp is a chance for them to learn life skills in the kitchen. Visit kica.us/events for details p.m. KICA Board Meeting 3 p.m. Environmental a.m. Charleston County Bookmobile 2 p.m. Town Council 6 p.m. Conservation Matters: Aquarium Rovers and Birds of Prey (Night Heron Park) 08 3 p.m. Planning Commission Thursday Friday Saturday p.m. Kamp Kiawah Kid's Night Out - Party in the USA! 8:30 p.m. Glow Yoga on the Beach a.m. CERT Meeting 3 p.m. Arts Council 8:30 p.m. Glow Yoga on the Beach KICA and Town Offices Closed 10 a.m. Edie's Fairytale Theater 2 p.m. Kid's Crafts 10 Happy Fourth of July! Holiday Buffet, Live Music at the Sandcastle 5:30 p.m. Bike Parade 6:30 p.m. Festival and Fireworks in the Park 10 p.m. Teen Night: IndepenDANCE p.m. Communications 3:30 p.m. SCCC Meeting 15 2 p.m. Public Safety p.m. Music on the Green 18 9 a.m. Cars and Coffee p.m. Board of Zoning Appeals a.m. Charleston County Bookmobile p.m. Ways and Means * The Kiawah Island Golf Resort has several ongoing events during the summer. Please refer to their website for a complete listing. Recurring Events at the Sandcastle Sandcastle Bible Study - Mondays at 8:30 a.m. Sandcastle Bridge - Tuesdays at 1 p.m. Weight Watchers - Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Ladies MahJongg - Wednesdays at 1 p.m. 10 a.m. Photography Club Meeting Association Fitness Classes Offered Yoga Zumba Strength and Stretch Water Aerobics Body Sculpt Assorted Cardio Classes **View class times and descriptions at kica.us (Facilities/Fitness Center). Please note that all fitness classes are complimentary to members. - KICA Paddlesports Program KICA (Sandcastle) kica.us (Events) Kiawah Cares kiawahcares.org Kiawah Island Golf Resort kiawahresort.com Freshfields Village freshfieldsvillage.com Town of Kiawah Island kiawahisland.org

5 If you have an event you would like included on the calendar, please 5 August 2015 Community Calendar Sandcastle: Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Association Fitness Classes Offered Yoga Zumba Strength and Stretch Water Aerobics Body Sculpt Assorted Cardio **View class times and descriptions at kica.us (Facilities/Fitness Center). Please note that all fitness classes are complimentary to members. - KICA Paddlesports Program a.m. Charleston County Bookmobile 2 p.m. Town Council 3 p.m. Planning Commission 3 p.m. Arts Council p.m. Communications 3:30 p.m. SCCC Meeting p.m. Public Safety 3 p.m. KICA Safety and Security Meeting 15 9 a.m. Cars and Coffee p.m. Board of Zoning Appeals 10 a.m. Charleston County Bookmobile p.m. Ways and Means * The Kiawah Island Golf Resort has several ongoing events during the summer. Please refer to their website for a complete listing Recurring Events at the Sandcastle Sandcastle Bible Study - Mondays at 8:30 a.m. Sandcastle Bridge - Tuesdays at 1 p.m. Weight Watchers - Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Ladies MahJongg - Wednesdays at 1 p.m. KICA (Sandcastle) kica.us (Events) Kiawah Cares kiawahcares.org Kiawah Island Golf Resort kiawahresort.com Freshfields Village freshfieldsvillage.com Town of Kiawah Island kiawahisland.org

6 6 July 2015 Security Main gate Toll Free (911 in emergencies) Commercial pass office On The Web KICA.US - KICA is on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Visit the KICA website for more information. Digest Contributors Frances Boyd - Member Volunteer Virginia Chapel - Member Volunteer Bill Hindman - Member Volunteer Shauneen Hutchinson - Member Volunteer Mary Beth McAnaney - Member Volunteer Sue Schaffer - Feature reporter Deb Stewart - Member Volunteer Russ Warren - Member Volunteer Staff Production Team Doug Reynolds - Communications Mgr/Editor Tammy McAdory - Executive Director Digest Mission Statement The association is committed to accurately and effectively reporting news affecting it, and its members, board, and volunteers, and to presenting discussions of significant issues in a balanced and constructive manner. Statement of Editorial Policy The association, through its Digest reporters, shall endeavor to report objectively and wholly the significant island news relating to the association and its members. The association welcomes members suggestions on issues they deem significant for publication or discussion, and will publish editorials, identified as such, where there is a need to clarify, expand, or express views and opinions on relevant issues. To submit an editorial, write to Digest care of Doug Reynolds or to communications@kica.us. Two unrelated issues have brought recent media attention to 180-acre western end of Kiawah Island, commonly referred to as Captain Sam s Spit. The first involves the issuance of a permit for construction of a sheet pile wall intended to protect a future roadway from erosion. The permit was initially approved by the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control (DHEC) on May 8, but then was subsequently rescinded following an appeal to the DHEC board. DHEC then approved a group of permits, including the aforementioned wall as well as wastewater and stormwater infrastructure construction. This action will allow the environmental impact of each of these items to be considered together, rather than having to look at each individually. Opponents of the proposed development plan to appeal these permits as they did with the earlier individual permit. These developments are the culmination of a four-plus year review and analysis process between Kiawah Partners (KP) and DHEC. In August 2011, the Town of Kiawah Island Planning Commission approved the preliminary subdivision plat for Captain Sam s Spit. As a result of that approval, KP What's Happening on Captain Sam's Spit? Calling All Artists, Artisans and Crafters! Are you the creative, artistic type? Do you have a craft or hobby you would like to share? The bi-annual KICA Art and Artisan Show is looking for new Kiawah artisans to join the event. The fall show, which is held just before the holiday season, is a great time to sell holiday gifts. The event kicks off on a Friday with a cocktail reception, light hors d oeuvres, wine and beer from 4-7 p.m. The show is on the following Saturday from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. If you would like to participate, or want more details, please contact the Sandcastle at sandcastle@kica.us or subsequently sought and received a permit from DHEC for the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan. According to KP, their plans include an in-ground sheet pile system on the high ground, well behind the Kiawah River shoreline, and are in keeping with their overall strategy of developing Captain Sam s Spit in an environmentally sensitive manner. For more information, view the Post and Courier articles Kiawah Developers Win New Permit for Captain Sam s Spit (published on May 26) and State Takes New Tack on Capt. Sam s Development Permits (published on June 11). The second issue is related to a Seabrook Island-funded erosion control project on the western end of Captain Sam's Spit. In an effort to combat erosion on Seabrook, a recutting of the Kiawah River Inlet through the beach is underway. The cut essentially moves the shifting inlet back towards Kiawah Island, changing the flow of sand that runs in the currents down the beach. This allows for more of that sand to settle on Seabrook. According to Jennifer Koches of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the work is underway with a number of conditions attached to protect various bird, sea turtle and other species. It s being conducted during sea turtle nesting season as the most appropriate option, rather than during the spring or fall bird migration or winter feeding and resting season. The work is scheduled to be complete by Aug. 15. For more details, view the Post and Courier article Inlet Recut Disrupts Prized Kiawah Island Beach, published on May 26.

7 July 2015 Celebrate Independence Day on Kiawah Sandcastle Community Center Come celebrate our nation's independence at the Sandcastle! The holiday weekend (July 4-5) will feature a Family BBQ Buffet and live music by John Cusatis! In addition to the buffet, the annual Kids Parade around the pool will take place at 1:30 p.m., followed by Kids Crafts at 2 p.m. For more information, contact sandcastle@kica.us or Kiawah Island Golf Resort Crafternoons (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) Pottery in the Park (1-3 p.m.) Sand Sculpting Contest (2-3:30 p.m.) Annual Patriotic Bike Parade (Starts at 6:15 p.m.) Independence Day in the Park (6:30-10 p.m.) Ice Cream Social (7-10 p.m.) A Day Celebrating America (All Day) Celebrate the Red, White and Blue (5:30-9 p.m.) Independence Day Fireworks (9:30 and 10 p.m.) Teen Night: IndepenDANCE (10-11 p.m.) All the resort events take place on Saturday, July 4. For details, including descriptions and additional events, visit kiawahrecreation.com or call KICA Members Help Two Families After Devastating Fires Over the past few months, two families were devastated by fires to their homes. One was a KICA employee, the other a member of the Johns Island community. Thankfully all of the family members in both fires were unharmed, but their homes and possessions were entirely lost. KICA shared news of these disasters, and was overwhelmed with the response. The families are deeply grateful. Call KICA For Backflow System Inspections Did you know KICA offers the expertise of its irrigation technicians for basic backflow testing and repairs? Backflow prevention devices are used to protect potable water supplies from contamination or pollution due to backflow. Kiawah Island Utility requires residential water systems be tested every two years to ensure that they are working properly. Cost of Services Basic Backflow Certification: $60 KICA's technicians can make the repairs, when needed, for $37.50 per hour, plus the cost of materials. A one hour minimum charge applies ($37.50). After one hour, the cost is $18.75 per half hour or $37.50 per hour. Request Backflow Certification Services memberservices@kica.us or call to schedule an appointment. Services will be billed to your existing KICA member account and invoiced to you. The first family (pictured first, left), who lost their home on May 11, included a KICA Land Management employee, his fiance and their two young sons. Thanks to the help of KICA members and fellow employees, as of late May the family had moved into a new home and were completely reestablished. The second family (pictured second, left), a single mother with five children who previously lived through extreme domestic violence, lost their home on May 16. The mother is a longtime employee of a Kiawah/Seabrook property management company. While as of publication time they have not been able to secure suitable Johns Island housing, an entire household of furniture and furnishings have been provided. KICA wishes to thank everyone who stepped up to help our friends and neighbors in their time of great need.

8 D I G E S T PRESORTED FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID CHARLESTON, SC PERMIT NO. 167 c/o Kiawah Island Community Association 23 Beachwalker Drive Kiawah Island, SC Address Service Requested Discover the Latest Way to Connect with Kiawah! KICA is excited to bring you the Kiawah Mobile App! With just the touch of a button this app can instantly connect you with Kiawah Island. Features of the Kiawah Mobile App include: Instant Notifications Straight to Your Phone One-Touch Contact Information News Updates and Event Info An Interactive Island Map Sandcastle, Shuttle Service and Guest Information Weather Forecasts and Radar A Live View of Kiawah s HD Beach Cam Links to KICA on Social Media Information on Kiawah Cares Tide Charts and Info for Kiawah The Kiawah Mobile App is free and available for both Apple and Android phones. So, don t miss out on this great way to connect with Kiawah. Download the app today!