Sunset Beach tree board sets course for a public tree inventory and training

The Town of Sunset Beach Tree Board on March 18 agreed to pursue a formal public tree inventory, discuss funding options and training, and begin building an implementation plan to guide maintenance and future plantings.

Board members said the first practical steps are to prioritize five municipal areas identified in a packet of maps; clarify which trees are town trees (versus state, HOA or private trees in easements); and determine whether to hire a consultant or rely on training and volunteer effort. "We need to know how many trees we have, what species they are and the health of each so we can set pruning and planting goals," said Becky, a board member who led the inventory discussion.

The board discussed inventory methods, including a full 100% inventory versus sampling, and technology options such as drone surveys and a GIS database. Members noted that a complete inventory makes sense for Sunset Beach's scale. "Looking at that map, it doesn't look like a huge area — I think it's meaningful to do the whole inventory," Becky said.

Funding and support are central questions. Members said state grant programs exist but the March 1 deadline for this cycle has passed; they will prepare to apply next round and explore smaller sponsorships to support outreach and consultant fees. The board also discussed free or low-cost training from the Cooperative Extension and the U.S. Forest Service; Justin Bennett of the Forest Service had previously provided an overview and was identified as a potential presenter.

Board members proposed next steps: recruit one or two volunteers to assist Susan, who prepared initial maps; invite one or two outside presenters (Forest Service, extension or a consultant such as Davy Resource Group) to outline methods and costs; and draft a recommended scope that the board could bring to the town administrator and council. The group agreed to report back at the next meeting with contacts and potential dates for presentations.

If the board decides to contract for a full inventory, members said they will recommend competitive procurement and present cost estimates and funding sources to the council. The board emphasized the inventory's intended use: to produce a maintenance plan with prioritized pruning and removal work, planting targets and an inventory database the town can use to schedule work and track canopy changes.

The board assigned follow-up tasks: outreach to neighboring Tree City USA towns to learn their methods, contacting Cooperative Extension about training, and preparing a short executive-summary recommendation on options for the next meeting. The board also discussed public engagement strategies to recruit volunteers for on-the-ground data collection.

The discussion closed with consensus that the inventory is a priority for 2026, but that the board needs a clearer scope and funding plan before recommending contracting for full inventory work.