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<br /> Also in almost universal use, revenue bonds for water development are the best financial <br /> instrument for low-cost long-term financing of necessary water production and <br /> distribution systems. The County Charter specifically allows the Department of Water <br /> Supply to issue its own revenue bonds. Such use should be a subject in the General Plan <br /> and turning to these instruments encouraged for planned development of the island yet <br /> this county has absolute zero use of this most common of government financial aids. In <br /> our flagging economy, such public works projects are a source of employment paid for <br /> entirely by homeowners and businesses receiving the new water services. <br /> Errors in the document are important. And some illustrate careless research: <br /> 1 Those preparing the document need to learn that ARS is Agricultural Research Service <br /> and PBARC the Pacific Basin Agricultwal Research Center -not "Resource" as appears <br /> several times in the Revision document. This Center is of utmost important in planning, <br /> 2. If it is the case that catchment is a public health hazard, that fact needs to be stated in <br /> the document and more about it said than merely, "Develop and adopt standards for <br /> individual water catchment systems." A study by CTAHR indicates relatively few homes <br /> properly maintain the existing catchment systems in place throughout Puna, Ka' u and <br /> other areas. If this is the health hazard many believe it to be, we need to know it and act <br /> upon it now. If not then standards that are likely unenforceable are not needed. The place <br /> findings, not speculation, is in the health section of the General Plan. <br /> 3. The loss through liquidation of C. Brewer as a major factor in agriculture should be <br /> noted. The Revision refers often to an unchanged C. Brewer. We need discussion on how <br /> the vacuum should be filled with community or county coordination of use for the <br /> extensive lands that were formerly controlled by a single, privately held entity. This is <br /> most notably apparent in the Ka' u section of the economic considerations. <br /> 4. The state's ownership of approximately 44 percent of island land should be viewed <br /> critically rather than quietly accepted. Not only is the land off the tax roles it is also open <br /> to prevention of use by the State Land Use Board as happened in the Oji decision. It now <br /> appears likely that what some consider inappropriate state requirements is going to <br /> prevent leasing of forest lands at Waiakea Timber Management Area. R®t~ of'these <br /> projects were supported by c®una~ ~®verranaere~ Some correction allowing home rule <br /> must be reached in the balance of power over the state's massive land holdings. Both <br /> federal and state payments "in lieu of taxes" are ridiculously low and will never suffice <br /> for the expense the county incurs to serve the unproductive lands. <br /> 5. On Page 30 the revision lists as a course of action, "Support the development of a <br /> native hardwood industry." The word 'native' should be excised and the emphasis placed <br /> on hardwood of any tropical species. This is a necessary change to obtain success in <br /> fostering forestry in Hawai' i. <br /> 6. Beginning on Page 30 and running over to 31, the very large purchase of both fresh <br /> and processed foods by the military on a sustaining basis changes the nature of the <br /> 'isolation from overseas markets.' Also UH Hilo's new College of Agriculture, Forestry, <br /> Natural Resource Management is a major player among the programs serving the <br /> agricultural industry. <br /> 3 <br /> <br />