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JUL-03-2003 03:39 PM JULIEJfiCOHSON 982 8582 p_q3 Ho'okena Community WaterAssoc~io;n !`I A Brief History ' 03 SEP 12 P~1 12 12 The beach communities of Ho'okena and Kealia In South Kona are blessed to have county water for Its residents andnty,~~^p~an Svc or plastic pipe was first run by a home o~rQWN3~Vl1f 1984. He sold hook-ups to 4 beach residents. The beach park continued with a redwood tank on a platform that was filled with a gasoline driven pump about once a month. The brackish water provided for 2 basic flush toilets and a shower. The plastic pipe was satisfactory at first, only breaking when the occasional car drove over it. As time went by, the sun and aging of the pipe caused frequent breaks in the line; as often as weekly or even dally. After one such break, that leaked significant amounts of water, David Blehert, one of the four beach residents on the original "Basque" line, approached the water department and was able to tonvince the powers that be to reduce the unpaid water bill due to loss by ~h, and he also organized payment of the outstanding water bill. Aware of the Inadequacy of the old existing water line, and the county Park's plans for a new beach park facility, David approached the county and requested funding to buy the existing line from Mr.Basque so that the line could be owned by the community as a Hui, and as such, provide water to residents and the beach park as well. Mr Basque still owns the existing water meter The transaction complete, David Blehert, representing the Community Water Association, approached the office of the Mayor, and requested funds to purchase a new water Ilne, with the understanding that the Park, as well as any additional residents, would be able to purchase hook-ups and be provided with water. Mr Blehert researched the cost for pipe and fittings and submitted a proposal to Henry Cho, of the mayor's office. An agreement was made to provide the association with a i ~h steel pipe and appropriate fittings and pressure regulators as per Mr. elehert's request; with one stipulatlon....The pipe would only be delivered to David, representing the non-prnflt community water association, and he would assume sole responsibility for the adminlstration and installation of the pipe. The pipe was delivered, and for 6 weeks, David and random volunteers from the community carried and Installed the steel pipe 2.4 miles from the Highway down to Che community and beach park. There have been about 3 breaks in the line in the last year and a half, (all repaired by the water association) and all residents and the county beach park receive water. The large outstanding bill carried over from previous years of over $12,000, has been reduced in the last year to less than $3,000 and will be made currrent in the next few months. Comm. No. 27 Ref. 7p r Ref. :`ate