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~?Mii or <br /> Y• l~ .4 <br /> <br /> Harry Kim •t• Dixie Kaetsu <br /> Mayor Managing Director <br /> Peter L. Hendricks <br /> Deputy Managing Director <br /> ~ountp of ~amai`i <br /> 25 Aupuni Street, Room 215 Hilo, Hawaii 96720-4252 • (808) 961-82I 1 Fax (808) 961-6553 ~7 L <br /> KONA: 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite 103 Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 ~ cr- <br /> _ ~ <br /> (808)329-5226 Fax (808)326-5663 <br /> _ N <br /> N <br /> July 21, 2004 <br /> The Honorable James Y. Arakaki, Chairman w <br /> and Members of the Hawaii County Council ~ ~ <br /> 25 Aupuni Street c~ <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Dear Chairman Arakaki and Members of the Council: <br /> Attached is a resolution and bill to transfer $363,221 from the Council's contingency account <br /> to the Solid Waste Fund for necessary operations. This amount represents part of the Sort <br /> Station funding that was removed from the proposed budget. As directed by the Council, we <br /> are not proceeding with the Sort Station at this time. However, there are other very urgent <br /> solid waste needs that must be addressed, and we request that these funds be made available to <br /> help us comply with our Consent Agreement with the State Department of Health and to help <br /> us implement measures to increase diversion from both the Hilo and Pu`uanahulu landfills. <br /> Background <br /> The original budget request presented to the administration by the Solid Waste Division <br /> reflected the costs necessary to comply with and make progress on the goals and objectives set <br /> forth in the updated Tntegrated Solid Waste Management Plan. This total request was more <br /> than the County could afford, so the Solid Waste Division was required to make some serious <br /> cuts. Because the Sort Station was seen as such a crucial element of the County's plan, three <br /> months funding of its operations was left in the budget while other badly-needed items were <br /> eliminated. Now that there will be no Sort Station operational expenses this fiscal year, we <br /> request that some of the funds transferred to the contingency account be released to cover <br /> costs that were cut in three areas. <br /> Regulatory Compliance /Landfill Operational Efficiency <br /> Based on industry standards, currently both the Hilo and Pu`uanahulu landfills are operated <br /> with minimal staff. This has led to violations in the past, and resulted in a Consent Agreement <br /> with the State Department of Health (March 5, 2003) based on violations that were cited in <br /> April 2001. The Hilo landfill has no maintenance staff, and lacks adequate personnel to <br /> comply with State Department of Health and federal regulations. Pu`uanahulu also lacks <br /> adequate personnel to effectively handle its waste stream while complying with applicable <br /> landfill regulations. This inadequate staffing level represents a fiscal and environmental <br /> Res..~i S- o~ 7~ <br /> /j; 30`~ Comm. No. <br /> Ref. To: L <br /> Ref. Date <br /> Hawaii County is an equal opportunity provider and employer. <br /> <br />