Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> The Honorable Gary Safarik, Chair <br /> Page 3 <br /> December 14, 2004 <br /> <br /> up on infrastructure in rapidly growing areas of the island, we are currently addressing the <br /> funding of infrastructure needs, such as roads in West Hawaii and other parts of the island, <br /> <br /> through the issuance of County bonds. The road projects listed in prior years are being <br /> accomplished now with County funding. That is why this year's legislative requests do not <br /> include funding for Kona roads as in the past. However, we do continue to support the State <br /> Department of Transportation in its County of Hawaii projects, and will urge the legislature to <br /> <br /> provide the needed funding for State projects such as the widening of Queen Ka'ahumanu <br /> Highway to the Keahole Airport and improvements to State Highway 130 in Puna. As regional <br /> <br /> community development plans are completed, we will be seeking state assistance in future years <br /> <br /> to implement the major infrastructure needs identified in the plans. <br /> Large Capacity Cesspools State agencies will be approaching the legislature for funding to <br /> replace large capacity (or "gang") cesspools. An EPA mandate requires the closure of all gang <br /> <br /> cesspools by April 5, 2005. Of the over 1,600 gang cesspools in the state of Hawaii, it is <br /> <br /> estimated by the EPA that over half serve state or county facilities. Replacement of these large <br /> <br /> capacity cesspools with approved waste disposal systems is a huge and costly undertaking. The <br /> County of Hawaii has been coordinating entities in several areas of the county to expand our <br /> sewer system to allow state and private facilities to connect to a county sewer rather than be <br /> <br /> responsible for their own septic or treatment system. The County of Hawaii strongly supports <br /> <br /> the requests of state agencies for funding this federal mandate, whether it be for connection to a <br /> <br /> county sewer line or development of individual septic or treatment system. <br /> I thank you for this opportunity to present our Legislative priorities to you and for your support <br /> at the Legislature. My staff and I look forward to working with all of you in the years ahead. <br /> Alo <br /> C~~~ <br /> arry Kim <br /> <br /> MAYOR <br /> Attachment <br /> <br />