COM 0176.020 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Flood engineering of individual properties in the area without this updated larger view, will not protect the public at large from changes that have occurred in hydrology pattems. We were told the largest impediment to flood studies was money. The flood action sub committee of me, Tomoi Nimori, and Ron and Sue Aronson, aided by NRCS agent Steve Skipper, spent many hours with members of the community mapping flood patterns and writing letters to State and Federal legislators requesting FEMA Project Impact funds. Not long after this effort we were pleased to be informed that $500,000 (a small amount) in Project Impact funds was being directed to the island of Hawaii. The steering committee in Hilo, directed the much-needed flood mapping money to the Puna district. We were told the County had no money for a flood study in Kona. Shortly thereafter I resigned my position as chair of the flood action group and it apparently died of attrition. The County Administration has never requested money as solicited by the community to do flood studies for these mentioned areas as would be consistent with both the old and the new general plans. I have videotaped flood drainage during a downpour onto Mamalahoa Hwy. makai of the North end of the property called "Coffee Grounds 2". The video shows drainage water coming down and shooting over and through a rock wall and through a neighbor's greenhouse and down two other neighbor's driveways and into one's garage. After I sent the videotape and letter County Public Works, three new drywells along the mauka side of the road and "improvements" were made to a culvert makai of our property were implemented. The "improved" culvert now no longer collects water from the roadway. During heavy rains water flows across the entrance to our driveway. County Public Works officials have acknowledged that dry wells are a minimal attempt at mitigation for flood problems and can't be expected to be effective for even a 25-year sustained flooding event. We were never contacted to give input to mitigation measures mentioned above. With other issues of substandard roads such as Mamalahoa, no shoulders, curbs or walkways anywhere near Holualoa, no public parks, limited school facilities, and other infrastructure unplanned one would ask what definition of the word "planning" the County is using when increasing density. The "Kainaliu Crawl" has made Mamalahoa much more utilized as an alternative route. How much more traffic can this road take without improvements? As this is my only available public venue to speak to this, is there a plan to incorporate flooding identification and mitigation for this region, i.e. community planning? Is the County planning to re-designate Ag 1 A zoning into a rural zoning? Do our County officials know that Ag lA or rural zoned property is not able to apply for Federal assistance programs to really help mitigate flooding? Thank you, Tom Langenstein-Holualoa