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<br /> May 15, 2007 <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> <br /> 25 Aupuni Street <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> <br /> Dear Hawaii County Council, <br /> <br /> BILL #51, CHANGES TO CHAPTER 27 OF COUNTY CODE ' <br /> One of the beauties of the American system is our ability to pick and choose" <br /> <br /> from a wide variety of products, services and other options available to us. "One size <br /> <br /> fits all" is rarely the order of the day -and for good reason. Someone living in the <br /> snowy northern lands of Alaska where roads are tough and where mud is the order of <br /> the day when snow is not reigning finds a four wheel drive vehicle to be a necessity. <br /> That same person living in urban Miami, Florida is not likely to spend money for a <br /> 4x4, choosing instead to purchase air conditioning. We make similar choices every day <br /> depending on our specific needs and the resources available to us. <br /> The same considerations are generally taken into account when we make choices <br /> for the Public Good. For instance the County of Hawaii does not spend millions of <br /> dollars on snow removal equipment or for salt to melt the non existent snow. Spending <br /> money on such products would clearly be unwise. Asking our residents to similarly <br /> spend money on snow chains and other snow related products would make no sense to <br /> us. We would not ask them to expend those resources. <br /> And yet we find that with the amendments made to Bill #51 that we are <br /> proposing to spend County monies and to require our businesses and citizens to spend <br /> money on problems that for all practical purposes do not exist. While some of our <br /> island properties are subject to flooding hazards, most are not. Thus when we require <br /> that: <br /> • ALL homes be anchored to prevent flotation collapse or lateral movement in <br /> case of flooding we are adding costs that will serve no purpose for most homes. <br /> Most homes are not subject to flooding. All we have done for these homes is <br /> add to their cost with no real benefit. We have spent our citizens' money <br /> unwisely. The same is true when we require that these homes be built of flood- <br /> resistant materials and constructed using electrical, plumbing and other <br /> equipment and services that are flood resistant. <br /> • Flood studies be conducted for areas clearly not in flood zones - we are <br /> spending money for our residents for which they will receive no practical <br /> return. We are delaying the building of their homes as they look for qualified <br /> Ref. lo.. i'" `~'~7 <br /> Ref. ~a:e______-~ <br /> <br />