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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE,WATER AND ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY <br /> DATE: October 16, 2012 RE: Comm. No. 870/Res. No. 312-12 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i <br /> TIME: 9:03 a.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawai`i County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Agriculture, Water and Energy Sustainability, to which was referred <br /> Resolution No. 312-12, reports as follows: <br /> Resolution No. 312-12,transmitted by Council Member Brittany Smart via Communication <br /> No. 870, dated September 27, 2012, requests the Legislative Auditor to conduct a performance <br /> audit of the Department of Water Supply's meter award procedures and meter compliance reviews <br /> and procedures regarding the Hawaiian Ocean View water system standpipe station. <br /> The purpose of this resolution is to address the concerns of residents who have reported that the <br /> meter award process has resulted in inequities in the allocation of standpipe meters and may not <br /> have guaranteed that safe, potable water will be delivered to the community at fair, competitive <br /> rates. <br /> There were ten testifiers from the Kona Council Chambers and all spoke in support of the <br /> resolution. (There were no testifiers from the other locations.) <br /> Ms. Smart was absent from the meeting, but her Legislative Assistant,Nelson Ho, spoke on her <br /> behalf to ask for Council Members' support of her resolution. Mr. Ho explained that the <br /> community worked hard to get this water system in place, and they had assumed that only water <br /> haulers would apply for the meters, but that was not part of the criteria of the awarding process. <br /> Mr. Ho also explained that after the water system opened on July 5, 2012, the community <br /> continued to receive high delivery charges for water hauling. This resolution will enable an <br /> independent audit to make recommendations in order to eliminate future controversies. <br /> Mr. Pilago asked Quirino Antonio, Manager-Chief Engineer of the Department of Water Supply, <br /> to come forward. Mr. Antonio was accompanied by Kanani Aton, Public Information and <br /> Education Specialist. Mr. Pilago asked if the department followed correct procedures in the <br /> awarding process. Mr. Antonio explained that they held a community meeting to outline the <br /> requirements for signing up for the standpipe station prior to the water system opening on July 5, <br /> 2012. It was explained that it would be first-come, first-serve. Another community meeting was <br /> held after July 5, 2012,to address complaints from the community. Mr. Antonio stated that the <br /> AWESC Report No. 6 <br />