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1�t <br /> -01.9f <br /> t <br /> UY OF„�, <br /> HarryKim Richard Bennett,Ph.D. <br /> Mayor :.:�!�'�: S �:+': Chair <br /> William A.Kucharski Jon Olson <br /> •o•;,;!�• <br /> Director, Department of Vice Chair <br /> Environmental Management County of Hawai'i <br /> ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION <br /> 25 Aupuni Street• Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 <br /> Ph:(808)961-8083• Fax:(808)961-8086 <br /> January 23,2019 _ ' <br /> ry -< <br /> Honorable Aaron Chung, Chair <br /> and Members of the Hawai`i County Council <br /> rn <br /> Hawai`i County Council <br /> 25 Aupuni Street _w <br /> Hilo,Hawai`i 96720 <br /> Subject: Bi11210 Regarding Increasing Wastewater Service Charge Rates <br /> Dear Chair Chung and Councilmembers: <br /> At the November 18, 2018,meeting of the Environmental Management Commission(EMC), <br /> there was a unanimous vote of support for Bill 210, and a letter in support was communicated to <br /> the County Council on December 4, 2018. Since that time,the chairman has been informed of <br /> concerns about raising fees, especially for lower income residents. We appreciate that concern, <br /> and we encourage the County Council to explore mechanisms for funding from all county <br /> residents and visitors in order to keep the sewer system operating as required by state and federal <br /> regulations. <br /> Some members of the County Council have suggested the EMC provide an analysis of financial <br /> options to fund sewer maintenance and operations. However, financing of community <br /> infrastructure is outside both the charge and expertise,of the EMC. <br /> The EMC does offer some perspective as to why deferring maintenance and the expertise to <br /> manage wastewater operations is simply not a wise course of action. The sewer systems of the <br /> county were originally funded by a combination of federal, state, and county funds. Thus, all <br /> persons have contributed in some fashion, and all persons benefit. Efficient sewer operations are <br /> critical for the public's health and the use of the near coastal waters (beaches). Both issues are <br /> very large in the current public discourse. <br /> The sewer systems of both East Hawai`i and West Hawai`i are aging rapidly in the highly <br /> corrosive marine environment. Now at 30 to 50 years of age,the rate of deterioration is <br /> increasing,making repairs expensive and, in some cases,technically unsound. Deferring <br /> maintenance can have the effect of making repairs as expensive as building a new system. <br /> Comm. No. 1•�' <br /> County of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Ref.To: COu <br /> Ref. Date JAN 2 5 2015 <br />