2022-01-07 EMC special meeting draft minutes

Home

HENDERSON: 75-5944 Ali‘i Drive, Kailua-Kona Hawai‘i? I assume you said yes. That is the address on the wastewater bill. Ms. Bauman, in your direct testimony, you stated that approximately 143 bills for sewer service fees had been sent to Kai Ala Partners since 1998. When a person looks at the bill, how did they learn if it is for more than a single user fee? BAUMAN: They would look at the number of units. HENDERSON: Ms. Bauman, the sewer bill has language that states wastewater residential and then has just one amount for the two user fee charges. Is this making full disclosure and clearly showing the charging for two fees for a single-family residence? BAUMAN: Prior to that total dollar amount, there is the number of units listed as two. HENDERSON: clearly identified. BAUMAN: Yes. HENDERSON: Ms. Bauman, if you were the owner of a single-family residence and you got a sewer bill with just one amount on it for sewer services, would you not conclude that that was the charge for a single service? BAUMAN: Looking at the wastewater bill, I would conclude that I was being billed for two units. HENDERSON: That is because you're familiar with the design of the wastewater bill. But if you're just an average consumer looking at it with only one charge, and not clearly defining that this was two units on that line, would you assume that it was for just one charge? KEKAI: Sorry. Witness can't answer an average person and she's a business manager for DEM. HENDERSON: Ms. Bauman, are you familiar with Hawai‘i Ordinance 92-77, Bill No. 595, the purpose of which was to revise the sewer billing system to comply with the 1972 Federal Water Pollution Control Act, PL 92-500? BAUMAN: I am aware of the ordinance. Yes. HENDERSON: Is it true this ordinance was passed so the county could receive grants through the Environmental Protection Agency? BAUMAN: That would be my understanding based on how the ordinance was written. 25