2003-12-04 TPuuLaniRanch - Laserfiche WebLink

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The private water system thatÓs servicing the subdivision and the community, I noticed in the CountyÓs report it said that any water problems should be referred to the private water provider. Well, as I stated, the sole owner of that water system is Newell Bohnett, who has bankrupted himself as the sole creditor, in my opinion, to avoid his obligation as the developer to provide the infrastructure at his own expense. His idea, Mr. Bohnett if you donÓt know is also the President, Treasurer, Director and Agent- Lani Ranch Corporation. He has threatened us, and I heard this personally from him, with locking up the water if we didnÓt agree to buy him out or pay the amount he wanted, which is over and above what the Public Utilities Commission has established would be fair and reasonable. So, basically, we have to give up our rights that we have under the PUC to protect us and allow a rate thatÓs now $13.50 per thousand gallons. There are some discussions that, you know, people are trying to work on this problem; but the idea that he has right now is that heÓll turn it over to a non-profit agency. The non-profit agency will apply for grant money and the public, basically, through these grants, Federal grants or whatever, would improve and update the water system. But those ideas are, even if they have been, are going to take a long time if they ever do and the system is actually brought up to par and to the capacity that we need to do the lots. The present water system is in deteriorative state; and now, and if all the lots are sold, it will be incapable of providing water to everybody at full build-out. Now I donÓt know if youÓre all familiar with that subdivision but there are some, the requirement under the covenants is that you have to build in Phase 2, a 1,500 square foot house; Phase 3, a 2,500 square foot home. So these are big homes, theyÓre going to have more than two or three bathrooms. There ares swimming pools and so forth that are supposed to be able to be provided with water up there; and they wonÓt be able to under this system. We donÓt want to have to haul bulk water from the State or County water wagons to our home which has been proposed to be the solution if Mr. Bohnett is allowed to close down the business and all the lots are sold. But the fire hydrant situation, the water situation for fire protection is a matter of utmost importance to this Commission because of the extreme fire danger that is in that area, as you know. There used to be, when this was approved originally, there was a reservoir. They called it the lake up at Puuwaawaa Ranch, that the tank when it overflowed would go over to the reservoir. Well, the present water system allowed that to run dry, deteriorate, get hole in it; and, so, thereÓs not, itÓs not capable of carrying water. And the result of that is that that was the water they were using to fight fire. So you canÓt have the helicopters or whatever go scoop water and dump water anymore out of that reservoir, or otherwise have it provided to the fire hydrants. In the packet I did submit, there is a fire wise program information sheet that was sent to all of us that states that 55,167 acres of land in North Kona and South Kohala have burned since 1990 and that this subdivision is right in the middle of that. So this fire concern is a grave concern to the public. And itÓs my opinion that the County shouldnÓt 13