2002-07-24 Enviromental Management Commission Minutes

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STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA 3. Christine Ross stated she hasnÓt seen any action to correct the collection problem, which isnÓt necessarily a departmental problem but a problem with the County Charter. At this time, there is about a half million dollars owed to the County. If the landfill tipping fee is increased, the past due bill amounts will increase, the companies will go into bankruptcy and the county will never get paid. Ross suggested a proposal be made to correct the County Charter stating that the users who will have past due bills be unable to use the landfill. The subject of unpaid monthly landfill bills should be put on the agenda for discussion. Increasing the landfill fee will help, but it will also hurt if the process is not thought through carefully. It was clarified that it is in the County Code, not the County Charter. In regard to RossÓs comments, Curtis Tyler stated Council members would welcome suggestions for receivables. An ongoing complaint of his is the lack of enforcement and accountability. The small minority of the population that donÓt pay their bills on time creates problems for the majority that do, therefore one has to be careful with legislation to ensure the majority arenÓt penalized. Further suggestions/comments from Councilman Tyler were: (1)Regarding Commissioner FrankelÓs suggestion to delete incineration as an option from the ISWMP, he is also concerned that incineration would be problematic from a public health and safety standpoint. He also discussed the concern of Oahu Council member Okino regarding H- power, as being old technology that is hazardous. (2) Asked if any public meetings have been scheduled on the ISWMP Addendum, Bell stated that, to her knowledge, none have been scheduled but she will ask the Director for an update at this meeting. Councilman Tyler stated that the Public Works and Parks concern about getting the ISWMP updated as soon as possible, stating Mr. CapellasÓ concern about the impending closure of the Hilo landfill and othersÓ concerns about trucking all of East HawaiiÓs waste to West Hawaii. He urged the commission and the staff to let everyone know what is happening as soon as possible. (3)If the Commission recommends increased tipping fees, he cautioned equality for East and West Hawaii commercial haulers, as well as the public. (4) He regards the Greenwaste Composting Program in Kona a success and is aware the program has been terminated as a result of the exhaustion of funds. He has noticed that commercial haulers have been loading and removing huge amounts of mulch that, in some cases, have been showing up on the commercial market and in commercial operations. At the end of the contract, when the County takes ownership, he requested Bell, as incoming Department Director, to set policies and procedures whereby the residential public, who subsidized this program, can continue to get the mulch free but commercial operations be charged so the costs can be offset. He requested that the council be advised if they should set up fees at that time. (5) To clarify his absence from some of the commission meetings, he stated he is unable to attend the Commission meetings when there are time conflicts with County Council meetings. Regarding Councilman TylerÓs comments, Bell stated that Greenwaste is currently owned by HMR as clarification for the commercial users. Ross said that several residents have contracted with them, -2-