2013-10-17 Veteran Advisory Committee Minutes

Home

Veterans Advisory Committee Page 5 October 17, 2013 Speaker #4 – John Grogan Veterans Cemetery III – Support of POW/MIA Memorial Garden John Grogan stated that he is a six term past president of the West Hawai`i Veterans Cemetery Association and is quite familiar with the cemetery. His current responsibility is serving as the commander of the Kona Local VFW Post and on behalf of the membership he expressed their support of the proposed POW/MIA Memorial/Scattering Garden. The Scattering Garden has been in place for three years and is all lava rock, not one person’s ashes has been scattered there. He said thanks to Paul and Susan Graffe who came up with the concept to make it a more respectable place, not only for the scattering of ashes but also to have a reflecting area for the POW/MIA's that did not return. He gained the approval of Ron Han over a year and a half ago for this concept so the state has endorsed it. PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES – August 15, 2013 The minutes of the August 15, 2013 meeting were approved as submitted. REPORT ON CEMETERIES – STATE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD Hawai`i Island - East Hawai`i Representative – VACANT No Report. Hawai`i Island - West Hawai`i Representative - Mr. Herb Lum Mr. Lum was absent. No Report REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION Deputy Director Robert Fitzgerald Reported On Behalf of Parks and Recreation Veterans Cemetery III – West Hawai`i Water Issues Deputy Director Fitzgerald shared that to date the County has not received any bills from the Waikoloa Water Company. They have had discussions and will have another meeting shortly, but the County has not been charged for water at the cemetery at all. That is the record. He said what has been brought to their attention is the change in the agreement over the years. That there is potential for the new Waikoloa Water Company to charge the County for the use of the water. Next month he and Director Clayton Honma will get together with the water company and find out where they are. Former Councilmember Curtis Tyler is accurate as far as the date, it started in 2002 in the resolution, but in the references he got there was a cap which needs clarification, but needless to say that was with Kukio Water Company which was sold to the Waikoloa Water Company in 2008 or 2009 that is owned by a mainland water company which is the third largest water company in America. On November 12, 2008 a new agreement was signed by the former Director of Parks and Recreation. He does not know the reasons, but in the new agreement it does show that they can charge the County for potable water and they can give the County some free water.