2013-10-17 Veteran Advisory Committee Minutes

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Veterans Advisory Committee Page 6 October 17, 2013 He also shared that the Waikoloa Water Company bought this company based on the fact that this agreement was signed. There are a couple of issues, but he would like to wait until they meet with representatives of the water company first. Deputy Director Fitzgerald said they have readings that the cemetery is using between 32,000 to 45,000 gallons of water per day. A water leak was detected and repaired yesterday. P&R staff recently installed meters to gauge water to various areas of the cemetery: the greenhouse, the trees down the road, the dryland forest and one for each section of the cemetery. The cemetery employee will record daily usage so by the next meeting he will report which area uses x amount of water. The leak was five or six feet below ground and it doesn't show because it’s all a`a underneath. The last meter reading with the leak was 20,000 to 24,000 a day so hopefully we are down to a reasonable level now that the leak has been repaired. Deputy Director Fitzgerald said it was brought to his attention that a non-profit group asked the water company for a donation of water to the cemetery. That was a red flag for the water company, the County had not received any bills, there hasn’t been a meeting yet and we receive this letter informing us that they are going to charge us because one group is asking for a donation of water as a 501C-3 organization. He shared that he was shocked that one group would ask for free water just for themselves. Deputy Director Fitzgerald said that he and Director Honma will work with the Water Company and have a report at the next meeting. Chairman Carlson asked Deputy Director Fitzgerald to request a copy of the agreement with the limited amount of water from the water company. Deputy Director Fitzgerald said he has the new agreement and the original agreement which they said has a cap. Chairman Carlson said he has a copy of the original agreement which has no cap and the copy of the transfer from Kukio to the Kona Water Service Company which lists everyone and every organization that gets water except the West Hawai`i Veterans Cemetery. He obtained that document off of the State of Hawaii PUC’s website, showing the transfer from Kukio Water Company Ltd. To the Kona Water Service Company, Inc. approved by the PUC and dated December 1, 2008. Deputy Director Fitzgerald said they will meet with the Water Company and find out what their position will be. He doesn’t believe they would want bad publicity from our Veterans. Chairman Carlson said we can make a lot of noise. Deputy Director said we can, but as of today we don't have a bill so we want to first meet. Awapuhi said that she can take what Curtis and the County has and take it to the people to vote on what's happening at the cemetery. She shared that is the passion that she has.