CAFR 2013 FINAL (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Following the completion of Kamakoa Nui's four model homes in the prior fiscal year, sales began strong with the first five homes sold before the end of fiscal year 2013. Kamakoa Nui is a master planned community in Waikoloa. The first phase of development includes the construction of 91 homes. The project is intended to serve the local work force population with affordable homes for purchase near the largest employer on the Big Island, the Kohala Coast hotels. For the Future Public Safety — Securing funding for the South Kona Police Station continues to remain a goal of the Hawaii Police Department along with planning for a new station in the Puna District to replace the soon to be retired Keaau Police Station. The Police Department has also begun the process of procuring a modernized and fully integrated Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Records Management System (RMS) to better serve the community. Additionally, the Police Department is one of several County Departments working on modernizing the County's public safety radio system. Public Works — Improvements on Kaiminani Road are focused on reconstructing the roadway, retaining walls, and drainage. 80% of the $10 million construction cost is paid by the Federal Highways Administration and was completed on November 30, 2013. The first phase of Kona's $7.8 million Laaloa Avenue Extension project is taking place. The project includes a 1,900 -foot connector road that will link Alii Drive with Kuakini Highway. This is the first connector road to be built in decades along Alii Drive. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2014. Planning — The Planning Department's regulatory functions can be measured in terms of volume and responsiveness. In order to have the ability to measure its responsiveness, the Department is embarking on an effort to invest in the current tracking system to generate performance reports that reflect categories of regulatory functions and parameters. Other Financial Information Internal Control The management of the County is responsible for establishing and maintaining an internal control structure designed to ensure that the assets of the County are protected from loss, theft or misuse and to ensure that adequate accounting data are compiled to allow for preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. The internal control structure is designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance that these objectives are met. The concept of reasonable assurance recognizes that (1) the cost of a control should not exceed the benefits likely to be derived; and (2) the valuation of costs and benefits requires estimates and judgments by management. -4-