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ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION <br /> MINUTES <br /> October 26, 2016 <br /> Hawaii County Building, Puna Conference Room, 25 Aupuni Street, #1501, Hilo, HI <br /> COMMISSIONERS ALSO <br /> PRESENT: James Fritz, Chair PRESENT: Nancy Cook Lauer <br /> Richard Bennett, Vice Chair Christine Dochin <br /> Jeffry Fear Priscilla Lee <br /> Trina Nahm-Mijo Rick Vidgen <br /> Susan Osborne Jerome Warren <br /> Councilmember Margaret Wille <br /> EXCUSED: Luana Neff <br /> STAFF: BJ Leithead Todd, Director <br /> Belinda Hall, Corp Counsel <br /> Sharron Henry, Secretary <br /> 1. CALL TO ORDER& ANNOUNCEMENTS: Commission Chair James Fritz welcomed the <br /> participants and called the meeting to order at 9:59 a.m. He introduced Rick Vidgen whose <br /> nomination is at Council for approval for District 9 commissioner. <br /> 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 MEETING: <br /> Commissioner Trina Nahm-Mijo moved to approve the September 28,2016 minutes as <br /> written. Commissioner Jeffry Fear seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously with <br /> members present: Fritz, Bennett, Fear, Nahm-Mijo and Osborne voting yes. <br /> 3. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA: None <br /> 4. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA: <br /> Jerome Warren offered testimony on the following: <br /> - Reclaimed wastewater use: <br /> Our primary goal is not to pollute our ground water with our wastewater. <br /> Vegetation and short rooted, small topped trees are the best filters. <br /> Monkey pod trees found in the Na`alehu area filter the water and wastewater is not polluting the <br /> ground water. <br /> The current Nalalehu wastewater facility site could be upgraded with the plans that were drawn <br /> up by SSFM in 2004 that the residents approved. He has confirmed this with DOH and the EPA that <br /> these plans will be okay. <br /> "The tail starts wagging the dog when people's plans for the reclaimed water becomes more <br /> important than clean ground water itself'. <br /> - Non-Payment Notices: <br /> There's no mention of water shut-off in the sewer bill non-payment notice. The notices only <br /> mention a lien on the property. <br /> Administration has still not come up with a standard operating procedure (SOP)to implement the <br /> action. <br /> Water shut off water is a draconian measure and the delay in coming up with an SOP is also <br /> inhumane. People should not be kept in anticipation of something that may never occur. <br /> Hopefully the new administration and council will repeal the water shut-off legislation. <br /> "We've been in limbo too long by this idle threat". <br /> 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None <br /> County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer <br />