2017-03-31 County, Recycler Work towards Resolution on Composting Contract

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Wil Okabe Managing Director Harry Kim Mayor Barbara J. Kossow Deputy Managing Director County of Hawai‘i Office of the Mayor 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603  Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720  (808) 961-8211  Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg. C  Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 (808) 323-4444  Fax (808) 323-4440 March 31, 2017 NEWS RELEASE County, Recycler Work towards Resolution on Composting Contract Hawai‘i County and Hawaiian Earth Recycling agreed Thursday to work towards resolving their present contract differences. Representatives of the recycling company, headed by its Executive Director Mark Cummings, met with Mayor Harry Kim and the County Department of Environmental Management, and the parties have agreed to work towards addressing concerns with the present contract. Both parties have agreed that issues of the contract that involve mulching and enhanced mulching, which is mulch that has been treated for invasive species, are important to maintain and must be continued. The contractor’s performance of the composting segment may take some time to resolve issues such as location and operational responsibilities involving the composting. “We agreed that working towards and resolving a contract involving mulching and enhanced mulching would be good and needed for the people of Hawai'i County, and needs to be done as soon as possible,” said Mayor Kim. The County and the contractor are reviewing the Contract to see where there are opportunities to adjust the cost of the services. “Both sides are in agreement with this mission, and we look forward to having something definitive in the next couple of weeks.” Mayor Kim expressed gratitude to the contractor for their willingness to do this. “As stated in the past, there was never any dissatisfaction with this contractor, or the work performance on the mulching.” For further information, please contact Bill Kucharski, Director of Environmental Management at (808) 217-2750. County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.