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<br /> Commissioner Fritz pointed out in the maps they were provided that a lot of customers in <br />the Kona service areas were not being captured, and he asked whether an increase in sewer fees <br />would help. Director Kucharski said yes, but that Kona has many complex issues because of all <br />the development. Part of the sewer study is trying to determine how many additional customers <br />are needed to pay for $10 million in additional sewers. The sewer fees will have to go up, but <br />even if they are doubled, Hawaiʻi County’s system would still be the cheapest in the state. DEM <br />is drawing money from the general fund, which is not supposed to happen, to help. The Puakō <br />situation exacerbates everything. It costs about $1.8 million per mile of sewer. For the Lono <br />Kona Sewer Project, there are less than two miles of sewer and the cost is up to about $9 to $10 <br />million just for the connections. <br /> <br /> Vice Chair Olson said he had worked with others on this issue 25 years ago, and all of <br />this was gone over before. The body politic has made everything worse and incredibly more <br />expensive by putting it off. It cannot be put off anymore. The body politic is where the problem <br />is, and they need to belly up to their responsibility. Former DEM employer Peter Boucher had <br />laid out an entire wetlands plan that made sense, but because it was too costly, a hole to the <br />ground got punched to let it drain to the ocean. Now we’ll have to pay to fix it. <br /> <br /> Commissioner Osborne said the EMC needs to figure out how to support Director <br />Kucharski in this difficult and expensive task. As a body, they need to ensure compliance and <br />get adequate funding. She appreciates all the information provided. <br /> <br /> Chair Bennett said the state of Hawaiʻi and most coastal and river communities have been <br />using cesspits, because that is the cheapest method. This type of economy is a pollution subsidy. <br />He agrees with Director Kucharski that it is virtually impossible to generate enough money to <br />solve the problem. The question that doesn’t get asked is whether using one to two gallons of <br />freshwater per flush is the appropriate way to handle human waste. Water is becoming a scarce <br />resource, and the handling of human waste is not being done appropriately. It is necessary to <br />reduce human waste effects on the environment in a way that does not use a lot of fresh water. <br />He will put together some ideas on this and work with Director Kucharski. Many issues are <br />much larger than DEM’s area. He proposed to close the discussion and place it on the next <br />agenda, where they can continue the discussion with potential recommendations to make to <br />Director Kucharski and the county. <br /> <br /> Motion and vote: Vice Chair Olson so moved, Commissioner Fear seconded the motion, <br />and all commissioners present voted aye. <br /> <br /> Commissioner Fritz said he wanted to open a discussion for a possible future agenda item <br />and asked Director Kucharski whether there had ever been discussion about separating wood <br />products before they go into the landfill. Director Kucharski said yes, that when the Hilo landfill <br />is closed they will be looking into pulling out construction and demolition material from being <br />dumped. They are not certain on the process yet but are looking. He can provide the status at <br />the next meeting. <br /> <br /> Commissioner Fritz said he would like the next agenda to include a discussion on landfill <br />organic separation of items prior to disposal. Wood is the biggest one he sees. He is a landfill <br /> <br />