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<br /> Mr. Richards thanked them for the invitation to meet and talk story. He explained <br />that a couple of former committees were consolidated into the AWEEMC in order to <br />function more efficiently. Because he is chair, he and Director Kucharski speak frequently. <br /> <br /> Looking at environmental management and specifically waste management, there <br />are some things that need to be done differently. At the last Council meeting, the bill to <br />increase sewer fees was discussed. Although only about 18% of the population is on sewer, <br />waste management is an issue for the County of Hawaiʻi as a whole, as everyone benefits <br />from sewering. His vote against the sewer fee increase was not because he is against <br />needed funding for waste management, but because he does not feel the fees are the right <br />way to do it. He will be retooling it coming forward, as there is a need to look long-range <br />and plan for the future. The sewer fee increase is a stop gap method—there needs to be a <br />bigger end game in focus. He wants a long-term game plan to try to solve the problem for <br />the future and not just fix it short-term. The next generation needs to be kept in mind, so <br />he tries to make decisions that will benefit them. He was open to any questions the <br />commissioners may have. <br /> <br /> Commissioner Fritz said he lives in Puakō, and there was talk about doing a sewer <br />district, as all the towns are segmented. He asked Mr. Richards how he felt about sewering <br />the island. Mr. Richards said a problem is that the island is large and has a relatively low <br />population dispersed over a large piece of land. In addition, different areas of the island <br />have different climates. However, the population has been growing and is approaching a <br />tipping point where what is done makes a difference. A sewer district may an answer for <br />the short term, but the reality is that sewering Puakō would benefit the whole island and <br />the state. The Council members who voted against the sewer fee increase are not against <br />the resources coming forward, but they want everyone to participate, as everyone will <br />benefit. <br /> <br /> Commissioner Pequeño asked what efficiencies Mr. Richards had seen from <br />combining multiple committees into the AWEEMC. Mr. Richards said it comes down to <br />money and statistics. When the Council is meeting, it costs somewhere between $5,000 <br />and $10,000 per hour. It makes sense cost-wise and time-wise to have water, energy, and <br />environmental matters in one committee—it is all resource management. It has been more <br />streamlined and efficient. <br /> <br /> Commissioner Pequeño said that he hopes that the new structure will allow for <br />greater intersections between DWS and the Wastewater Division, because there is <br />currently a large disconnect. Mr. Richards said he does not disagree, but DWS is semi- <br />autonomous, and it was established that way for a reason. Water needs to be kept out of <br />politics. The reality, however, is that the county is still responsible for all the bonding and <br />financial side of things, and the departments need to have good working relationships. <br /> <br /> Director Kucharski pointed out that the County Charter limits DWS to dealing only <br />with potable water. There is a gulf between what DWS can do and what DEM can do. Due <br />to the Charter, DWS could not say yes on the R-1 system. Chair Bennett this was one <br />reason why the EMC proposed changes to the Charter Commission, and it was frustrating <br /> <br /> <br />