2019-03-07 Hearing Transcript - William Quinn Pahoa Farm & Garden

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there was an employee there that just retired, and she did not get this into the system. When I sat down with Earl, Earl told me this was the wrong process to go through. He expressed to me that I had to get a Special Permit, but this basically is the same stuff as, is we applied for the Special Permit. So, that's the reason we were moving forward on this, because the Planning Department, when they furnished me the map and the rules, expressed to me that it was doable, because there was a flag on that particular parcel, which I do not see on your maps up here. Taxes, over the 19 years that our family has been running this business, we've contributed GE tax, State tax, Federal tax. We have contributed well over $1 million in taxes. I understand that $1 million over a 19 -year period is not the same amount as a Walmart or any other big box store, but it is a considerable amount of money considering that the bill I just got from the tax people on this particular parcel went from an agricultural rate of $9 to a residential rate of $11.45. They just sent me this letter expressing to me that our taxes are going up, and we will be assessed at a residential. Ag, residential, commercial taxes go up. In the letter, it said even though we will be assessed at a residential rate, we cannot utilize this property as a residential zone, but we have to pay more money. The general excise tax on Monday when I was reading the paper was going up another half percent. Our family continues to pay our taxes on time. We've paid our taxes. We enjoy contributing to the community and to the State and to everybody else. So, for taxes, I just don't understand why the elimination of our business would be a benefit for the State or the County. The Special Permit required, when we first opened Pahoa Feed & Fertilizer, we ran the business for ten years without any Special Permit. A Special Permit was not required. The only reason why we have a Special Permit now is because we wanted to put a certified kitchen on the property where we are presently working. In order for us to put a certified kitchen on the property, we needed a Special Permit, but prior to wanting to put a certified kitchen on the property, there was no Special Permit required. The purpose of the certified kitchen was to help fishermen and farmers get their dried fish or their vegetables to market. They needed a certified kitchen to process and package their goods so that they could retail it. We also were going to use the certified kitchen with the Red Cross in the event of a natural disaster in the neighborhood. We were going to open up the house with the certified kitchen, the Red Cross, so that we could help out the neighborhood. We have three generations of customers, and my family personally has three generations working at that storemyself, my kids, and my grandchildren. I just wanted to share this with you about the U.S. Department of Agriculture and what they do. We provide leadership on food. Right over here, these plants will generate food, [referring to eggplant, Mamaki tea plant, and Manoa lettuce on the table] agriculture, natural resources, rural development—we are in a rural development areanutrition, and related issues based on public policy, the best available science and effective management. We have a vision to provide economic opportunity. That's what we're trying to do on this agricultural -zoned property through innovation. Helping rural America to thrive, we are in a rural area. To promote agricultural production, that better nourishes Americans, while also helping feed others throughout the world and to preserve our nation's natural resources through conservation, 10V1111.11 11