HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0044.126 2020-2022 i
P/
Comm.X4
Sent: Friday, January 15, 2021 11:45 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: FW: inappropriate appointments Planning Director (tendo Kern) and Director of Public
Works (Ikaika Rodenhurst)
From:Tlaloc Tokuda
Sent: Friday,January 15, 202111:16 AM
Subject: inappropriate appointments Planning Director(Zendo Kern) and Director of Public Works (Ikaika Rodenhurst)
Dear Council members and County Staff,
Brena Ford's article in WHT (12/10/21) listed many reasons why we shouldn't hire Kern. His conflict of interest (he
has such a long list of developers he has worked with in the past) - he would have to recluse himself so that he
wouldn't be doing any of the work and his staff would have all the work!
Ms Ford also shows that becuase Kern and Rodenhurst do not meet the County's Charter requirements any party
could sue any appointment which didn't meet County muster. And Kern and Rodenhurst are NO WAY qualified for
their positions, These two positions (after the mayor) are the most demanding (in knowledge and expertise)jobs in
the county. Why have a County Charter if any Mayor could appoint unqualified personal for our County? We the
County suffers for their incompetence.
Council and County staff need to say NO and send a message to future Mayors that it is NOT OK to appoint
unqualified personal on the County payroll.
lastly:
It is difficult for the public to research Mr. Kern's qualifications, since he seems to have no formal resume available on his company website or on
the Internet.
But he appears to have no training or experience in planning as defined by Oxford Language:
"Planning"is defined as"the control of urban development by a local government authority,from which a license must be obtained to build a new property or
change an existing one."
Google/Oxford Languagesl law definition
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He does not appear to have any college degree.
He also appears to have no administrative experience in a government position—only in a business.
2-Mr. Kern would be hampered in fulfilling the duties of Planning Director,since he would need to recuse himself from a number of projects that he worked on through his
business.
3-Mr. Kern donated$2,700 to Mitch Roth's campaign.This may pass muster with the Ethics Board,but casts a cloud over his appointment.
4—Mr.Kern has done consultation for projects that raised serious concerns. For example:
• Royal Kona Village,which has recently sparked community concerns about traffic,school capacity,water needs,and archaeological sites.
• The Hickey request for an after-the-fact permit to host weddings on agricultural land,in September 2020.The Planning Department did not support the proposal
because of concerns about noise and light pollution;safety with visitor,staff,and truck traffic;inappropriate use of agricultural land;and nonconformance with
the General Plan and Kona Community Development Plan.
• Fairview in Kona,which proposed a 40-room lodge on agricultural land in August 2020.A dozen testifiers opposed the project.The Planning Department did not
support the proposal because of concerns about noise;safety with visitor,staff,and truck traffic;invasive species;lack of water and wastewater infrastructure;
and inappropriate use of agricultural land.
Please do not support Mr. Kern's nomination.
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