HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0258.004 2020-2022 Jerome Warren WrittenTestimony o Hawaii County Council
Finance Committee
May 18, 2021 Meeting
Agenda Item Communication 258 j
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Aloha Finance Committee Chair and Members,
The Naalehu sewer project is like a big onion with worms inside. A forensic audit on j
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this boondoggle will peel away the onion one layer at a time. Each layer will reveal a
worm. Every worm will have a recognized face. Some are public figures.
This sewer project is an onion so full of worms that it is no longer fit to be on the
grocery store shelf. It must go in the dumpster.
All retail businesses take account of all items which are scrapped. These have a
negative value. So what is the negative value of this Naalehu sewer boondoggle? j
Jerry Warren
Naalehu HI 96772
Attachment: Audit Resolution
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Ref. ate M9 3 -8 2021
RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR TO
CONDUCT A FISCAL AND PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE KA'U WASTEWATER
TREATMENT PLANT PROJECTS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL NEPA
AND STATE HEP (HRS 343) STATUTES AND THE K 'U CDP.
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Whereas, the Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management's
2006-2019 CIP budgets included converting the illegal Large-Capacity Cesspools
("LCCs") to septic systems ("LCSSs") in the District of Ka'u; and
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Whereas, Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management
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published a Final Environmental Assessment with a Finding of No Significant
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Impact ("FEA/FONSI") for the Ka'u LCC Conversion to LCSS Project in the August
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23, 2007 The Environmental Notice in compliance with HRS 343; and 3
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Whereas, the Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management's
2020-2021 CIP budgets included building two new wastewater treatment plants
("WWTPs") in the District of Ka'u; and
Whereas, the Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management
has proposed obligating COH taxpayers by borrowing over $100 million in State
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CWSRF funds to build two new wastewater treatment plants ("WWTPs") in the
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District Ka'u; and
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Whereas, the LCC Conversion to LCSS Project FEA/FONSI was not
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withdrawn and no Federal or State environmental assessment of the Naalehu
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new-build WWTP has occurred since 2011 to inform decision-making on the
Naalehu Project; and
Whereas, the Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management
failed to consult the Naalehu community as specified in the Ka'u Community
Development Plan ("CDP") Section 5.8 to engage in community-based
collaborative action in seeking grant funding for an acceptable infrastructure
project; and
Whereas, the Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management
will be seeking additional Hawaii County tax funding for these two WWTP Projects
as the proposed relocation of the Naalehu WWTP from adjacent to the Naalehu
Elementary School to the Waikapuna POMC lands requires additional funding, and
now planned siting is back to beside the School with unaccounted expenditures
for the changes to the design, now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the
Office of the Legislative Auditor conduct a fiscal and performance audit of the
Ka'u Wastewater Treatment Plant Projects to ensure compliance with Federal and
State environmental statutes and the Ka'u CDP.
BE IT RESOLVED that the findings and recommendations of the audit are
intended to assist County government in its management of public resources,
delivery of public services with the community-based, collaborative action
envisioned in the Kau CDP, and stewardship of the public trust; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Kau WWTP Projects' fiscal and
performance audits are intended to provide the citizens of Hawaii County with
accountability, fiscal integrity, and openness in local government.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable Mayor Harry P. Kim, William Kucharski, Director,
Department of Environmental Management, and Bonnie S. Nims, Legislative
Auditor.
Dated at , Hawaii this day of 120
INTRODUCED BY:
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
INTRODUCED BY:
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII