HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0565.004 2022-2024/ nOEAC,
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From: Babette Morrow
Sent: Monday, October 30, 2023 6:05 PM o�
To: Council Testimony ec
Subject: Resolution 333-23
Aloha, Councilmembers.
I understand that the County Council will be considering the subject Resolution as it impacts the
Hawaii Fire Department. Those of us in Discovery Harbour and in Ka'u know how important the
volunteer fire department is in working with the paid firefighters to insure our safety and the
safety of our homes.
I have been talking with some of our neighbors, and there is concern about the future of our
volunteer fire department. Specifically the paragraph that reads:
"BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that an assessment of the volunteer fire department's effectiveness
and sustainability be completed, with a subsequent recommendation retarding the program' s
feasibility and future."
Would there be an independent, unbiased entity conducting this assessment, and what would the
criteria be? How would the "effectiveness" of the volunteer fire department be measured? Are
County Council members aware of the fact that the volunteer fire department is located IN
Discovery Harbour, whereas the paid departments are ten to 20 minutes away?
We are concerned that any proposed assessment of the volunteer fire department's effectiveness
must take into account the fact that we are very rural here and without that department our
property values would be lower due to the increased risk. Just last year there was a fire in the
undeveloped areas of the golf course in Discovery Harbour that came dangerously close to many
homes. Without the volunteers providing assistance, that fire could have been a very real disaster.
"Effectiveness and sustainability" should be defined. It appears to us that having to replace the
almost 200 volunteers on the island with paid firefighters would be unsustainable unless there is a
large increase in the County's budget. Would this mean that there would be a possibility that the
volunteers would not be replaced because the County lacks the money? Hopefully this Resolution
gets defeated because of all of the unknowns.
Mahalo for your support of the Ka'u community.
Babette Morrow
Discovery Harbour
94-5882 Kane Place
Na'alehu, HI 96772
Comm. N . US -
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Ref. Date OCT