HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0620.022 2022-2024 P/CouiiciI
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COMM
From: Antu Harvey t—)
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2023 8:59 AM w o C)
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Written Testimony re: Resolution 372-23 - Opposed MM
1.71 C)
Sri
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Aloha Chair Kimball and members of the Hawai'i County Council, <o
My name is Antu Harvey and I live in the village of Holualoa. - `
I am writing to you today to urge you to reject the funds requested by the mayor to hire outside
counsel to fight Hui Malama Honokohau v. County of Hawai'i and instead approve the restricted
use of the funds for the sole purpose of hiring outside counsel to negotiate a settlement with Hui
Malama Honokohau.
The County has long deferred developing and maintaining wastewater management infrastructure concurrent
with the development it has been approving. The County is in the wrong.The infrastructure deficiency is
harming our environment. Wasting one dollar of taxpayer funds to fight the holding of the County
accountable because it has not-performed, is egregious.
For decades, the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment plant has released millions of gallons of
treated sewage into groundwater that flows into our Honokohau Harbor, causing irreversible
damage to the surrounding nearshore waters and the countless lives that depend on them. Maui
County spent hundreds of thousands of dollars over eight plus years fighting a similar lawsuit over
their Lahaina Wastewater Treatment Plant, to ultimately lose in the US Supreme Court. County of
Maui v. Hawai'i Wildlife Fund has now set the precedent for Kealakehe and many other
groundwater polluters. Please do not let Mayor Roth make the same mistake as Mayor Victorino.
Do not approve the funds requested by the mayor and use your powers to urge the
administration to settle the litigation, upgrade the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant, and
do what is right for Hawai'i's environment and people.
Sincerely,
Antu Harvey
96725
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