HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0773.001 1998-2000
Ji7J0 IR,11l90T0 Fax : 808-326-7182 Jun p01
JOSEPHINE TANIMOTO C'1
P.O. BOX 1242
K.EALAKEKUA, HAWAII 96750
TELEPHONRTAX: (808) 326-7181
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE n~~ C3)
County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni St.
Hilo, Hi 96720
DATE: June 1, 2000
TIME: 10:30 A.M.
RE: Comm. 773: (Bill 255) - Amending Chapter 21, Article 4,
By Adding A New Section - Authorizing the Remission of Sewer Scr ice Charges
For Non-Residential Customers.
Comm 774: (Bill 236) - Amending Chapter 21 of the Hawaii Comfy Code
Relating to Sewers. (Making the owner of a property responsible for ,Lc sewer
charges and including an interest penalty for overdue penalties)
Thank you for the opportunity to share my concerns regarding the above. Pori- my
testimony is presented in a roundabout fashion, but it reflects what I want to expre3a.
I am reacting partially to the attached West Hawaii Today article that refer,.:
a) the County "bi-weekly" maintained gang cesspools in the Queen Liliuokal:-u Village
(QLV) Subdivision in Kona and,
b) any reference to paying "lower" monthly service charges.
1. I am OPPOSED to both Bill 255 and Bill 256.
M Whereas, I have a home in this subdivision for the past 28 years. I am the c : c ~d resident
to live here. I have been here so long that the newborn babios in 1972 now have bib of their
own. Some of them still reside here. I'd like to remind the County that we had to qv lily as "poor"
in order to acquire our lots.
Whereas, it is well documented that the County needs funds to maintain apubl:c sewer
system that primarily services ageneral public who did not qualify to acquire loin iii 7
Whereas, there is no infrastructure to connect QLV to this public sewer whit` :;reds the
funds for maintenance and administrative usages. For that matter, there ie no plan, .r.r'
committment to connect QLV to this public facility at this time.
Whereas Gang cesspool users would have been charged a $15 fee, bi-mont 7 --ihich
equals $30, Other residential cesspool users are charged 525 monthly, This critigo- quite
contrary, not equitable.
Comm. No. 7 -73. e 0 t
File No. Ni10, /SE V/
Ref. To: P _.J Fc-
Ref. Date SUN 1 4 2%0
J0J0 TANIMOTO • Fax 808 -326 -7182 01 '0iii9:g6 p02
Y . .
•
County Finance Committee
June 1, 2000
Page 2 •
Whereas, this sewer fee is per cesspool. In QLV's case, there are more connections to
one cesspool, therefore, the fee should be divided even smaller for the poor population..
Whereas, there is still no mention for "grandfather no fee clauses" for those who reside in
the same structure, same residents and families, etc.
Whereas for the past 3 years, I have been a single resident - utilizing my residence on a
part-time schedule, but being assessed the same as my the rest of my neighbors. Theso households
contain sometimes two generations of family members occupying the same residence, Tyre
certainly is a difference of calculation in the usage charges as well.
III Whereas, the Water Department assess users according to application.
Whereas, I often view the Water Department monitoring the usage of water regularly in
QLV. A statement is then sent to me where I can verify that they have come.
Whereas, the Water Department is accessible to me for services rendered. Them is no
way I am able to monitor the Sewer Department, at all. All I see is a bill.
Therefore, I can justify myself for being responsible for potable water.
Obviously, this is an overview, a generality of facts that may not have been ooncidored in
previous testimon' :. ::•preciate that these (3) issues are still at the Committee levels so more
discussion is ay.,lable. tank you again. ,[�
Josephine Tani , A etit ^Jt.I.00
cc: To all members . r -- Finance Committee
Public Works C C. Wee
Mr. Peter Boucher, Public Works Dept.
Mr. Pavao, Water Department •
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i ''_Fer ; issue
ees stl.11 wrestling with se;,
Byy KEITH KOSAKI 1J1ZQD0 parks committee voned at a March sider excivoua3 gang cesspools
West Hawaii Today meeting in Kona to exclude gang from servim charges.
IMO - Homes with access to cesspools from any user fees. Peter 3oucher, county
a county-maintained gang cesspool However, it ran into opposition Wastewater Division chief, has
wo pay lower mon y~ce when it came before the full coup- said although a gang cesspool is
cil. Instead of killing the measure, not a traditional treatment system.
sewer users, accoratng to a t - the council decided to send it back the state Health Department recoil-
County Council, to the committee. nizes it as an acceptable system.
Gang cesspool users would be Some council members said He told the council in April that
U W $13 A gang cesspools should not be sub- crews twice , v,cek inspect, main-
tmon y om{g a~llS jest to sewer feet, because they are Cain and clan the gang cesspool
gang coos pool, but not ooanec , not sewer tteatruent systems. used by Q-^ :n Jaliuokalani Village
However, others said a different residents.
user fee should be charged if the Meanwhil-, bill to raise sewer
e council's Public Works and systems are maintained by the user fees :'i_s o-en referred to the
county. council's Fin..,nce Committee.
Residents in Queen Uliuokalani Residenu,l sewer fees are
Village subdivision use a gang already scheduled to go up by $1
cesspool system and last year were on July 1 w ,25 a month. However,
billed the $25 sewer fee by the the measure proposes to raise it to
county Wastewater Division. $28 a monad.
Residents objected to the bills, •'Me COMMITTEE:
i., r . •rWbl~PsPWp~~eFAW?9t)xAS~r.;.rrri~,i•i•i,iri•,•~•,trti.~d913:o}A\....
From Page 1A ly relies on revenue sewer user fees future firm: W hardships.
Nonresidential sewer fees would to pay for mainteuance costs. It However. -?ithout additional rev.
increase from $20, plus $3.55 for previously received a $500,000 enues, he rni,i, the division can't
every 1,000 gallons of wastewater general fund subsidy to help cover address mp,,ir and maintenance
over 8,000, to $23 per.moath and administrative costs, but the fund- issues at uc s.-c wastewater treat.
$3.80 for every 1,000 gallons over ing was removed from this year's ment plants • cross the island.
9,000. budget and does not appear in the Another sewer-related matter is
tn 2001 budget. scheduled to Le voted on today
Boucher has would eaµmated about sewer fee fee Boucher has also said the divi- during cot.ncil committee meet-$5 35 revenues took funds from a reserve ings.
million with the, $3 mon(bly account to he?p make up for the The Filogcc Committee' is
increase. With the `regular $1 loss of general funds. scheduled co votc today oa a bill to
monthly increase, Boucher esti- He has said the division can take allow we.tc; ice to be abut of
mated revenues at $4.8 rvjj~ga. funds for the reserve account for for tbw- rho are delinquent in
The wastewater division Correa-' another' year, but it could create paying score: !)iNs.