HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0147.001 2000-2002 LAMES Y ARAKAKI ' _ Phooc (808) 961-8272
Chmrni°n & Pre:Iding ~cer ~ ~ .`CAX (808) 961-8912
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COUNTY COUNCIL
County ojHawa'i
F/QMpI'1 Cowry Bmldmg
15 Avpw~ Sneer
Hdo, Haui°~'i 96710
February 27, 2001
Gail Hatakenaka
1381 Mailani Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Deaz Gail•
Thank you for your letter regarding the Waiakea Stream I am asking Councilman
Elanonoff to place your letter on the Public Works committee meeting in Hilo. I am
asking him to coordtnate the response of your letter with the Public Works Department,
Civil Defense and the Mayor's office.
Recently, I met with Jiro Sttmada, Deputy Director of Public Works, to discuss the
urgency of working on the Waiakea Drainage canal Although I had appropnated 1.3
million dollars in the past for designs and plans for Kawailani Bndge, tt was not funded
due to other pnonties of the County Public Works wttl be submitting a 4.5 million
dollazs appropnation to rebuild the Kawailant Bndge in the next budget, but again, it
needs to have funds allocated for it. The first phase is to have the plans and design ready
to go before the bids can be let out. I have asked Representative Hamakawa and Senator
David Matsuura to help us fund the design This is pnonty number one for our distnct!
The cleaning of the canal has been contracted out and the debns clean up should be
started soon
I, too, am frustrated with the speed with which government moves, but I understand that
the departments must follow the procurement process as set forth in State Law I
continue to push the administration to make Waiakea Stream the number one pnonty in
Hilo As to the reason why Komohana Bndge got constructed in record time is because
plans for the bodge prior to the November flood was over 80% done. Mayor Yamashiro
speeded up the plans and design of that bodge because Federal Highways said they
would fund 100% of the bodge if the plans were ready to go I am trying to get
Kawailani Bodge designed so that the protect will be ready to go when the funding is in
place FEMA does not fix
Camro. Na ~ 4,'
File No.
Ref. To: Pray ~
D,«_ MAR 1 4 2001 ,
Gail Hatakenaka
Februazy 27, 2001
Page two
bndges and streambeds. However, the Soil and Conservation Division ~s working on the
Wa,akea Stream and after their assessment is finished, we can look forwazd to funding.
So the four agencies that are involved m flood assessment aze:
I FEMA. homes and property
2 Federal Highways. highways and bndges.
3 Soil and Conservation streambeds and flood control.
4 County Public Works County funding and actual work
After the Public Works meeting if there is a need to have a follow up,I will azrange an
evening meeting to bnef the affected people on the progress of work on the recent
flooding
Smc ly,
es . Arakaki, Council Chairman
Haw i County Council
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