HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0652.006 2000-2002 June 10, 2002
James Arakaki, Chair
IJawaii County Council - ~ _l '
25 Aupuni Street ~ a.
I~[ilo, HI 96720
Re: Resolution 220-02, Proposing, the Estai;lishrnent of a
Kona Coastview-Wonderview Water System l~rovernent District
Dear Chairman Arakaki and Council Members,
I am writing to urge your support and swift adoption of Resolution 220-02. This measure, long
supported by the Water Board, proposes a highly favorable federal grant/loan package to finance a
dedicated county water system for over 404 contiguous property owners in the Kona Coastvie~~ and Kona
Wonderview subdivisions (KCS/KWS).
Throughout my terms as a former chair and current serving member of the Water Board, I have sought a
solution for the substandard, nonconforming private water systems serving these two Kona subdivisions.
The Water Board has been alarmed by the mounting debt ofthe Matsumoto Water Company. Moreover,
the Board is concerned about a loomuzg public health issue arising from the imminent demise of the
private purveyor systems servicing KCS/KWS. Finally, we seek a higher standard of fire safety :end
protection for the residents of these subdivisions. All these concerns, and many others, are thoroughly
presented in the Manager's Report (Communication No. 652) transmitted to the Council on June 4, 2002.
Resolution 220-02 sets in motion a solution to all these problems, backed by an affordable assessment
formula for homeowners. In 1996, when the Council last took up an improv;
ment district resolution, the
anticipated assessment per KCS/KWS homeawner was $13,700. Six years later, as proposed irt~
Resolution No. 220-02, the proposed assessment for each of the 437 impacted property ow-ni;rs hay been
reduced to $6,353.
The Department of Water Supply has invested considerable time and budget in preparing its application
to the UDSA Rural Development Office for the USDA/RUS grant/loan to underwrite this $4.6 million
project. The County Council, with unani>~nous adoption of Bill 223 amending Chapter 12, I~iawaii County
Code, has laid the foundation for the provisions of the proposed improvement district for KCS/KWS.
Mayor Kim and the Department of Water Supply have ably partnered with USDA and the Kona
community in preparing this project and its favorable financing terms.
This project truly shows what can be accomplished when we work together. Please consider this
resolution favorably in your deliberations on June 19~`. Thank you.
~ater Board
cc: Milton Pavao, Manager, DWS
Harry Kim, Mayor
File IoTo.
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