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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0075.003 2002-2004 D & D Rubbish Service Owner/Operator Steven J. Araujo P.O. Box 637 - ' - ~ `t Kurtistown HI, 96760-0637 (808) 966-7215 r February 2,2003 Hawaii County Council Committee on Finance Testimony on Tipping Fee Increase Bill 36 This testimony will show that I am opposed to Bill 36 and its intent to increase the Landfill Tipping Fee. At the end of the written ordinance, there is Calk of residential credit. At meetings held with Barbara Bell and the rubbish haulers in November and December 2002, Ms. Bell said that she did not want to put any of the haulers out of business. At both meetings, Ms. Bell agreed to a $7.00 residential credit increase. It was suggested to Ms. Bell that she increase the residential credit with the County Council in December. Ms. Bell said it was suggested to her that she introduce the residential credit increase and the tipping fee increase in the same package. So where is the residential credit increase in Bill 36? Also, in a letter from the Environmental Commission to the Hawaii County Council, it talks of Oahu, Maui, and Kauai comparing Hawaii County with those Counties. It is not mentioned that these other counties provide residential curbside pick up. Residents are only charged if they throw their own rubbish away at the landfill. Maui pays $6.00 per residence although it costs the county $23.00 per residence. There is no way to compare the services of this County to the services of the others Counties because there is no residential curbside pick up provided by Hawaii County. The Environmental Commission is the group advising for a tipping increase. Who is the Commission? The Commissioners were appointed from different districts to represent each district. 1'd like to know who represents my district. He or she has not contacted mein any way, shape, or form about the actions that the commission is taking towards landfill fees and reduction. The haulers that I have spoken to also have not been contacted by their respective commissioners either. The decisions these commissioners make directly effect my livelihood, my finances, and that of my family. They are Comm. No. File No._ ftef. rEB 4 4 2003 supposed to represent the interests of their districts, not their own interests or to reflect the wants of the County Division. If this increase is passed without residential credit increase equal to the tipping fee increase where the residential customers do not have to pay a tipping fee, my business, and I'm sure many other rubbish hauling businesses, will go bankrupt. That would ruin my life and the lives of my family for the next 7-10 years with nothing but an, "I'm sorry. We can't help it." By increasing the tipping fee you will be effecting every residence in this County. Businesses will tack on this fee increase to their merchandise, which will raise prices for everyone. Another thought. According to a law in the recent Land Tax increase law that was passed, a certain percentage of the Land Tax goes into solid waste. Shouldn't the Solid Waste Divisions appropriations have been increased? And shouldn't those increases help the Solid Waste Division alleviate their financial concerns that they are supposedly facing instead of imposing a tipping fee increase that could potentially destroy several entrepreneur-run family businesses? I would suggest that this Council not approve Bill 36, and to organize an evening semi- formal meeting with the Rubbish Haulers and the Environmental Director, Barbara Bell, in order to work on a Bill that would benefit everybody. Thank you for reviewing my testimony. Steven J. Araujo D & D Rubbish Service