HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0249.001 1996-1998 5/20/97 8:53:14 ?age 2 0' 3
Mai 20. 1997 r~-
'97 f~flY 20 fif'i 8 ] 9
To: Hawaii Countt~ Council
CCUr'v
From: Ed ,Tohnston; President. Pauka'a Communit<~ As~o~~~i~iYi U'- HAWAII
191 Kulana Street
Hilo_ 96720
ph. 961-49~
Subject: RES 70-97~ Authorizes ac uisition of prig°ate properties at Pauka'a
District of South Hilo
The Counri~ needs portions ofprieate properties «~ithin the Patil:a~a Communiri~ in
order to extend the sewer line. I belie~~e some 19 propem} owners ill be al~ected.
~~hen this item was noticed in the newspaper some «eeks ago as going before the
Public A~%orks Committee, I notitied Waste~~ ater and Corporation Council that the
specific propem- o~~ners had not been of3icia1l~~ informed of the intent to acquire
their properit~. After Gerald Takase explained to me the process of condemnation
and that the easements ould be handled b~~ the courts. I asked that the propert}~
o~',ners be notitied of the intent to acquire and explain the process. The reason I
asked this was so the propem o~~ners ould be prepared and understand ~~~hen the
Sheriff serned the papers. If ~~ou don't understand the process, the result could be
~-erv~ stressful for residents since the process seems hostile. Co1p. Council and
Waste~~ ater agreed that the notices had not been sent, and then agreed to send
them.
This past Saturda~~ I was visited b~~ see-era1 upset and confused neighbors ~~ho
recei~~ed notices. The notices explain nothing about the condemnation process and
court proceeding. The notices sa~~ a map is attached to sho~1 the se~~ er sestem--no
map as attached. The notice asks the propem o~~ners to sign aRight-of-Enti~~ so
that the Counts can begin construction on the propem_ ~ before the process of land
acquisition is complete.
A eek before the letters ere sent «e held a Crnrununit< Association meeting
inl~hich a aster ater representative spoke regarding the project, howe~~er nothing
as said about ~chen the easement resolution ~~uld go before full Council, nor an~~
details of the condemnation process, or this "Right-of-Entr` That's OK because ''11qq
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ftef. Date ~ 2 ~
5/20/97 8:54:20 ?age 3 c' 3
the more appropriate place for that information is the letters to individual propert}~
omiers.
I ask the Council to take steps to require ~~homever is responsible to send a letter to
the propem~ owners which elplains the process they will have to go through in the
condemnation. The propem owners should also be provided a map showing here
the easement will be on their property (just a rough sketch would do). The propertt~
owners should be infornied in the letter when this matter will come before Council
so they would have the opportunin• to make connnent. Remember, even at Public
Works level, these propem owners had not been officially notified.
This is not a matter of stopping a project. It is a matter of communication so the
residents ~yill kno~y what's going on and not be surprised and angi-~~ at Count<~
goyennnent ~yhen the condemnation process begins.