HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0501.001 2002-2004 MSV oI NL..
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Harry Kim Dixie Kaetsu
Mayor Managing Director
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25 Aupuni Strcet, Room 215 Hilq Hawaii 96720-4252 • (808) 961-8211 6i3) 961-~S33Hr'~WAII
KONA: 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite 103 Kailua-Kona, liav~i {
(808)329-5226 ('ax (808)326-5663
February 22, 2004
The Honorable James Y. Arakaki, Chairman
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Re: Large Capacity Cesspool Project -Community Assistance
Dear Chairman Arakaki:
I read in the West Hawai `i Today that some questions arose at the Finance Committee meeting
on February 18 about the County's contract with Dennis Tulang. The question appears to be
why we entered into a contract with Mr. Tulang before EPA grant funding was approved by
the Council, when Mr. Tulang is to be paid from the grant.
First, I apologize for being unable to attend the Finance Committee meeting where the
questions arose. I will attend the Council meeting on March 5 to answer any questions that
remained unanswered.
Next, regarding Mr. Tulang's contract, on October 8, 2003, the Council passed Resolution No.
105-03 which allocated $100,000 to hire, through the Mayor's Office, a coordinator to work
with communities and groups islandwide who are using gang cesspools that will be banned
after April 2005. Mr. Tulang is the coordinator we have hired with those County funds.
However, as I testified when Resolution No. 105-03 was before the Finance Committee, there
are possible grant funding sources available for this purpose, and to the maximum extent
possible we will utilize these grants to keep the amount the County pays to the minimum.
That is what we are doing with this EPA grant. We can utilize part of this grant to pay for
some of the coordinator's cost, so we are taking advantage of that. However, Mr. Tulang was
lawfully contracted utilizing county funds that were approved for that purpose by the Council
last October. We will continue to work to minimize the County's cost by pursuing grants that
will cover as much of the cost of this program as possible.
Please know that I will be available to answer any further questions on March 5, and you can
call me prior to that date if you need clarification on any other matters.
Since
Dixie Kaetsu ~ ~mm.
Managing Director K~ t- 7a, •
rz~.r. lr~ate 3 2004