HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0040.001 2004-2006 JHTV Oi
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i 1de~e~ Barbara Bell
Director
Harry Kim
Muyor Nelsou Ho
pie •i ,:•'p Deputy Director
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DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ~
25 Aupuni Street, Room 210 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720-4252 _ C~
(808) 9b1-8083 • Fax (808) 961-8086 r-r-
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December 9, 2004 -
Mr. Gary Safarik, Chairman and
Members of the Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
SUBJECT: PROPOSED RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TO CONDUCT AN AMNESTY
PROGRAM REGARDING DERELICT VEHICLE RECYCLING AND
DISPOSAL FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY
We are submitting the enclosed testimony of Ms. Louise Winn that was offered to the
Environmental Management Commission on November 17, 2004. As noted in our
December 9, 2004 letter, Ms. Winn spoke strongly in support of this proposed resolution.
Barbara Bell
DIRECTOR
cc: Harry Kim, Mayor
Solid Waste Division
Comm. No•~ "O'YI 1
Ref. To:
Ref. Late
~~OG
To: Environmental Management Commission Meeting
Date: Nov. 17, 2004
Re: EMC2004-8 Resolution authorizing the department to conduct an amnesty program
regarding derelict vehicle recycling and disposal from private property.
Commissioners:
I am here to speak on behalf of island wide communities through my past work with the
Community Empowerment Organization through the Hawaii County Prosecutor's Office
as well as my on-going position as a Neighborhood Watch Captain in South Kona.
During the CEO project the subjects of illegal dumping, abandoned and derelict vehicles,
and illegal drug activity began to merge. It seemed that many public dumping areas
became sites of drug dealing and using, and drug houses accumulated derelict autos and
auto parts, possibly as payment for drugs.
The system of disposal of autos during that time was cumbersome and most towing
companies did not see it as priority work. In many rural areas this was a blight and a
frustration for neighborhoods trying to clean up.
Due to some dedicated efforts of concerned community members, several County
Council members, the Environmental Management Department and Hawaii County
Police and Prosecutor's, we now have a much better system in place.
There are now formal towing contracts around the island with companies who now find it
worthwhile to promptly dispose of these reported vehicles. Private large landowners and
state land managers are making a concerted effort to clean up and prevent further
dumping on their lands. The next piece of this problem lies with the broken down cars
and rusted hulks on private property which are too much trouble or too costly to remove.
In many cases these eyesores do not even belong to the residents and have been there for
many years. As stated in this resolution, there are many environmental reasons to
activate this program right now. The other reasons are for drug prevention and esthetics.
I urge you on behalf of many, many concerned citizens to pass this resolution so we can
continue to decrease the backlog of rubbish and start fresh on these lands and in these
neighborhoods. Neighborhood associations and watch groups will be happy to help
target the areas and to organize positive clean up publicity campaigns.
Louise Winn
P.O. Box 8
Honaunau, HI 96726 328-2585