HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0746.002 2004-2006 MfV os N
Harry Kim Dixie Kaetsu
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Mayor Managing Dircctor
•
o;•~:+~ Barbara Kossow
Deputy Menagmg Director
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25 Aupuni Sheet, Room 215 Hilq Hawaii 96720-4252 • (808) 961-8211 Fax (808) 961-6553
KONA: 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Sui[e 103 • Kailua-Kona, Ilawai i 96740
(808)329-5226 • Fax (808)326-5663
Apri14, 2006
The Honorable Stacy Higa, Chairperson, and
Members of the Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Re: Bill 244, Appropriation of Fund Balance of the Solid Waste Fund
Dear Chairperson Higa and Council Members:
On March 21, 2006, the Finance Committee voted to send Bill 244 to the full Council with a
negative recommendation. The Administration understands that the negative recommendation
was made because Council Members felt that they needed more information before they could
support the appropriation. We understand that the Council is trying to ensure that taxpayer
dollars are being spent wisely. This letter is to provide you with additional information that
will hopefully answer any questions you have so that you will better understand why thcse
funds are needed.
Bill 244 proposes to appropriate $1.2 million of the Solid Waste Fund's prior year fund
balance for the following purposes, which are explained in more detail below:
Repairs to Facilities -Hilo Transfer Station $ 550,000
Fuels and Lubricants 100,000
Building and Construction Materials-"Sliver Fi1P' 500,000
Waikoloa Village Curbside Study 50,000
1 200 000
Repairs to Facilities - $550,000
Until the construction of the reload facility is completed, the Hilo Transfer Station must
continue to accept household rubbish. These funds are needed to correct some current safety
and traffic issues. The attached memo from Terin Gloor explains what these funds will be
used for.
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Hawaii County is an equal opportunity provider acid employer.
Apri14, 2006
The Honorable Stacy Higa and Council Members
Page 2
Fuels and Lubricants - $100,000
Fuel costs have skyrocketed this year after Hurricane Katrina, and are expected to be 20%
higher than last year. Additional funding is needed to cover the cost of fuels and lubricants
for the rest of the fiscal year.
Building and Construction Materials - $500,000
This amount will cover the cost of extending the life of the Hilo Sanitary Landfill through the
end of the present fiscal year. This extension will be accomplished through implementation of
a sliver fill operation which will utilize the existing "footprint' and height of the landfill, but
steepen the side slopes from a 4-to-1 slope to a 2-to-1 slope. This is a change in the way the
landfill will be managed and operated, so the County has taken steps to procure expert
assistance to make sure the sliver fill is done safely and professionally. One step included the
hiring of Brian A. Stirrat and Associates, an engineering consulting firm experienced in
designing sliver fills for landfill operations, to do the engineering of the sliver fill. Another
measure taken was sending three Solid Waste Division operations supervisory employees to
California to visit and learn from eight landfills where sliver fills are being constructed.
The requested funds are needed for:
• Ongoing engineering design of the sliver fill, and associated drainage, benches, down-
drains, monitoring wells, and detention basins. This will be in compliance with the
proposed operations manual and will be a regulatory requirement of the Department of
Health. ($100,000)
• Survey and air photogrammetry to accurately identify the available air space and track
the in-filling of the available airspace with solid waste. On-going surveying is required
to demonstrate the air capacity and the volume of materials being landfilled. This will
be part of the regulatory requirements in the permit. ($75,000)
• Additional equipment to rent or lease/purchase a D-6 dozer to dress and shape the
outside edge of the landfill. The current D-8 is too large and heavy for this work, and
will gouge out the side slope instead of allowing it to be dressed properly. In addition,
the D-8 is used full time for moving solid waste at the landfill face in conjunction with
the compactor. An extra excavator also may be rented as required to excavate the
drainage to handle the stormwater and any possible leachate in conjunction with the
Department of Health permit. ($36,000)
• Additional cover material will be needed in excess of the current rock cover contract.
Additional material will be needed for the outside edge, dressing up the existing cover,
installing rock drains as required by the Department of Health to channel stormwater
into the detention basins. ($274,000)
• Overtime for County employees who work above and beyond their regular hours to
construct the sliver fill. There are currently no extra employees who can be utilized
during their regular hours, as they all have schedules that take up their regular time. To
meet the needs of the County, they are coming in after their regular work schedule to
provide the manpower required. ($15,000)
Apri14, 2006
The Honorable Stacy Higa and Council Members
Page 3
Waikoloa Village Curbside Study - $50,000
This study was initiated and funded by the County Council last fiscal year. However, the
funds lapsed before a consultant contract could be finalized. This bill would reappropriate the
funds that lapsed last year. For background, the Waikoloa Village Association places into its
CC&Rs that the Association can bill residents for curbside trash collection and recycling.
This study would help determine the best way for the Waikoloa Village Association to
implement a pickup program for its residents. The County will benefit from this study in two
ways. First, having the Association implement curbside pickup will eliminate the need for the
County to construct a transfer station in Waikoloa. Second, the results of the study can be
applied in the future to other communities if the County decides it wants to go in the direction
of curbside pickup in urban areas of the island.
Conclusion
While all of the above items are important and needed, the $500,000 for extending the life of
the Hilo Landfill by implementing a sliver fill operation is a critical component of the overall
plan to prevent the trucking of solid waste from Hilo to the West Hawaii Landfill at
Pu`uanahulu. Department of Environmental Management staff will be available at the
Council meeting on April 5, 2006, to answer any remaining questions you have about any of
these items.
Thank you for this opportunity to provide you with information, and we respectfully ask for
your support in passing Bill 244 on first reading so the life of the Hilo Landfill can be
extended.
Sincerely,
Dixie Kaetsu
Managing Director
Attaclunent
cc: Barbara Bell, Director of Environmental Management
Mike Dworsky, Solid Waste Division Chief
Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd, Deputy Corporation Counsel
a.
~ Barbara Bell
Kim Direpor
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Nelwa Ho
Depay Dvaxor
County of Hawaii
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
23 Aapani Street, Romp 210 • naq Ilawail %720-4232
(800) %1-80fli • Fax (80H) %1-8086
6ttp://co.hawaii.hi.ux/dvoclorv/dv envmna.htm
MEMORANDUM
DATE March 29, 2006
TO Barbara Bell
FROM Terin Gloor
SUBJECT: Hilo Recycling Area Improvements
The "Hilo Recycling Area Improvements" project can be broken down into three distinct
components. They aze (1) grading and paving the existing recycling area, (2)
constructing an exit ramp from the Hilo Transfer Station, and (3) purchasing 12 semi-
portable ramps for the recycling containers. These three components aze grouped together
to expedite the construction process and to attract more competitive quotes. The
components are justified as follows:
1. Grading and paving the existing recycling azea.
The existing recycling azea at the Hilo Transfer Station is approximately '/z acre. It
was rough graded and paved with large gravel. The existing loose surface creates
several safety issues including rocks spun out from beneath vehicles and twisted
ankles.
Additionally the site is very flat and floods in the rain (see attached photo) making it
inaccessible.
Grading and paving this azea will address these issues and make the site compliant
with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
2. Constructing an exit ramp from the Hilo Transfer Station.
The existing traffic pattern at the Hilo Transfer Station requires that vehicles enter
and exit the site on the same road. This road intersects the landfill access road at a
shazp skew angle. Traffic that is leaving the Transfer Station has very poor
Recycling Area Improvements Page 1 of 2
visibility at this intersection creating a safety concern. The new exit ramp, as
shown on the attached drawing, will eliminate this problem and enhance safety at
the site.
Additionally, traffic waiting to enter the Transfer Station often backs up onto the
landfill access road. The traffic backup blocks vehicles from accessing the landfill,
shooting range, or race track. By converting the exiting road imo an entrance only
road we can queue two lanes of vehicles and thereby reduce the backup onto the
main landfill access road.
3. Purchasing twelve semi-portable ramps for the recycling containers.
The recycling containers aze approximately six feet tall. This height makes it
challenging for many and impossible for some, to place their recyclable items in the
bin. The attached photograph illustrates this problem. We have received complaints
of twisted backs, and deposited items falling back onto the people who are attempting
to use these containers.
The proposed ramps would be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) and would be placed at recycling stations throughout the County.
If you need any further information please lei me know.
Recycling Area Improvements Page 2 of 2
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SOIJEH HILO SANITARY
LANDFILL BASE YARD
EXISTING RECYCLING AREA
TO RECENE NEW
ASPHALT PAVEMENT
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NOTE:
I 1. RECYCLING AREA TO
INCLUDE GRADING,
PAVING, STRIPING, AND E%ISTING HILO
TRANSFER STATION
TRAFFIC FLOW
REDESIGN.
2. TRANSFER STATION
EXIT RAMP TO INCLUDE
GRADING, PAVING,
STRIPING AND SIGNS.
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