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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0975.001 2004-2006 HAWAII ISLAND BOARD OF REALTORS®, INC. July 18, 2006 Public Works Chair Donald Ikeda Vice Chair Isbell REALTOR@ 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720 26 Waianuenue Avenue RE: Bill No. 311 Hilo, Hawaii 96720.2440 Phone: (808) 935-0827 Dear Chair Ikeda, Vice Chair Isbell & Respected Council Members, Fax: (809) 9 4924 E-mail: hibr®hibr.co ibr.com I am Mary Begier, Chairperson for the Government Affairs committee of the Hawaii Island Board of Realtors. On behalf of our 1,000 members and affiliates we speak in support of President this bill but have the following thoughts: Georgia 'Gae' Callaway, R,GRI President-Elect Hawaii County is experiencing a tremendous success in its public relations campaign both Mary Begier, R,ABR,CRS,GRI formal and informal. Formal in the dollars expended by public and private interest groups to attract people to visit here. Informal is the word of mouth of our citizens and happy Vice President visitors. This group is probably the most widespread in its reach. Burt Weiss, R This growth has overwhelmed our current building department and its staff. We testify Secretary today at some risk of upsetting the personnel at the building dept. That is not our intent. Linda Caleo, R,CRS,GRI We are painfully aware of how hard they are all working. We understand that the council Treasurer has approved more funding for additional staff but it will take time to find new personnel Kevin Lewis, R, ABR then to train them. So as we pass this bill we must be aware that while we are taking a step in the right direction we are making an existing problem worse. It takes a lot more Immediate Past President work for an inspector to inspect an already completed structure than to view it at the Adele Eggel, R,CRB,CRS, GRI various stages of construction. Directors: A final point we would like to share. This is not going to address the structures that are Charles AM, R not built to code or the people who want less government intervention. As Realtors we Barbara Biddle, R are the frontline of information from persons seeking a home. Many people come here Arabel Camblor, R, GRI, ABR with the attitude to have the world stop and let them off. While this bill may help some Derek bna, R(S) P Y P C. J. Kimberly, R people who have already built to code and just didn't do the paperwork we are afraid there Alexander Smith, R are a far greater number of people that won't be able to comply because of creative Bran Thomas, R design ideas that may not be unsafe but will not past muster of traditional building codes. We've seen it argued that building codes are there to address basic fire, health and safety Executive Officer issues but there are engineers and architects that will argue that there is more than one Michele Robles correct way to build some things. Executive Assistant Victoriya Matsui AdmirdAkinaeAssistant Thank you for being creative to this degree, we look forward to further creativity to solve Haunan! Akins the many issues around our housing needs. Sincerely, j2t- G m. No. 9745.1 Mary Be er Realtor®, CRB, CRS Re l. To:haNt~~ Wia HIBR GAC Chairperson ReJ. Date JUL 18 2006 Mahalo to the following sponsors for supporting HIBR programs in 2006. REALTORO is a registered Diamond: AMERICAN SAVINGS BANK Platinum: *Bank of Hawaii collective membership mark Gold: *Central Pacific Home Loans Intle Guaranty Escrow "Wells Fargo Home Mortgage which may be used only by Silver:'AMERA Mortgage *Apex Mortgage *Clark Realty Corp. *Fidelity National Title real estate professionals wh( 'First American Title Corp., Inc. *Home Mortgage Professionals 'Homes & Land Magazine are members of the 'Horizon Pest Management'HouseMoster *Island Title Corporation `Meryl Realty NATIONAL ASSOCIATION `Security Title Corporation OF REALTORSO and Bronze: "Aloha Island Mortgage *Bowman Termite *Edith Crabb Realty subscribe to its strict Code "Family Mortgage Company of Hawaii Inc.'Hawalian Isles Inspections'Homestreet Bank "Old Republic Title & Escrow Service of Hawaii *Territorial Savings Bank *The Real Estate Book of Ethics. 'Trinity Financial 'Wes Thomas Associates "Woodbury Home Inspection Service