HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0488.006 2008-2010Page 1 of 2
Yoshimoto, J .,~, ,
From: Debbie Hecht [hecht.deb@gmail.com] ~ ~ --•-
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 10:33 AM C -~; ~
To: dikeda@co.hawaii.hi.us; donishi@co.hawaii.hi.us; enaeole@co.hawaii :_
.hi.us;:Billy r~
Kenoi; ~:°
Council testimony; Dominc Yagong; Enriques, Guy; Ford, Brenda; Greenwell, kell y; J S
Yoshimoto; Pete Hoffman _ .~~~ - =
.~,
Subject: Sale of the Hamakua Lands- Resolution 216 and Bill 132 ~,~_'.-=. ,~~
Attachments: RES 216 Draft 01 2008-2010.pdf; BIL 132 Draft 01 2008-2010.pdf -
- ; ~ ~....,
r~
Aloha-
Please do not sell these lands.
THESE LANDS COULD BE USED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND FARMING
WITH THE REQUIREMENT THAT PART OF THE PRODUCTION FROM THESE
LANDS REMAIN ON OUR ISLAND TO FEED OUR FAMILIES.
J Yoshimoto's Resolution 216 to sell the Hamakua Lands, (which will be heard at the council meeting
on Wednesday, September 2nd) sets the price at $8.2 million and also allows a sealed bid OR an
auction. There are 16 parcels in this sale for a total of 737 acres. They are individually listed on the
Resolution on the last page (see attached)
I believe that each of the 17 properties should be appraised and sold separately. They each
have unique characteristics that would make some worth more than others, such as proximity to
utilities, elevation differences, soil differences. What if a Buyer only wants a few of these
properties? What is the next door neighbor just wants to purchase one of the properties? Is this to
be an all or nothing sale? I don't believe that the requirement to purchase all of these properties
serve taxpayers by getting the best price.
A sealed bid does not allow the County to get the best price or allows this to be a transparent
process. An open auction is the best way to get the best price and the way to open and above
board dealings.
The resolution says they will be "returned to service" as property tax yielding land. What are the
anticipated yearly property taxes that will be gained for this $8 million?
Bill 132, proposed by Council member Dominic Yagong, which will be heard on Tuesday, September 1
at the Finance Committee in Kona, changes the process of land sales to give the council the right to
approve the sale of properties of more than 10 acres. This is a VERY IMPORTANT idea- The
public should be informed of ALL sales of publicly owned properties.
THIS BILL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTIES. IN
addition to what is stated in this legislation (Bill 132), I believe that the agreements of sale, appraisals
title reports and any other agreements should be a matter of public record and posted on the
Internet on the Finance Department's website. We should be informed as to who participated in the
bidding process, so we can see that the process was open to everyone.
Documents for grope_rty_acqusition should also be a matter of public record and easily accessible
on the Internet.
Ref: To, F
8/28/2009 R®f. ~-~~~I"ZOQ~~
ikra..:il~..r .s.r~_
Page 2 of 2
PLEASE it is time to have Hawaii County Government be open and accessible to all citizens.
Mahalo!
Debbie Hecht
P.O. Box 4148
Kailua-Kona, HI 96745
(808) 989-3222
8/28/2009