HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 105 10/20/2009 2008-2010
REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
DATE: October 20, 2009 Re: Comm. No. 452/Res 216-09
PLACE: Councilroom
Ben Franklin Building, 2nd Floor
Hilo, Hawaii
TIME: 9:53 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Resolution No. 216-09, reports as follows:
Resolution 216-09, transmitted by Finance Director Nancy Crawford, via Communication No.
452, dated July 23, 2009, authorizes the sale of certain former Hamakua Sugar Company, Inc.
lands now under County ownership, in addition to the authorization provided in Resolution
No. 161-02 and Resolution No. 209-02.
At the meeting of August 4, 2009, Communication No. 452. 1, dated August 3, 2009, transmitting
proposed amendments to Resolution No. 216-09, was circulated. After discussing the measure,
Your Committee voted to postpone the measure in order to establish the County's legal title to
the lands.
On August 18, 2009, Deputy Corporation Counsel Gerald Takase reported the title search was
complete and the Bureau of Conveyances had assured the County of clear title to the properties.
However, a representative of a Hawaiian family claiming ownership brought forward papers
stating otherwise. Your Committee once again postponed this item, requesting documentation
on the title search and research on the claimant's allegations.
Communication No. 452.9 transmitted by Corporation Counsel Gerald Takase contains title
charts prepared by Title Guaranty of Hawaii, Inc. It shows the evolution of record title of the
parcels in question from the original source to the County of Hawaii. They said that prior to the
Great Mahele, the Hamakua lands in question were Hawaiian Government lands; that is land
which could be sold to generate revenue.
Several Council Members expressed concern that the Hawaiian families claiming ownership did
not meet with Corporation Counsel and Title Guaranty officials to establish their claims and
wished to postpone to allow for this.
Other Council Members said they were satisfied and the measure should move forward as it had
now been postponed for two months. The parties concerned will have time to meet before the
reading of the resolution at full Council.
FC Rept. No. 105
A motion to postpone failed on a vote of six to three.
Concern was expressed that the lands would not be sold and the County would be left in a budget
shortfall. Finance Director Nancy Crawford said she is confident that with the County's
marketing effort, the land will sell for at least the appraised value.
Your Committee on Finance is in accordance with the purpose and intent of Resolution 216-09,
and recommends its adoption.
kk
AYES NOES A&E EX Respectfully submitted,
ENRIQUES X
FORD X COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
GREENWELL X
HOFFMANN X
IKEDA X
NAEOLE X
ONISHI X DENNIS "FRESH" ONISHI, CHAIR
YAGONG X FC REPORT NO. 105
YOSHIMOTO X ADOPTED: NOV ~ 1T~M_