HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0804.008 1998-2000 07 /03/00 90a 10:30 FAX 808 3 9 323 Larry & Brenda Ford 0 001
• •
July 3, 2000 Refit NIL- ID .
County of Hawaii '00 JUL 3 Pn 12 97
County Council
25 Aupuni Street Cr 1• !T,- (" ,n
Hilo, HI 96720 COUNTY OF HAM;
U
To: Councilmember James Arakaki Councilmember Aaron Chung
Councilmember Leningrad Elarionoff Councilmember Julie Jacobson
Councilmember Bobby -Jean Leithead -Todd Councilmember Nancy Pisicchio
Councilmember Al Smith Councilmember J. Curtis Tyler, III
Councilmember Dominic Yagong
Re: Bill 275 (Draft 2) $8M Bond Request for Upgrading the Radio Communication System
for Hawai'i County Agencies
Aloha Councilmembers,
We understand the need to upgrade the existing emergency radio system in Hawaii County and
support the bond issue but.... The taxpayers of our financially- strapped County need the most
fiscally responsible management of our money and each of you is sworn to fiduciary
responsibility. Therefore, we would like to make some recommendations for exemplary use of •
the $8M and achieve revenue inflow to the County coffers.
1. Determine if the existing Emergency Service Radio System sites are on County and or have
a long -term lease
2. Do not waste County money replacing any of our defective existing towers, rather...
3. Lease a portion of seach site on the and to a wireless service provider under the conditions
that they will:
• Sign a lease with Hewai'i County for 10 year's and lease (revenue to the County)
• Build a tower of an appropriate height at their expense
• Co- locate with several other competitive carriers AND Hawaii County's emergency
system .
• Establish a reasonable monthly fee for a 10 -year lease for Hawai'i County to co- locate
on the tower (at a much lower price than the land lease and creating a net gain to the
County. The revenue could be placed in a separate fund for the emergency system.)
4. Determine new locations for additional sites to cover the "dead" areas .
• Use County owned land or have the County lease the land
• Repeat #3
• Streamline the permitting process for co- located antennas placed on these new towers .
These practices are used by other counties to gain revenue, place towers appropriately for
emergency service systems, and expand the wireless network for all wireless carriers.
Additionally, it will not be necessary to ask the taxpayers for more than the $8M to replace our
entire system. It may take even less that $8M. Some counties use a third party to negotiate
locations and fees as well as manage the tower locations so that the County Council is not
constantly involved. A third party provides an opinion that is equitable for all parties.
Mahalo nui loa for your consideration of our proposal. sot /� Comm. No. �g
0/41 /7/�+`GC�+ . G File No. /�/�/
Larry and Brenda Ford Ref. To•
Captain Cook, HI 96704 Ref. Date a 0 5 2000