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From: Jan Kama [kama @hawaiiantel.net]
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2012 10:34 PM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Cc: 'District 5'
Subject: Testimony in Opposition - Bill 256, Draft 2
Attachments: Testimony Bill 256 Draft 2 6-5-12.pdf
Attached is my testimony in opposition to Bill 256, Draft 2 which is scheduled for the June 6
County Council meeting.
Mahalo...Jan Kama
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Ref. Date JUN 0 G 2012
6/5/2012
Janet L. Kama
13-3510 Oneloa Street • Pahoa, HI 96778
808.965.6671 or 808.936.8120
kama @hawaiiantel.net
June 4, 2012
Testimony in Opposition - Bill 256, Draft 2
Good morning, Mr. Chair and Council Members, my name is Jan Kama, and my husband and I
have been residents of Leilani Estates in Lower Puna for the past 21 years. We have given lots
of thought and consideration to the needs of our area, and we continue to try to make Lower
Puna a safer place to live.
We would like to ask that the Council give further study and consideration before voting on
Bill 256, Draft 2,to amend Chapter 2, Article 36 of the Hawaii County Code, the Geothermal
Relocation and Community Benefits Fund.
The Relocation Fund was initially established to provide the opportunity for owner-occupants
residing near PGV to be relocated. There were only a few nearby residents who took advantage
of that offer. And there are very few owner-occupants in the vicinity now who lived there at
the time the plant was constructed and put into service. Quite a few homes were built
afterward, with full disclosure of the plant's existence, and there were sales and purchases of
homes in the area, as well in recent years.
The offer to buy out any residents within a one-mile radius will create a fiasco for the County.
The Fund will be depleted within a short time,just buying houses. Where else will someone get
130%of assessed value for their property nowadays?
Is the County prepared to be a landowner for all those properties that will be deemed
uninhabitable? I can see the job of the Finance Director of Planning Director becoming a
nightmare,just managing properties.
Who will provide for upkeep of the properties? Under what conditions would those properties
by sold? Someone buying the property for ag use will certainly expect to pay ag rates, not
residential rates for the property, and that would be a poor investment for the County.
We are very concerned because some of those properties will likely be in our subdivision.
Leilani Estates has covenants, and property owners are assessed dues to cover the cost of the
roads within the subdivision.
We ask that you keep Community Benefits in Article 36. The Community Benefits portion of the
Fund has enabled Pahoa to have security guards at the parks, making it safer for the keiki at the
skate park.
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Ahalanui Park, the geothermally heated hot pond at Kapoho, and Kaimu Black Sand Beach now
have portable toilet facilities, a huge health issue for residents and visitors who frequent those
areas.
We have street lights to make our communities safer at night.
We have the very effective solar speed signs on Rt. 130 at the intersection of the Post Office
Road and Haas Charter School. It works! Those things are huge benefits for our rural
community.
For those of you who may live in more highly developed areas like Kona and Hilo, we ask you to
imagine what a huge difference these things make in our lives.
We ask for your careful consideration and study of this amendment before taking a vote and
pray that you will make the right decision for ALL of us in Lower Puna.
We oppose the amendment to the Geothermal Relocation and COmmunity Benefits Fund.
Mahalo for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Janet L. Kama
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