HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PWPC 075 03/24/2000 1998-2000 OFFICE INFORMATION ONLY
Meeting: Hawaii County Council -April 19, 2000
Action: Referred back to Finance Committee; PWPC Report 75 was not adopted.
See PhPC Report 85.
Re: Bill 177/C-564/PWPC Repts. 75 & 85
REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS
DATE: March 24, 2000 RE: COMM. NO. 564 /BILL NO. 177
PLACE: Kona Surf Resort, King Kamehameha Ballroom, Keauhou-Kona
TIME: 6:25 p.m.
Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Public Works and Parks, to which was referred Communication No. 564,
and attached Bill No. 144, reports as follows:
The purpose of Bill No. 177 is to amend Chapter 21, Article 1, General Provisions, Section 21-2
(a)(22) and (24), of the Hawaii County Code by clarifying the definitions of public sewer,
sewage works, sewer, and sewer system. In addition, a new definition for "gang cesspools" is to
be added.
Communication No. 564 is from Council Member J. Curtis Tyler, III, dated December 2, ] 999,
transmitting Bill No. 177 for the Council's review and consideration.
Public testimony raised concerns over the monthly sewer charge of $25.00 currently being
assessed residents in Queen Liliuokalani Village in Kona for a gang cesspool. They felt the gang
cesspool servicing the Village is not a treatment facility like Kealakehe, and they should not be
charged any fees.
Council Member Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd commented on the fact that the Public Works
Wastewater Division is mandated by federal law because of the Clean Water Act to assess a fee
for operation and maintenance of a wastewater treatment facility. The County is not supposed to
fund the operation and maintenance of wastewater facilities from the general fund, but
Wastewater Division must generate revenues from its users to pay for the system.
Mr. Peter Boucher, Wastewater Division Chief, said that he is just doing his job according to the
laws set forth by Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Health, and the County of
Hawaii. He stated that a gang cesspool is not a sewer system, but it is a completely acceptable
and approved wastewater treatment and disposal system. It is a cesspool collection system that
conveys the sewage from the individual homes to an enclosed area not allowing pathogens to
spread disease. The sewage seeps down through the rocks providing filtering action for the
solids by trickling aeration. The gang cesspool meets all regulations set forth by the Department
of Health. However, because of environmental concerns, the Department of Health's policy is to
eliminate cesspools. If the residents do not want to be charged the sewer fees, the gang cesspool
could possibly be transferred over to the QLV Association. Should any spills occur under their
care, the Association members would be responsible for any and all costs for clean up along with
the possible EPA violation fines.
Committee on Public Works & Parks
Page -2-
Deputy Corporation Counsel Gerald Takase informed Your Committee that there are two choices
in the matter. First, the gang cesspool facility could be fumed over to the QLV Association
homeowners. No fee would be charged by the County. Second, based upon the expressed
concerns of the community, the Wastewater Division could look at establishing a fee more in
line of the actual cost of maintaining this cesspool system.
When questioned what the best scenario would be, Mr. Boucher said it would be in the best
interest of the County to keep the system, although his employees would rather tum the system
over to the Association because the system was built poorly.
Chairman Yagong informed that one step should be taken at a time to address each issue. This
bill addresses the concern of the monthly sewer charge the residents aze presently experiencing.
The next possible step would be for the Wastewater Division to evaluate the cost of its operation
and maintenance. Then the feasibility of a lower sewer fee charge for a gang cesspool facility
could be discussed.
Council Member Julie Jacobson voted kanalua times two.
Your Committee is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 177, and recommends that it
pass first reading.
la
AYES NOES A&E Ex Respectfully submitted
YAGONG X
ELARIONOFF x COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS & PARKS
CHUNG X
JACOBSON X
LEITHEAD-TODD X
PISICCHIO x DOMINIC YAGO
SMITH X
TYLER x PWPC REPORT NO. ~ 5
ARAKAKI E. O. M. ADOPTED:
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