HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0246.022 2012-2014 ,
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SUBMITTED BY: SPRINGER KAYE COW TY C R1
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•IS'uA/O INVASIVE COSINWITICE 2013 OCT -2 AK 9: 2 8
23 E. Kawili St, Hilo, HI 96720.Phone: (808)933-3340
Supporting Bill 64:AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 20, ARTICLE 2, OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE
1983 ( 2005 EDITION,AS AMENDED), RELATING TO CLEARING OCCUPIED AND UNOCCUPIED LOTS.
October 2, 2013
Thank you for accepting testimony on this important measure. The Big Island Invasive
Species Committee strongly supports Bill 64.
This common-sense measure encourages good citizenship, including the concept that
property owners share in the responsibility of managing costs related to their properties. The
Big Island Invasive Species Committee raises and spends over one million dollars each year
managing invasive species that harm our environment, economy, or human health. Unsafe
vegetation is often a threat to all three.
Last Thursday, September 26, BIISC visited the HAAS Charter School in Pahoa. We gave
a pretty dull presentation to a room full of fairly sleepy seventh and eighth graders. When it
got to albizia, however, the room came alive. Every student in the room had an albizia story.
There was a dog rescued from a small space between fallen branches. A 12 year old boy, who
had narrowly survived being trapped in the space between his bed and the wall when a whole
tree fell on his house. There is an uncle who remains in a coma in the hospital. These are
stories we thought might be out there, but had no idea there were so many, that our children
are literally being terrorized by trees. BIISC staff, teachers, and the students girdled more than
200 trees at the edge of their campus the next day.
Following passage of Bill 64, the Big Island Invasive Species Committee plans to
announce the My Albizia Story Contest, to collect and publicize these stories. We are certain
this bill is a big step forward to be sure that there are fewer of them in the future.
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