HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0617.001 2012-2014 PIGRE C
Committee On Governmental Relations
And Economic Development
Council Members
Dennis "Fresh" Onishi Chair
Karen Eoff
Brenda Ford
Sendo Kern
Valerie Poindexter .7
Margaret Willie
J Yosimoto
February 4, 2014
Dear Chair and Council Members,
Fact: Honoka'a Elementary School has insufficient parking and lacks a safe student drop-
off/pick- up facility
I am writing to urge you to vote for Resolution 277-14 where funding from County will
be matched by the State to be used for project management, engineering, infrastructure
improvements, planning and design, and construction of the Honokaa Elementary School
parking lot and student drop-off/pick-up facility.
I work for the DOE in the role of an Administrative Services Assistant where Facilities,
Maintenance and Safety are my concern with both Honokaa Elementary and Honokaa
High and Intermediate. During the last eight years, I have been working with three
Elementary Principals and 4 High Principals as well as the County Public Works Traffic
Division and Safe Routes to School to find a way to improve the Pakalana St. drop off
concerns.
There is one street, Pakalana, to drop off both Elementary and High/Intermediate grades-
K— 12. The Elementary is on the dropoff side however the High/Inter is on the other.
Although the road is one way during school times individuals continue to drop off in the
middle, run between cars both ways, or jump between a truck and trailer because that is
the fastest way to get there.
There is a back area which is used unofficially to drop off. It is gravel, has not been
improved in years, is deeply rutted, and is also used as a teacher parking area in lieu of no
state provided parking for faculty or staff Cars parking or dropping off have backed into
each other, banged another car or almost hit adults and students walking in from the back.
Both adults and students have been bumped into, fallen or tripped over the loose gravel
and lost their balance on the uneven terrain. Of course the area is considered"at your
own risk".
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Now a student has been hurt and was airlifted to Honolulu for treatment when he/she was
banged by a vehicle on Pakalana St. in the drop off area.
Now is the time to make sure our Keiki are safe and have a safe place to be dropped off.
Safe Parking is to be provided for all staff and faculty. ADA parking is to be provided.
I wish to back Bill 186 to start the movement out of the talking stage to the doing stage
before we have any more accidents.
Aloha, Carol W. Yurth,
ASA Honokaa& Kohala Complexes