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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0116.005 2016-2018VALERIE T. POINDEXTER (hma it C'hah a (... an K Presiding Officer (bench District l HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL Cou,o o,/Haww('i limeai'I C'minty {Building 25 Aapuni Street, Stile 1402 lido, Haivai'i 96720 DAI F: March 21, 2017 1.0: Members of the Flawai'i County Council I ROM: ralcric Poindexter, Council Chairwoman Phanc (808))61 8828 Fis: (808) 961-99 11 l:aratl: A.I�i i�.l anAut rho..; -a rc..u., RIC: Comm. 116. Fast I-lawai'i Organics Facility Contract Termination COUNTY CLERK COUNTY OF HAWAPI CEIVED RE Time l PFI By �/hJ Date �73i ill Attached please find a letter from honorable State Senator Kaiali'i Kahele and Ilawai'i State Representative Chris Todd regarding the discussion to be held today before the Enironmental Management Committee. It would be greatly appreciated if copies could be made and distributed to the members of the conuniucc prior to the meeting. (hank you. Attachment comm, 5 Ref.To• v Net CwYMAK cI Mf Omvai'i Counn is an Equal Oppor(unim Provider and Eniploli o Ebe #enate Office of'Raiali`i Rabefe March 20, 2017 "Che Honorable Valerie T. Poindexter Chairwoman, Hawaii County Council 25 Aupuni St. Hilo, HI 96720 30onbe of Repre$entatibez Office of QLljri.4 Tobb Re: East Hawaii Oreanies Facility Contract Termination Dear Chair Poindexter, We write to express our sincere concern regarding the County of Hawai`i's recent decision to terminate the East Hawaii Organics Facility contract. As you are well aware, the South Hilo Sanitary Landfill has a remaining usable life of one to three years and the County has worked hard to find a solution to this problem. The proposed composting facility is the perfect antidote to this issue and will provide multiple benefits to our community, such as diverting 54% of our County's organic waste, providing nutrient rich compost to our vital agricultural industry, eliminating invasive species through enhanced mulching as well as promoting a renewed sense of self sustainability and recycling education on our Island. The project would work with all Department of Education schools on our island by directing all food waste, paper, compostable dishes, and plastics to the landfill at $21.25 per ton, $63.75 less than what it currently cost. It would also enable us to educate and instill in our State's next generation the value of composting, sustainability, and what it truly means to reduce, reuse, and recycle. This project can be a model for the rest of the State and we have no doubt would be implemented statewide in a few years. We envision every Island; one day will have its own organic composting facility. In addition, there are potentially several new initiatives to stimulate the agriculture industry on our Island and part of these initiatives require the availability of nutrient rich compost to encourage farming and growing our own food among local farmers and private residents. The proposed composting facility will produce 40 tons of organic, naturally rich compost once fully operational and this can have a major impact on the agriculture and horticulture industry on Hawaii Island as well as future farming and sustainability initiatives. STATE CAPITOL HONOLULU. HAW A I 1 9 8813 The Honorable Valerie T. Poindexter March 20, 2017 Page 2 The proposed composting facility will also directly address our Islands invasive species epidemic by converting green waste and untreated wood pallets to enhanced mulch and heating it to a specific temperature that will eliminate all (mown invasive species to include: rapid ohia death, little red fire ants, coqui frogs, coconut rhinoceros beetle, coffee berry borer and the banana bunchy top virus. Although this process is already occurring at the South Hilo Sanitary Landfill, the enhanced mulch from the composting facility would be of better quality and a product that would be safe for our farmers and community. This enhanced mulch, in high demand in East Hawaii, would continue to be distributed at no cost and would substantially decrease the mulch currently imported from the U.S. Mainland. We also understand the concerns of our neighbors in Pana`ewa and Keaukaha and the proposed sites proximity to the Department of Hawaiian Homes Land agricultural farm lots. These concerns must be addressed and there are alternate sites in East Hawaii that the proposed project could be relocated to. We are willing to work with the County to locate an alternative site on State land should the project be allowed to proceed. Finally, we are coneemed that the termination of this project, which was approved unanimously by the previous County Council that provided for the issuance of a $10.6 million bond, will send the negative message to private industry and investors that the County of Hawaii does not honor its contractual obligations and decisions. Pending litigation to recover costs associated with the contract termination could amount to millions of dollars in legal fees that County taxpayers will have to shoulder. This is clearly not in the County's best interests. In conclusion, we strongly urge the County of Hawaii to reconsider terminating this critically important project. Sin el K. tali" K le Chris Todd Ha e Senator Ilawai`i State Representative Dist", I District 2 Phone: 808-586-6760 Phone: 808-586-8480 Email: s, -kcilol hawztii_eov Email retodd,acaultolhawaii.uov cc: Council Member Aaron Chung Council Member Susan L. K. Lee Loy Council Member Eileen O'Hara, Ph.D. Council Member Jen Ruggles Council Member Maile Medeiros David Council Member Dru Mame Kanuha Council Member Karen Eoff Council Member Herbert M. Richards III, DVM