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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0288.000 1998-2000 Stephanie Bath RECEIVED ' P.O. Box 457 ~~'y A+v ft`nD.----- BY Keaau, Hawaii 96749 Oote.____ `~(_(~/a?' ~r"` 966-8705933-1131 County Council e-mail sbath~ajuno.com James Arakaki- Chairperson for the Hawaii County Council County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 RE: "Puna access road" project and County "connector lot" Dear Mr. Arakaki, I am requesting at this time that [his correspondence and it's enclosure be made a matter of public record. On April 14, 1999 I wrote a letter to Ms. Jacobson with my concerns about the recently paved "Puna Access road" (enclosure #1). I also had a conversation with Mr. Oloson this morning during which time he spoke about the project history with totally a different informational history than presented to me before. My intent is not to discredit Mc Olosoq but rather to remedy a serious safety hazard that has been created in the subdivision by the paving of 9 rd over the hill with limited sight distance. This hazard was pointed out [o Mr. Oloson and the County Council during my testimony. I am hopeful [he this hazard will be remedied immediately before property damage or bodily harm occurs. Another point which was not brought up in my letter to Ms. Jacobson was that of the damage done to property pins during the construction of the road. When the bulldozer firs[ came throught it took out our cemented in steel survey marker poles. (these were quite tall.) We understood [hat things such as this happen during construction and were assured by K.K C.C. and Mr. Norman Oloson that the posts would be put back in place after the project was over. Bill Kelly of Hawaiian Acres Road Corporation informed me that K.KC.C. had told Mr. Oloson that all pins had been replaced. We would be happy to show you two that have not been. We had been informed by Mr. Oloson that it is the counties intention to insure that the poles are redone as they were before construction. We thank you for your intent. We need these survey poles to be put in place so we can move forward with our ag. building permits. Would you please follow up on these issues for us. Thank you for your time. Sincerel , Stephan' Bath P.S.- There are other property pins that were bulldozed during construction. Some are residence other are those of nonresident lot owners. Comm. Na ~ File No. ~'S x~T. To: Pvl?Pc._ Ref. Date ~Y 1 0~1,~_ Stephanie Bath P.O. Box 457 Keaau, EIawaii 96749 April 14, 1999 Julie Jacobson- Councilperson County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Re: "Puna access road" project and County "connector lot" Dear Ms. Jacobson, I am writing to you today regarding two matters. The first of my concecns.add~essesthe recent paving of 8 road , a portion of F road and a portion of 9 road in F-Iawaiiarr Acres subdivision. I will not review the history of this project with you because I know you have been very much on top of it as a resident of the subdivision. When the County council was hearing testimony on the paving of this road I expressed my concerns regarding a hill with "limited sight distance' that was in front of one of our lots.. I wanted the assurance that the hill would not be paved over. If paving was to take place I wanted to know that it would be taken down before the paving went down. It was not safe. Time passed. The project moved forward. I spoke with Norman Oloson on at least 3 occasions specifically about the hill. He assured me that the hill had no lava tube under it and that there were no reasons that it could not be removed. In the last of those conversations he told me not to worry. h and the hill with "Pirates' cave" were scheduled to be taken out. I asked him in almost all of our conversations to please keep me personally posted on progress and project states. He assured me, "Yes Stephanie,I will", that he would. When the surveyors were out to mark the road I questioned them. ]t didn't seem that the marks they were making reflected the elimination of the hill. They told me they were just planning to top it. I called Mr. Oloson and once again he assured me not to worry. The contractors knew that it was coming down. This never happened to the hill in front of our lot. I spoke with Mr.Oloson March 30, 1999. When I questioned him about the hill he casually explained that they had some problems with the cave people and couldn't remove it because of a lava tube that went under it. This was a direct contradiction of what he had told me in earlier conversations. I had the occasion to speak with a "cave person" on the tenth of this month. He told me that that was just not true. Stephanie Bath P.O. Box 457 Keaau, Hawaii 96749 Julie, could you please follow up on this for me to see if this is the reason why within a matter of weeks the task of taking out the hill was aborted from the project. I certainly hope that Mr. Olosen was not deceiving me over more than a one year period. Our neighborhood now has a paved blind hill. It is posted that a driver can go 35 miles an hour over this hill. Last week a cinder hauling truck went over the hill at that speed. Had the children and I been out on our bicycles it would have been chal}enging to get out of the way in time.(Even if he was using his brakes). There is no gravel to pull off onto. In addition to the speed signage there are two No passing signs posted at the base of the hill. Unfortunately they were both put on the same side of the hill. When you crest the hill is when you see one of the signs. I have photo documentation of this. The County, Mr. Oloson, was made aware of this in our conversation on March 30. I addressed my concern about the reality of drivers speeding over the hill. He explained that signage could not be put in place until he had a "specific recommendation' from the police. He then requested that I ask the police, for him, to submit "specific" speed limits to him. I agreed. A few minutes later I spoke with Captain Elroy Osorio of the Keaau substation. The captain expressed to me that this task was not a police responsibility. Richard Nishimura of traffic and safety was the person to contact. Immediately I called Mr. Oloson back to educate him. His response after a pause was, " Oh yeah, that's right, that right." This concerned me. What concerned me even more was that as I left for work the next day I witnessed speed limit signs being installed on 8 rd. I have been told that Mr. Oloson heads this project.As a tax payer in this County I wonder if the Council and Mayor aze aware that perhaps Mr. Oloson has been given to big a task to over see. He clearly has not been giving me accurate information about this project . I am entitled to this as a citizen of Hawaii County. 'Ffie-bline~•I~wesse?ppe~_to.betslcen.d~..IY.w~snot. amore severe safety hazard has been made in paving this hill. No measure has been taken to educate the residence and visitors to our subdivision of this hazazd. In fact they have been instructed that it is fine to go 35 miles an hour over the hill. The second concern I have is that of the "connector lot between Ainaloa and Hawaiian Acres subdivisions. On March 30, 1999 I asked Mr. Oloson to clarify the rumors I had been hearing about a County baseyard, police substation, and fire station being built on the lot. He indicated that this was not so. Puna outdoor circle had acquired a quantity of triangle palms that were going to be planted on the sides of the road. He then said "What I want is a park there." I politely suggested that he go to the community and see what~y wanted. Community watch of H.A. subdivision is in favor of plans for a substation to be put in place there. Officer Robert Wagner our subdivisions community oriented police officer attended the Hawaiian Acres Community Watch meeting on April 7th. Joining him was Officer M. Leite. They both made it clear that the only time officers come to H.A. is when they are Stephanie Bath P.O. Box 457 Keaau, Hawaii 96749 called. They really saw no reason to use the "access road". Upper Puna cops are in a different district than lower Puna cops. They also commented that a park on the connector lot may cause more problems and joy. This concerns me greatly Julie. I do not want to see a park go in on the connector lot just because Mr. Oloson thinks it would be nice. I would like to request some research be done on what steps need to be taken by our community to get police patrolling through our subdivision. In other words ,if the community wants patrolling on the "access road" and we pay for it what redistricting needs to take place to get it. I imagine population comes into effect. I am not one of those that points the finger at the government for every little thing. I am getting quite frustrated at the way the County of Hawaii is taking things into their own hands so to speak when it comes to my neighborhood. I am fiustrated with the lack of accountability that I see. I do have a suggestion on how to remedy this lack of accountability and will be submitting it to the County this month. [ appreciate your integrity and your willingness to serve. Sincerely~~ ~ / Stems ^ pNanie Bath w~, P.S.- There are other blind hills that are posted with 15 mph speed signs on 8 rd. Unfortunately it is near impossible to slow down in time from 35 mph because the signage is practically at the base of the hill. You might have this looked into. I feel that a 25mph general speed limit lends itself better to our roads.