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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0021.011 2018-2020 PIONOC. COUNTY CLERK wµ44.21 COUNTY OF HAWAII From: Jerre Goldberg To: Council Testimony 71119 JAN -7 AM 8: LI 5 Subject: In Support of Bill 10 Date: Thursday,January 03,2019 5:20:58 AM P/GREDC COMM. 21 (1/8/2019 HILO MTG) Aloha County Council Members, My wife and I are owners of Lio Ulani Farm, LLC at 14-4131 Kapoho Rd, Pahoa, HI 96778. We have been agricultural taxpaying citizens along the Hwy 132 public roadway and we are blocked from access to our farm and home by lava from the Hawaii Kilauea Eruption And Earthquakes (DR-4366). This Major Disaster Declaration was issued by the Federal Government on May 11, 2018. As of January 2, 2019, public roads that provide our neighbors and ourselves with access to debris removal and repair to our structures and orchards have not been provided. Nor have specific plans been made by the County of Hawaii to build or improve temporary roads which are sorely needed now. The restoration of Hwy 132 is essential to the residents, farmers and ranchers with land inside the lava channel that was not inundated. Cinder truck travel is hindered by the lack of access causing excessive noise in residential areas and long circuitous routes. The cell phone tower near PGV needs maintenance. Please quickly provide limited access with a temporary road overthe existing highway 132 alignment. It took PGV 1 day to gain access to their site once the bulldozers were given the green light. The distance needed to scrape over Hwy 132 is three times that of PGV's distance cleared. Conceivably, with additional finishing touches perhaps (we're not demanding them, but they might be needed with cinder truck travel) a 4wd road could be established within 2 weeks of work commencing. FEMA funds released by the legislature could be tapped at a later date for a permanent road. Many neighbors have been attempting to maintain their properties that remain after the uncontrolled brushfire (on July 28, 2018 - burning down many homes and structures that would have been fine otherwise), be it dwellings, orchards, other improvements or all three, with considerable inconvenience to their lives. What was once a short drive out of Pahoa is now an extensive journey by foot or air. Imagine your home being there, but you not being able to live in it because of the lack of road access that makes it impossible to go to work/school/shopping/post office/appointments etc. We need solutions. We need access. We need a ROAD. As time passes, our properties become more overgrown and improvements more degraded. Much of the papaya land remains and is going feral, but could easily be replanted and put back into production; fruit and nut orchards in the area need maintenance. There are many reasons for a TEMPORARY ROAD ON THE 132 ALIGNMENT to be fast Comm. No 21.11 Ref. To: VIGP . OC • Ref. Dote JAN 0 7 2019 tk7latileak tracked.... There is money and help available from the PGV relocation fund, the money outlined in Bill 10, and other.sources. Please release the funds. It is time! We appreciate your careful consideration of this necessity as expediently as possible. Thanks, Jerry K. Goldberg, Manager Lio Ulani Farm, LLC 14-4131 Kapoho Rd Pahoa, HI 96778 Tel: 281-344-0828 Fax: 281-344-0830 Cell: 281-658-3862 The information contained in and transmitted with this email is CONFIDENTIAL. This information is intended only for the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. You are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, copying, use of, or reliance on the information contained in and transmitted with this email by or to anyone other than the intended recipient designated above, is unauthorized and strictly prohibited by Federal Law. If you are not the intended recipient and you receive this email in error, please notify us immediately by telephone at 281-658-3862.