HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0047.010 2018-2020 P/Council
COUNTY CLERK 47
COUNTY OF HAWAII
January 3, 2019
2M JAN —8 Al 9: 18
Nancy L. Seifers
14-4318 Kapoho Pahoa Highway
TMK 1-4-012-008-0000
To: Hawaii County Council
Re: Bill 10
Aloha, I have been a taxpaying resident and farmer in Kapoho, as well as serving as an educator in our
local schools, for over 30 years. I lost 1 house on my 13 acre farm to the brush fire yet my main
residence stands pristine waiting for my return. I am asking that the County of Hawaii, Mayor Harry
Kim, utilize the Governor's remaining$10,000,000 of funding for lava emergency response, FEMA
monies totalling$32,995,550.00, and all the granted funds from Dept. of Commerce $250,000, PGV
$150,000 donation and their generous Relocation and Community Benefits Fund, and all other funding
sources, even the Mayors from Japan who contributed, to provide access to Highway132- a temporary
road, still under the 6th Emergency Proclamation, up and over the lava. This has been done for
Highway 137 open to the public and PGV has successfully completed the road in to their plant.
(County could also spend some of this funding immediately for temporary access across the PGV plant
access road to allow"residents only"to gain access to their properties with permission from the
leaseholder and landowner). Opening a temporary road must be done for the many residents isolated
off of 132 (more than 100+TMKs provided and petitions with over 2000 signatures in support).
Resolution 732-18 was passed unanimously by the County Council in Nov. and states "Be it further
resolved that building Highway 132 and identifying funding sources, obtaining road easements,
planning and engineering road construction should be the highest priority for the County
Administration." Aaron Chung was passionate about the road recovery for residents in his inaugural
address as incoming Chair of the County Council! Let us turn that Resolution in to action!
I had to fly in by helicopter in October to secure and maintain my homestead, which I can no longer
afford to do while having to relocate and start my life over. I also hiked over the fissure in November,
at 70 years old, to ensure that my home is still safe. The lava field was no hotter than the vents have
always been in my orchards.A major portion of Highway 132 still exists...just needs to be connected
at the top and/or bottom.
We residents believe it is our government's civic responsibility and duty to protect and serve its
constituents....not to keep us out or buy us out! The funds are there to help us in the ROAD to recovery
by giving us a ROAD. We do not need any further needs assessments, town halls, community
meetings, projected timelines of short and long term economic goals, group talk stories with snacks for
road access issues! I implore Mayor Harry Kim and his cabinet to begin this emergency access as soon
as possible! We want to go home and begin to contribute to our local economy once again.
With respect and gratitude,
Sincerely,
Nancy L. Seifers. MEd.
(808) 217-6628
nancyseifers@gmail.com q
Comm. N
410
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Ref.To: PI council
Ref. (Date JAN 0 8 2019