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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0855.156 2018-2020 4 I S COMM V5 Mon 4/20/2020 11:41 PM TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF RESO 568-20, BILL 115-2,COMM 855 i To: Council Testimony Aloha kalcou, Please find my testimony in support of the reimbursement of funds to the County of Hawaii attached. Please also note my strong message to avoid a similar occurrence in the future. Mahalo nui, Noe Noe Comm. No. Ref.To:_ t tS (i Ref. Date APR 2 2 2020 10"W. 11 Hawaii County Council Testimony Of Dr. Noe Noe Wong-Wilson In Support of Resolution No. 568-20, Resolution Authorizing The Office Of The Mayor To Enter Into A Grant Agreement With The State Of Hawaii Pursuant To HRS 46-7, For A Grant To The County of Hawaii and the accompanying Communication 855 and Bill 115-Draft 2. Aloha k5kou, Please accept this testimony in support of the aforementioned resolution, bill and memorandum of agreement between the County of Hawaii and State of Hawaii. These documents are now aligned and will provide $5,342,262.00 which represents the exact amount owed the County of Hawaii for costs incurred up to December 31, 2019 in a misdirected attempt to stop our movement to protect Maunakea against desecration. Although I am in support of these documents so that the county can recover these expenses, I request that a strong message be given to the Mayor and Hawaii County Administration that they must follow the rule and intent of law in the future and seek permission to enter into such agreements before incurring the cost. This is the method which provides for the community to provide input into the decision-making processes which govern us. Had the process been followed properly, this money would not have been wasted on unnecessary police and law enforcement activity which served only to benefit those individuals who received substantial monies in overtime payments and which had no other effect but to prey on citizens driving across Saddle Road and tourists. The County of Hawaii was indeed held hostage to the State Attorney General in order to "qualify" for reimbursement by wasting taxpayer resources. This should be a lesson learned and not repeated in the future. I sincerely mahalo the Hawaii County Council for standing strong on this issue and ensuring that the funds are received without further conditions attached and certainly not used as an open line of credit for future law enforcement activity against peaceful protectors. Me ka 'oia'i'o, Noe Noe