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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-03-18 Veteran Advisory Committee MinutesPresent Absent VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thursday, March 18, 2010, 3:00 p.m. Prosecutor's Office (Hilo) and Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) Members Carolle Brulee- Wilson Penny Fox Delbert Nishimoto Norman Stahl Emile Wery Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) Members David Carlson Antonio Gaspar Minoru Hanato Robert Welter Guests (Hilo) Keith Ribbentrop Guests (Kona) Boss Hanato Ex- Officio (Hilo) Joseph Flores, OVS Ex- Officio (Kona) Robert Fitzgerald, Director, P &R Also Present (Hilo) Nathalie Santos, Secretary Renee Schoen, Deputy Corporation Counsel Herbert Lum, Member, State Veterans Advisory Committee Meeting Don Bennett Wendall Kekumu Edward Lee George Mukai Gilbert Sampaia George Yamamoto John Young Call to Order Chairperson Penny Fox called the meeting to order at 3:15 pm - (9) members present. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC None Veterans Advisory Committee Page 2 March 18, 2010 PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES — February 18, 2010 The minutes of the February 18, 2010 meeting were approved with the following correction: Mr. George Yamamoto was marked absent in the minutes, however, he attended the February 18th meeting. Members were informed to make that correction on their copies of the February minutes. REPORT ON CEMETERIES — STATE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD Hawaii Island - West Hawaii Representative Mr. Herb Lum Mr. Lum reported that the $22,500 funding the state is no longer paying to the County is a story of the State giveth and the State taketh away. The issue is that there is no money. Chairperson Fox said she understands that there are no funds, but she wants to know if they have taken the funding away from all of the cemeteries in the state, because she knows how much Kaneohe and Punchbowl receives. Mr. Lum said it's an odd situation since Kaneohe is a state cemetery maintained by the state. Outer islands are state cemeteries maintained by the Counties. That is the difference. Chairperson Fox repeated for all members to hear that the state has taken away the $22,500 funding they have been providing to the County of Hawaii for maintaining the veterans cemeteries on the island. Because the state is low on funds they have stopped sending funds to the County. Mr. Lum stated that the funding was provided to the County through an MOU which doesn't have the elements of a contract so it's like a hand shake deal which has been going on for several years. Initially there was just one cemetery on the Big Island and now there are three. The rate of burials is much greater. He has tried at different times to get an increase in the amount the state provided and has personally worked with Representative Cindy Evans who tried to obtain additional funds, but she was unable to get funding through the Ways and Means Committee. Today the issue is that there is no money on the part of the state. Chairperson Fox said basically what the state is saying is they are paying Kaneohe's maintenance costs because it is a state owned cemetery maintained by the state. The outer island cemeteries are state owned cemeteries maintained by the Counties, therefore, the $22,500 that the County received annually was on a handshake deal, we'll give you the money if we have it and we don't have the money now so you won't receive it anymore. She said it's not a contract and nothing that we can make them stick to, we can try to contact the state and go from there, but it doesn't look like it's going to be successful. Mr. Stahl reported that the state will continue to provide the vaults. Chairperson Fox said the state will provide the vaults, but will not be providing the $22,500 funding they use to provide. Chairperson Fox asked Director Fitzgerald if he had anything to add and he responded that he has been in touch with OVS Director Mark Moses recently about finances, but it is too premature to bring it up now and will report about it at the next meeting. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 3 March 18, 2010 Hawaii Island - West Hawaii Representative Dr. Norman Stahl Nothing to report. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Veterans Cemetery III - West Hawaii Reforestation Project (Dr. Richard Stevens did not submit a written report in time for this month's meeting.) Chairperson Fox did not have anything to report. Mr. Gaspar could only report from the last meeting there was a planting scheduled for April 17tH Veterans Cemetery I and II — East Hawaii Solar Lights Director Fitzgerald reported that solar lights would be cost prohibitive at this time. At least (6) solar lights would be needed at a cost of $3,000 each for a total of $18,000. He spoke to the Park Superintendent who recommended doing low voltage electrical motion lights instead for an estimated cost of $1,000 total for installation. Chairperson Fox asked members if they are in agreement of installing the motion electric lights. Members in attendance were in agreement. Chairperson Fox asked Director Fitzgerald to pursue installation. Director Fitzgerald said it's something we can do in -house so we should be able to complete installation in a reasonable amount of time. Flagpole — Missing Ball on Top — Veterans Cemetery III — West Hawaii Director Fitzgerald reported that Antonio Gaspar will contact former resident volunteer Joe Pretsch who was instrumental along with his wife in getting the flagpoles to see if he still has the ball or knows where it is. They have moved to the mainland. If the Pretschs' do not have the ball, he will work with Park Superintendent Pat Daly to order a new one. NEW BUSINESS None Veterans Advisory Committee Page 4 March 18, 2010 EX- OFFICIO MEMBERS Veterans Cemetery III — Water Supply Director Fitzgerald said he had a discussion with OVS Director Mark Moses regarding the water supply at Veterans III. The MOA with Kukio Resort is expiring and they have sold the water rights. Director Fitzgerald said the County has not received a bill or any communication and is looking for information. He interprets it that the new company could charge the County for the 3,600 gallons per day which could cost $2,600 per month and with the budget restraints that could be a big issue for the County. He will provide a report at the next meeting. He is requesting for the support of members of this committee to lobby with new owners to not bill the County for a reasonable amount of time. Veterans Cemetery III — West Hawaii — Mapping Lisa Nahoopii has the information she needs to do mapping project. She will be on maternity leave, but will be doing some work from home during that time. ANNOUNCEMENTS Appreciation to Mrs. Kawamoto Carolle Brulee- Wilson shared that she attended a great seminar at the Pohakuloa Training Area and the Mayor was in attendance. During the seminar a woman (she didn't know her name, Mr. Nishimoto thinks her name is Mrs. Kawamoto) was awarded a certificate to acknowledge her volunteer efforts of planting trees or plants at the Veterans Cemeteries. Ms. Brulee- Wilson made a motion to have this committee present a Certificate to this volunteer. She will confirm her name and prepare a Certificate or letter of appreciation. Motion was unanimously passed. Veterans Cemetery III — West Hawaii — Headstone Looks Corroded Antonio Gaspar shared that his brother's headstone which was installed about two years ago looks corroded which makes it hard to read his name. He asked how it can be fixed, if a permanent marker black ink pen or black paint can be used. He asked for authorization to repair it that way. Chaiperson Fox said she will put it on the agenda for next month's meeting and provide a report at that time. Delbert Nishimoto asked what type of headstone and Antonio responded it is made of granite. Delbert also asked which mortuary assisted with ordering headstone and Antonio responded that Dodo Mortuary ordered it. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 5 March 18, 2010 Veterans Cemetery III — West Hawaii — Audit of Funds — Add to Next Month's Agenda Mr. Delbert Nishimoto asked to add Audit of Funds for Veterans Cemetery III Expansion Project to next month's agenda. Project received $2.75 million dollars for improvement project. Requested that someone from DAGS attend the next meeting to report on spending. Director Fitzgerald said he will talk to OVS Director Mark Moses on funds and report next month. There was an audit at the cemetery in 2008 and there are some items, such as permanent water source, mapping of cemetery and no curbs and sidewalks in the area that must be addressed. These are requirements for obtaining federal funds. According to Mark Moses, the auditor in Washington D.C. is asking if curbs and gutters an ADA accessible walkway from roadway to cemetery have been installed. He will talk to Mark Moses not only about the audit, but also whether we can continue receiving federal funds without these things being done. Chairperson Fox asked if the State Veterans Advisory Committee members could get numbers together and Director Fitzgerald could get information from OVS Director Mark Moses for next month's meeting. Mr. Lum said the contract for Phase IIC — which includes columbariums, new cremain area, committal shelter and so forth, the contract came up to about 2.7 million or pretty close to that amount. He said that Gina Ichiyama of DAGS should be familiar with all costs concerning projects at the cemetery. Mr. Nishimoto asked Mr. Lum if $435,000 was the cost for the first phase. Mr. Lum said he doesn't know. Homeless Veterans Chairperson Fox reminded members about the upcoming annual Outreach Event for Homeless Veterans to be held on May 28, 2010. There are planning meetings between now and then. Carolle Brulee- Wilson announced that the next planning meeting will be held on March 25th and encouraged members from all veteran organizations to attend. Palace Theater Symposium Chairperson Fox announced there will be a Symposium this Saturday March 20th at 5pm at the Palace Theater regarding Affordable Housing. There will be a total of ten speakers. Veterans Cemetery III - West Hawaii — Irrigation Line Minoru Hanato asked if the County accepted the expansion project yet. The irrigation line on the cemetery grounds near the columbariums has blown up around two or three times already. He would like to know if inferior materials were used. Director Fitzgerald said we have not officially signed off on project, there was a walk through recently and asked what the problem is. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 6 March 18, 2010 Minoru Hanato said right by the columbariums the irrigation line blew up and thousands of gallons will be lost if this keep happening. Director Fitzgerald will check on it. OVS Counselor Joseph Flores — Kona Schedule Minoru Hanato asked when OVS Counselor Joseph Flores is scheduled to be in Kona. Joe replied that he goes to the Veterans Center in Kona three times a month on a Tuesday from Sam until 1:30 pm. He usually goes the first three Tuesdays of the month unless something else is scheduled (excluding the last Tuesday of the month). NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held on Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 3pm at the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney and video - conferencing at the Kona Mayor's Office conference room. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 3:45 pm. Respectfully submitted, Nathalie Santos, Secretary