HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunication No. 2017-13B- CIP Priority ProjectsComm. No. 2017-13B
Submitted at Meeting 11/13/17
November 13, 2017
Mr. Michael Yee
Hawaii County Planning Director
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Regarding: Recommended priority CIP projects from North Kohala.
Dear Mr. Yee,
During the November 13`x' meeting, the North Kohala CDP Action Committee prioritized projects on the
attached spreadsheet from our list of Strategies to be considered for Capital Improvement Projects for
2018. We are very happy to see that the County Council agrees with us in our five highest priorities in
their 2017-8 Budget Priority List. We'd like to reaffirm: and underscore our very highest priority
support for rebuilding the Mahukona Beach Park pavilion and restrooms This has topped every
North Kohala CIP request list since at least 2013. Kapa'a Beach Park also needs upgrading.
Mahukona and Kapa'a beach parks facilities are used extensively by tourists and residents alike, but are
in very poor shape. These two popular parks are among the most run-down parks in the County system.
The pavilion at Mahukona, in particular, is old and decrepit. It would be unusable if not for some
significant repairs by local volunteers. The wharf is severely undermined by storm waves and may soon
suffer partial collapse. Both parks are presently served by non -potable water, supplied by the generosity
of Surety Kohala, but presenting a potential health hazard. Loss of electrical power to Kapa'a restricts
most park usage to daytime and may present a safety hazard at night. All of these maintenance failures
threaten public health and safety and affect County liability.
We would also like to underscore Priority 3 (a greenwaste facility): This project is presently on the
Council's Proposed Capital Budget and Six -Year Capital Improvements Program for Fiscal Year
2017 — 2018 coining as a proposal by the Division of Solid Waste:
2017010 Construct Green Waste Facility at Hawi (Ka'auhuhu) Transfer Facility (Reapp.) $500,000
Thanks to its soil and rainfall, North Kohala is a significant agricultural area and produces quite a lot of
green "waste." Because there is no separate greenwaste facility here, it is all thrown in the transfer
station chute. Greenwaste constitutes over half of what is presently put in the single chute and
transported to the West Hawaii Landfill, adding to the island's waste problems and precluding its use
here as mulch. A greenwaste chute here thus solves two important problems: the availability of mulch in
Kohala and reducing the volume of the West Hawaii Landfill. We need a fully functional chute and 100 -
yd. container for greenwaste. We have repeatedly called for a greenwaste facility here in order to
address these problems. That project should stay on the County's CIP with highest priority.
Please prioritize funding for this imuch-needed facility.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Please feel free to call me if you have further questions.
Sincerely,
John Winter, Chair
North Kohala Community Development Plan
Action Committee