Pahoa budget hearing brief but welcome
Friday, June 13, 2008 at 08:11AM I went to the hearing last night about 15 minutes late from work in Hilo and almost missed it. Pretty short and perfunctory it seemed. About 30 people in the audience. The testimony I heard was not against the Kona Civic Center per se, nor the bond issue, but it thoughtfully questioned the county's spending priorities when so many other needs exist throughout the island, especially in Puna.
Bruce McClure said after the meeting that $50 million is budgeted for the Kona Civic Center project. Whether that will be enough to design and build it with all the frills will be known when the bids come in. The County will get what it can for $50 million.
I also learned that I'd misread the notice and last night's hearing was not videoconferenced. Only tonight's hearing -- same subject -- will be videoconferenced from the Sheraton Keauhou Resort where we may hear some very different testimony. Sorry for any confusion about last night.
Seven Council members attended last night's hearing. Stacy Higa and Dominic Yagong were absent. Only Higa missed both recent Council hearings in Pahoa. Nevertheless, mahalo to the Council Chairman Pete Hoffman, Puna Makai Councilwoman Emily Naeole, and other members for bringing these hearings to Pahoa.
Although the hearing itself was short, that's not the point. The informal talk story afterward, people mingling in small groups passing information back and forth with County officials, learning more about one another, gaining new insights and understandings, is an invaluable part of the community building process that these hearings provide. I hope they were as valuable and instructive to the Council as they are important for the future of Puna Makai. I'd suggest the Council make Pahoa a regular stop.
Hunter Bishop
I apologize to both Dominc Yagong and Donald Ikeda, and to readers, for joining the two names and confusing the issue as to who attended the hearing. Dominic Yagong and Stacy Higa were absent. Donald Ikeda attended. Thanks to James Weatherford for alerting me to the error. It has been corrected.
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Reader Comments (6)
"...people mingling in small groups passing information back and forth with County officials, learning more about one another, gaining new insights and understandings, is an invaluable part of the community building process ..."
btw: was the "Donald Ikeda" or "Dominic Yagong" that was absent? ;)
I'd guess Dominic since he was at Pahoa before but not Donald.
I like what Jasper Moore had to say about the bond debt that the County is already carrying and how much more debt the County will be carrying with this bond float.
I had too many reservations about the listed items especially the civic center so at the end it was very hard for me to support this bond float. I think they need to do it over again.
Dan
Half the counsel would be walking in and out of the room while you're talking, they cut you to 3 minutes even if you waited an hour.
They had us wait an hour and a half because some contractors were there and needed to catch a plane in a couple hours so they let them cut in line.
Really interesting they're asking for 84 million, ("not a hard number") for radios for CD/ police and fire. Federally mandated but not funded. I wonder how many cops we could hire with 84 million?
As rude as that was the counsel persons don't even take what you have to say to heart,
WHY with grubbing and grading laws are these bulldozers STILL allowed to rape the aina, pin to pin, Just drive up or down Paradise Dr. or Makuu, in HPP. Hell we even have a BILLBOARD on the corner of 14th and Paradise drive. Thought no billboards was a state law?
Anyway I will waste no more time going to counsel meetings, for 3 ignored minutes, "yes we here you thank you, we'll look into it"!....blah blah blah
No good change, less trees, less water shed, less rain forest, soon just like Oahu, try wait.
You see saddle road? Cab you say Striker Brigade?
3000 more residents to add along. #2 Super ferry coming, Really what does the counsel , DO? beside talk?
KEEP PUNA RURAL
Peter Frost L.A.N.W.