Nearly a year ago, in May (kona.westhawaiitoday.com/sections/opinion/columns/pumping-contract-allegations-place-county-knee-deep-muck.html), we published a column after several county sources raised allegations regarding apparent wrongdoing in connection with a county drywell pumping contract, a contract that had come under previous attention for irregularities in the bid process, something that ultimately called for the county to rewrite the bid specifications.
Nearly a year ago, in May (kona.westhawaiitoday.com/sections/opinion/columns/pumping-contract-allegations-place-county-knee-deep-muck.html), we published a column after several county sources raised allegations regarding apparent wrongdoing in connection with a county drywell pumping contract, a contract that had come under previous attention for irregularities in the bid process, something that ultimately called for the county to rewrite the bid specifications.
We were presented with documentation and several sources from within the county that raised questions surrounding execution of the drywell pumping. Those county sources also raised questions regarding the role of the Highways Division chief, Stanley Nakasone, and his oversight of those operations.
As a result of our making those allegations public, the county, we have learned, initiated an investigation into those allegations. We learned the county Department of Public Works investigated any role Nakasone might have had in oversight of the contract execution.
We have subsequently learned that the contractor in question had specific permission to deposit dried materials on county property and the county had instructed the contractor to that effect. The district overseers were not by-passed or ignored in the process and county documents show that prioritized lists of specific sites to be cleaned and detailed invoices were submitted to the district overseers before payments were approved.
We learned that investigation by the county absolved Nakasone; it found no wrongdoing on his part.
In the interest of fairness to Nakasone, that cannot and should not go unreported. While exonerated of any wrongdoing by the county, the outcome of our initial report was unresolved for readers, creating a wrong impression of Nakasone’s role, an inaccuracy for which we apologize to Nakasone and readers.
Just as our role is to report, that also includes disclosing when errors are made — or clarifications are due.
When we learn we have erred, our job equally is setting the record straight.
rflickinger@westhawaiitoday.com