Wastewater enterprise fund should be considered
Establishing a wastewater enterprise fund would be a good first step for Hawaii County to provide sustainable monies for capital and operational costs. Honolulu did this back in the 1990s, largely in response to a federal consent decree for massive upgrades, but the county shouldn’t have to be sued to do good financial planning. An enterprise fund is stable and predictable. Honolulu’s has an nice Aa2 bond rating by Moody’s and investors can have confidence in buying bonds.
Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth has inherited a mess. As the West Hawaii Today notes, major work is needed islandwide because facilities have been allowed to deteriorate by previous administrations. Treatment plants don’t last forever and many are well beyond their expected service life, putting the environment at risk.
The union opposition needs to find an accommodation to allow access to private capital, which is at historically low rates. We need a win-win solution, not knee jerk opposition.
This is an opportunity to create union jobs and pump money into the local economy.
Steve Holmes
Kailua-Kona
In-person meetings are critical
The Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail organization recently had a cyberspace meeting with Naalehu residents. Unfortunately, we could not assemble in person.
In the old days, this meeting would be at the Community Center where everybody could assemble in the same room. These old-fashioned gatherings provided excellent opportunities for average citizens to judge for themselves the integrity of the promoters. We saw them face to face.
On the other hand, this recent cyberspace meeting enabled the Ala Kahakai trail organizers to force their agenda onto the community without any direct contact. There was no opportunity for people to share their suspicions.
We were divided up.
The right to assemble is important. Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail should not be allowed to advance their “Happy Trails” crusade until all common citizens have their constitutional rights restored. Cyberspace cannot be substituted for in-person meetings.
First things first — don’t put the cart in front of the horse. Let’s not go down this slippery path.
Jerry Warren
Naalehu
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