• Time for in-action is past Time for in-action is past The Island’s ongoing landfill problem needs to be resolved. As the county dump north of Kekaha grows taller it is becoming more and more of a measure of the
• Time for in-action is past
Time for in-action is past
The Island’s ongoing landfill problem needs to be resolved. As the county dump north of Kekaha grows taller it is becoming more and more of a measure of the length of time it has taken to resolve this issue.
On Friday, the City & County of Honolulu announced a surprise decision to use a landfill site on the Campbell Estate in the southwest corner of O‘ahu. There are some problems with this site, but it is away from residential areas. This problem is one found on Kaua‘i, too. Where to place the new landfill on Kaua‘i is a problem facing opposition from just about any town, if it is placed too near the town.
The latest twist in Kaua‘i’s landfill epic – the delay in obtaining a state Department of Health permit – is being highlighted by Councilman Mel Rapozo. Rapozo is saying that the county administration officials have said obtaining the permit would not be difficult. However, the county still doesn’t have the permit.
Rapozo’s comments are appropriate for there are worries of a garbage crisis on Kaua‘i if the permit isn’t in place within enough time to allow for piling rubbish higher at Kekaha.
Is the delay in permitting for the Kekaha landfill a function of how the statewide system works, or is it a “put it off till the last minute” problem?
This leads to another question about delays by county government.
As opposition by the county government to the Ohana Kauai amendment winds its way through the court system, local residents are asking The Garden Island why this opposition didn’t occur months ago when the Ohana Kauai group turned in their petition. The petition had enough legitimate signatures to have the amendment to the County Charter placed on the ballot. Voters overwhelmingly, and surprisingly to many, approved the change. Now the county government is saying that the amendment may be unconstitutional as it takes away the power to tax vested in the County Council as our county legislative body.
Again, is this a case of county government putting off what needed to be done, in this case with hopes – bolstered by support for opposition to the change by union-paid advertisements – of an easy defeat in the general election. We, as well as most election watchers on Kaua‘i, expected the amendment to be defeated.
It wasn’t, and now we face a hefty legal bill and other problems that might have been cleared up months ago. In addition, voters may feel they have been “disenfranchised” to use a word that entered everyday language following the 2000 election year vote in Florida if the amendment is in the end thrown out.
The time for in-action on important issues is past. Life and political processes are moving faster now that we’re in the 21st century – it’s time for local government to catch up.
