NAWILIWILI — The County Council Budget and Finance Committee approved Wednesday a $95,000 grant to Kekaha’s Citizens Advisory Committee, so they can hold a new series of public meetings to figure out what to do with the money from the
NAWILIWILI — The County Council Budget and Finance Committee approved Wednesday a $95,000 grant to Kekaha’s Citizens Advisory Committee, so they can hold a new series of public meetings to figure out what to do with the money from the Host Community Benefit in exchange for that community having the island’s only active landfill.
The County Council in 2008 budgeted hundreds of thousands of dollars for Kekaha to spend on community improvements in exchange for hosting the island’s only landfill for decades.
After eight meetings and a town-wide survey, the CAC threw out the findings because the community had several reservations regarding the projects that were supposed to be sent to the administration.
Since then the CAC has restarted the process, and two more meetings have been held.
The funds grow annually, and currently total $810,000, but they haven’t been accruing interest, a fact which has drawn heavy criticism from the community.
The committee also addressed this issue last Wednesday, passing a separate ordinance that if approved by the full council and signed by Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. will allow the funds to accumulate interest.
Carvalho appointed last year nine Kekaha residents to serve on the CAC. In addition, four county employees, plus Jeff Kaohi, Kekaha landfill manager, and Neil Pflum, from a consultant firm hired by the county, also served as advisors and non-voting members.
Bills 2374 and 2375 will likely be on the full council agenda next Wednesday.
Go to www.kauai.gov for more information.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@kauaipubco.com.
