• Green light Kilauea project • Pick me • Residential refuse collection assessment • The people’s choice Green light Kilauea project As a North Shore resident I think it is important to note that the North Shore lacks the type
• Green light Kilauea project • Pick me • Residential refuse
collection assessment • The people’s choice
Green light Kilauea project
As a North Shore resident I think it is important to note that the North Shore lacks the type of facilities available near most other communities on our island. We have no enclosed gathering places for community events other than our churches and schools. While I am grateful for these they are simply not good spaces for many of life’s important celebrations and are very poor venues for any cultural or entertainment events.
The Kilauea Pavilion project has been designed to meet several crucial needs of Kilauea and the entire North Shore community. From Ha‘ena to Moloa‘a, residents will use the community rooms for parties, memorials and classes. Farmers will use the commercial kitchen to make their specialties into marketable gourmet products or just wonderful additions for the local consumers.
Currently North Shore residents have at least a 45 minute drive to the nearest theatre or large concert. Often we miss these events rather than drive home long passed the children’s bedtime. With the Kilauea Pavilion this problem will be resolved. And some of the local plays and events now held exclusively at KCC will have a second life and greater revenue with good attendance on the North Shore.
The Kilauea Pavilion will enhance the immediate neighborhood as well. Like the much appreciated and successful miniature golf facility, the Pavilion will be a place that locals and tourists can enjoy throughout the year.
Any use of a large parcel of land can generate some problem. But, given the overwhelming evidence refuting the objections and the enormous community support for this project, I doubt that there could be a stronger case for the Planning Commission to green light this project.
Kathleen Luiten, Princeville
Pick me
I would like to publicly appeal for the Kaua‘i County Council seat left vacant by newly appointed state House Rep. Derek Kawakami.
Chairman Furfaro, Mr. Rapozo, Mr. Bynum, Mr. Chang, Ms. Nakamura, Ms. Yukimura, please pick me!
All in favor, please say aye! All opposed, say nay.
James “Kimo” Rosen, Kapa‘a
Residential refuse collection assessment
Interesting concept! Not a new one, but a little different for Kaua‘i County. When you consider that the County is the agency that sets the rates for, and collects the property taxes, and also collects the residential trash, I cannot help but wonder why this method of collecting more revenue was imposed.
In the Mainland, where this method of special trash assessment is applied, the cities that impose this assessment are not the agencies that set the rates for, nor collect the property taxes. In the Mainland, the counties, in which the city is located, collect property taxes and distribute the revenues back to the cities. So if a city, or a special district, i.e. school district; sanitary district; water district; etc, decides to impose a “special assessment” it is first approved by the board and then submitted to the county tax assessor to add to the property tax assessment as a “special assessment.”
It appears to me, it would have been a lot easier, quicker and more efficient if the tax rates had just been adjusted for residential properties so as to produce the same amount of revenue as this “Refuse Collection Assessment.” It would certainly have been more efficient.
Who’s going to collect and tally up the “change forms”?
Who’s going to prepare the list of properties that opt out of the collection?
How are the guys on the trash trucks going to know which homes have opted out and which have not?
Who’s going to count the number of cans picked up at each address?
I guess this will justify another position or two for the Solid Waste division.
Like I said at the top of this letter, interesting concept!
Perhaps, an increase in the residential property tax rates would have made our council members look bad to their “constituents”. Especially after all the self “patting on the back” that has been going on by our council members because they “did not raise taxes” (yet) through this depression.
By the way, this “patting on the back” is completely unjustified. How many times have we heard the comment “We have not raised property taxes”? What they truthfully could have said is “we have not adjusted the property tax rates”. Because that is the only factor the council has control over when it comes to property taxes. Apparently the council members are not aware of the increases that were applied to the assessment values of many properties last year. In at least one case, the county assessors office actually used the listed price from a multiple listing of a property that was for sale as the value. My guess is that certain county employees were, or are concerned (rightfully so) that if the county does not have enough revenue, they might lose their jobs or some of their benefits.
This is another example of the separation of our County Council from the county administration. Perhaps a county manager form of government would produce considerably more “professionalism” in our county administration.
Larry Arruda, Lihu‘e
The people’s choice
I believe the council should pick KipuKai Kuali‘i to replace the seat vacated by Derek Kamakawi.
I believe KipuKai to be an honest, progressive, thoughtful and compassionate leader who would be a major asset to our council.
Or, to quote Gary Hooser during the most recent council campaign where KipuKai finished eighth: “KipuKai is competent, hardworking and will serve us well.”
He is next in line; he is the people’s choice.
Gina Lokahi Mello, Princeville
