Editor’s note: Old-timers might still remember the introduction from The Shadow radio program: “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!” Jerome Freitas, a retired state Department of Transportation worker who is now better known
Editor’s note: Old-timers might still remember the introduction from The Shadow radio program: “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!” Jerome Freitas, a retired state Department of Transportation worker who is now better known as The Shadow, since 2004 has been meeting with government representatives about problems he has discovered or that have been reported to him, and reporting the county’s responses.
Wailua Golf Course
The Shadow: What is the status of the purchase of the coconut stump remover? These stumps are all over Wailua Golf Course and some other parks and should be removed. When will this be done?
County: May 10 — The equipment is now in hand, and Parks needs to schedule a training for employees on how to use the stump grinder, which must be conducted by the manufacturer. The manufacturer’s representative is off island, so training can only be arranged a few times a year. Once trained, Parks staff will begin methodically removing stumps from all DOPR parks.
Parks and Recreation
The Shadow: What is the status of Parks and Rec getting its own electricians, plumbers, and other maintenance workers so it’s not dependent on Public Works scheduling of repairs?
County: May 10 — Due to budgetary constraints over the past few years, Parks has not been able to expand its staff to include electricians and plumbers. For the time being, these services will continue to be provided out of Parks and Recreation. In the FY 2013 proposed budget, the mayor is asking for personnel to establish a small equipment maintenance shop out of the Transportation baseyard, so that repairs to Parks and Public Works equipment can be facilitated more quickly than currently through the vehicle maintenance facility.
Wailua Houselots park
The Shadow: The parking area in front of the pavilion (not the one along Nonou Road) needs restriping.
County: May 10 — A request will be made to Public Works for assistance in re-striping.
Wailua Houselots park
The Shadow: The basketball courts need new netting. When will they be replaced?
County: May 10 — Parks will replace the nets within the next two weeks.
Kapahi
The Shadow: Coconut trees on a private property on the right side of the road in Kapahi are overflowing with coconuts and pose a danger in the county right of way. Will the county ask the owner to trim the trees?
County: May 10 — Our search of ownership finds that the coconut trees are on private property.
Deputy County Engineer Lyle Tabata conducted a visual inspection of the trees in question and found that all of the trees are at an adequate distance from the road and pose no threat to the highway. That being the case, the county has no jurisdiction to force the landowner to address the trees.
Kolohala Road
The Shadow: Kolohala Road leads to Kapa‘a High School Gym. It is technically a two-way street but all the parking on one side of the road makes it barely passable for one lane of traffic. Would the county consider making this a one-way street? In addition, there is a park next to Kolohala Road that appears to be under county jurisdiction that was recently torn up by some construction activity (Department of Water?).
Shouldn’t the contractor be required to repair the park to prior condition?
County: May 10 — Deputy County Engineer Lyle Tabata conducted a visual investigation of the area, and confirmed that the road is only used during school hours.
On the date of the inspection, May 9, all vehicles were neatly parked and completely off of the roadway. Per this inspection no further action is recommended.
Moana Kai Road
The Shadow: On Moana Kai Road fronting Fuji Beach, there are metal sign posts that are rusted badly and need to be replaced.
Same is true for the road that leads from Keaka road to the Bull Shed.
When will the posts be replaced?
County: May 10 — This road will be addressed as part of the current construction contract for Ke Ala Hele Makalae.
Deputy County Engineer Lyle Tabata investigated and found that all of the sign posts in this area are severely rusted.
It’s unclear how old they are, however, Lyle will be investigating means to better protect sign posts from rust and premature degradation in the future.