Concurrency for Puna

[Rob Tucker]

Concurrency is the buzzword that describes the "concurrent" investment by county in various districts as the population grows. Puna lacks concurrent development in all measureable infrastructure and services.

State of Hawaii: Recently released a capital improvement budget of $170 million for Hawaii County. $3 million was for Puna (1.7%). As the fastest growing district in the state this eems out of whack.

County of Hawaii can't fine the time and energy to solve even minor traffic problems. I've been playing Ping Pong with Bruce McClure, Public Works Director, since last August on the simplest of projects - trying to get him to relocate some telephone poles at the Pahoa Post Office Rd. so we can actually achieve two lanes of traffic there.

All he has to do is notify HELCO and TELCOM that the poles are non conforming and 100% of the cost would be paid by the utilities. McClure is too lazy or obstinate to do this small thing. Or he is more interested in not incurring costs for HELCO than in public safety here in Puna. Which do you think it is?

Is there someone wrunning for office that can propose some way to unjam the situation?

[punabigdog]

Hi Rob,
You actually pose a difficult question as the answer to that pole situation may not be as clear-cut and simple as you have postulated. In my brief research into the subject I have discovered, pending confirmation, that the utility poles are supported by telephone lines only.
Those poles may be in a non-conforming location becasue they are installed in a non-conforming road ROW.
Even if the County had a valid case for relocation of the poles it is not clear that there are any feasible options for the telephone company.
They would have to seek an easement from the adjoining property landowner, which may not be successful.
As we all know, the roads in that area are very narrow and were laid out many decades ago, at the time when no one could have conceived that there would ever have been so much development and so much traffic in the area.
I'm sure it's frustrating, but it is important and fair to all that all due process is followed in such matters.
As a first step, it is important to discuss the matter with the County Public Works Department so as to uncover all the pertinent facts that are relevant to the proposed road improvements.
There may be significant land issues or engineering problems related to this area. I would sugest, if possible, that all the key stakeholders get together and fashion a solution that is acceptable to all.
Might I just add that I have had brief dealings with Bruce McClure when I served as the vice chair of the County's Cost of Government Commission and "lazy and obstinate" are not adjectives I would associate with him.
Insight into this subject was provided to me by engineers at HELCO who pointed out that projects that seem to be "the simplest" to a non-engineer can actually be quite complex.
As your next elected county coucilman I would be happy to work with you and the "Friends of Puna" in finding a solution to this problem.
Aloha, Wayne "Big Dog" Joseph

[Rob Tucker]

The facts have been researched and the placement of those poles is governed by engineering specifications and a document called the "Joint Pole Agreement" between the CoH and Helco and Telcom.

Bruce McClure was contacted on the subject a number of times and ways. His written reply from last December is interesting reading. I acquired a copy from Corporation Council just so I could understand the facts.

I do understand that the roadways have their history and I also understand that the CoH has a poor record on attending to issues in Puna. The CoH has been repeating a mantra regarding substandard private roads in Puna not being their responsibility. The roadway in question is a public road and Public Works is avoiding responsibility.

When the correct avenues to deal with the subject have been tried and Public Works continues to find excuses to do nothing then it it time to talk about it publicly. When I was actually able to ask Bruce McClure about it face to face his response was "I need a work order". Gee I thought this was the guy that wrote the work orders.

Anyway the simple feasible option for the utility company is to relocate the poles within three feet of the property line as engineering specs require. Whether these roads have accumulated 40 years or 100 years of bad conditions the fact is that our population puts these roads under increased use and at some point in time - most likely not during Bruce McClure's tenure- the road will have to be deal with.

Gary Safarik was not interested in these conditions. Emily Naeolehas not been effective on the subject either. You've likely noticed that I have lost interest in being diplomatic with these department heads that have a habit of finding reasons to do as little as possible in Puna.

Wayne, I would love to show show you the correspondence file sometime.

[punabigdog]

Hi Rob,
If I'm elected I will sit down with you, the Public Works Director, HELCO and Haw'n Tel within the first 30 days of taking office and we will resolve this issue. Just give me the opportunity and I will make it happen. [] Big Dog

[Steve Sparks]

Hello Rob and Wayne-

There are many different aspects of this problem that need to be addressed. First off sitting down with the principles to solve the problem seem logical but doesn't usually work. I went thru this with HELCO for two year on pole on a unnamed road in Hilo. I met Ronald Thiel, Traffic Division Chief, out at the post office measuring the roadway and talked to him. He was trying to understand the situation. Rob you might want to talk to him (961-8341)or fill me in on the specifics of the situation and I'll talk to him since we already started a conversation. My question is if Puna's has all this unstandard roads who's responible for this and shouldn't they be happy to fix them. This may take a lawsuit to start this process going due to the resistance from the powers that be. Wayne you may want to try to help with this situation to show us that you can get things done. If you can set-up a sit down and solve this lets do it now.

Thank you both for your work.

[Rob Tucker]

Aloha Steve,

I've been on this track for several months. I know who owns the poles. I know who is responsible for them. I have been through the runaround in Hilo. I have the documents from Corporation Counsel spelling out the paths of liability.

I have met with Ron Thiel and Bruce McClure and we are (supposedly) on a path to get this resolved. PW has expressed a real reluctance to make any demands of the utility companies in this regard. I have gotten Bruce M. to agree to, at least, make a written request of them and see what results.

Bruce has asked us to provide letters of support for corrections and improvements at this intersection. That is being done right now.

You or Wayne are, of course, welcome to participate on this simple matter. It may be that a lawsuit will be required. We (FoPF) are researching that potential. Meanwhile I will remain hopeful that we can get this resolved before there is more damage and injury at this intersection.

In essence though.... while the CoH has long maintained that it cannot take responsibility for private substandard roads in Puna subdivisions the road in question here is a substandard CoH road. We are asking them to take responsibilty here. The solutions are actually quite simple and relatively inexpensive. They just need to be done.

I'm very glad that Ron Thiel has been on site measuring. That is a sign of competence and good faith.

Call me. 965-1555

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Follow up: I did call Ron and he is in agreement with the need for improvements at this intersection. Even better he says he can see a path to completion....just takes some time. I like Ron Thiel. Heck, I like Bruce McClure too it is just necessary to ramp it up sometimes.

[james weatherford]

Good stuff, here, folks.

Sit down and talk? Absolutely.
The Mayor must call this meeting: DPW head, MSP, Puna Traffic Safety, Council Dist 5 member, HELCO.

Examples: Sadly, it was the same type of foot dragging by Bruce McClure's Dept Public Works that had to be resolved to close the road across Punalu'u Beach 3 yrs ago -- the Mayor finally ordered it after Bob Jacobson went directly to the Mayor (score one for Harry!). And, it is this same Dept Head that bitterly fought the resolution by Bob Jacobson in 2005 to support installation of roundabouts for improved traffic safety and flow.

LESSON: Department Heads, appointed by Mayors, are a big deal. Unfortunately, some also have big egos and simply do not like any idea that anybody else has -- just because it was somebody else that had it. Public Works? Parks and Rec? Environmental Mgt?
Indeed, appointing Department Heads and Deputies is a very substantial part of how a Mayor has an influence.

James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[Rob Tucker]

Aloha James,

For the record I first took this issue to Emily Naeole. She is our district representative and it was appropriate. She wrote a letter to Bruce McClure last December 10.

I kept checking with her office through April and was told that Bruce had never replied.

So I finally went to the desk at Public Works and complained about no reply on this request from Bruce. I was given a copy of Bruce's reply to Emily Naeole of December 24th. McClure had replied in a very timely manner.

So apparently Emily did get a response. She failed to follow through though. I don't know if Emily read the response and/or understood that it basically said nothing. I would have appreciated at least knowing there was a response.

So I picked up the topic again in a face to face with Bruce at the Pahoa budget meeting and got a meeting date with him. Hunter Bishop went with me. Ron Thiel was there.

We may finally be making a little progress after ten months.

[james weatherford]

Good work, Rob.
Never, ever give up

James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[Rob Tucker]

Not giving up on this still. There will be an update soon....


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