01-09-2014, 05:27 AM
FYI: (*Snipped for Puna related report)
http://westhawaiitoday.com/news/local-ne...bond-issue
The Hawaii County Council unanimously approved issuing a nearly $61.5 million bond Wednesday but not before a couple of members tried to squeeze a few extra dollars out of the deal.
The bond will cover 26 projects the county intends to fund to meet infrastructure and recreational needs.
More than $48 million of the borrowed cash will go toward improving parks or establishing new play areas.
Of that, $20 million will be used for a district park in Pahoa. Ground breaking on that project is expected to take place sometime this year, said a county Department of Parks and Recreation spokesman.
Funding is also provided for the Kealakehe Regional Park, $500,000, and the first phase of the Waimea District Park, $2.5 million.
A community park for Hawaiian Paradise Park isn’t included in the bond authorization despite a last-ditch effort by Puna makai Councilman Greggor Ilagan. On Tuesday, the council’s Finance Committee gave its support to adding the project to the capital budget, but that doesn’t guarantee funding.
“I’m not asking for the world on this,” Ilagan said in a pitch to other council members for the $300,000 request. “I’m asking for a small park.”
Earlier in the meeting, a few Puna residents and Hawaiian Paradise Park Owners Association board members also urged the council to fund the park with the bond.
“Our community has 12,000 people,” said HPPOA President Larry Brennan. “Look at a community like Waimea. It has 10,000 people and look at the infrastructure.”
But with the bond amount already reaching the limit for other council members, Ilagan could not get enough support for his amendment, which also included $40,000 for a swim area feasibility study for Pohoiki.
He had made the same attempt at the Dec. 18 meeting.
“We all agree on the importance of parks,” said North Kona Councilwoman Karen Eoff.
“The (capital improvement project) list is the proper process.”
Puna mauka Councilman Zendo Kern, while supportive of the HPP park, said he had to stand by his position not to support additions to the bond.
“Our debt and income ratio is getting pushed,” he said. “It’s not huge money but it will continue to get pushed.”
http://westhawaiitoday.com/news/local-ne...bond-issue
The Hawaii County Council unanimously approved issuing a nearly $61.5 million bond Wednesday but not before a couple of members tried to squeeze a few extra dollars out of the deal.
The bond will cover 26 projects the county intends to fund to meet infrastructure and recreational needs.
More than $48 million of the borrowed cash will go toward improving parks or establishing new play areas.
Of that, $20 million will be used for a district park in Pahoa. Ground breaking on that project is expected to take place sometime this year, said a county Department of Parks and Recreation spokesman.
Funding is also provided for the Kealakehe Regional Park, $500,000, and the first phase of the Waimea District Park, $2.5 million.
A community park for Hawaiian Paradise Park isn’t included in the bond authorization despite a last-ditch effort by Puna makai Councilman Greggor Ilagan. On Tuesday, the council’s Finance Committee gave its support to adding the project to the capital budget, but that doesn’t guarantee funding.
“I’m not asking for the world on this,” Ilagan said in a pitch to other council members for the $300,000 request. “I’m asking for a small park.”
Earlier in the meeting, a few Puna residents and Hawaiian Paradise Park Owners Association board members also urged the council to fund the park with the bond.
“Our community has 12,000 people,” said HPPOA President Larry Brennan. “Look at a community like Waimea. It has 10,000 people and look at the infrastructure.”
But with the bond amount already reaching the limit for other council members, Ilagan could not get enough support for his amendment, which also included $40,000 for a swim area feasibility study for Pohoiki.
He had made the same attempt at the Dec. 18 meeting.
“We all agree on the importance of parks,” said North Kona Councilwoman Karen Eoff.
“The (capital improvement project) list is the proper process.”
Puna mauka Councilman Zendo Kern, while supportive of the HPP park, said he had to stand by his position not to support additions to the bond.
“Our debt and income ratio is getting pushed,” he said. “It’s not huge money but it will continue to get pushed.”