02-11-2012, 07:57 AM
Clearly the building permitting and enforcement process need to be reviewed and updated. Currently those who apply for permits are penalized with long waiting periods, arbitrary inspection decisions, higher tax assessments, and additional hassles and expenses due to poor government record-keeping (we purchased 2 "county finaled" houses and neither one had a "finaled" cesspool! A friend of a friend was told their home had not been "finaled" years earlier even though they still had copies of the final inspection paperwork and Helco had installed permanent house hookups - which they don't do until the County notifies them that the house is finaled). And what about the contractor on the Hilo Gym, who was told he had to totally redesign his building plans because the code had changed in the months while the county was reviewing his plans???
Meanwhile those who ignore the legal requirements suffer no consequences until they try to sell their property or claim an insurance loss.
If regulations are necessary, enact and enforce them. If they are not necessary, don't enact them. And don't spend months arguing about plastic bag bans while issues of higher importance to the County and its residents languish.
Meanwhile those who ignore the legal requirements suffer no consequences until they try to sell their property or claim an insurance loss.
If regulations are necessary, enact and enforce them. If they are not necessary, don't enact them. And don't spend months arguing about plastic bag bans while issues of higher importance to the County and its residents languish.