06-21-2012, 03:21 AM
It is my understanding that some HPP resident(s) have filed a complaint with the state Health Department regarding the dust issue.
The DoH is compelled by law to respond to the complaint(s).
The issue itself may rebound badly for the County of Hawaii which failed to follow the law in 1959 when HPP and other subdivisions were formed. The laws in place at the time had a number of requirements for road construction. Most all those requirements were ignored allowing the developers to make max dollars with minimal cost. Helene Hale, probably the last surviving member of the then Board of Supervisors, has explained that they looked at Puna as a source of taxes and never expected people to actually move there and need infrastructure or services. Fifty years after the fact the results of such short sightedness has become apparent.
I don't intend to condemn Helene Hale. She is honest about what took place. That was then and this is now.
If the HPP BoD was to be sued or taken to court on the dust issue I would suggest that they file a counter suit against the county. I think the county would have a hard time defending itself. HPP might be the only subdivision with the financial ability to do this.
Friends of Puna's Future (FoPF) has been working hard the last few years to help the subdivisions gain access to a reasonable share of the Fuel Tax Revenue collected by the state. Those funds are intended by law for road maintenance. Approx. 40% of the county roadways are in private subdivision. About 750 miles worth. Driving on those roads generates fuel tax.
Councilman Dominic Yagong has taken lead on the county to pursue this. He is working to bring financial assistance to HPP and other subdivision for road maintenance. It is the right thing to do. Dominic has shown over the years an ability to look beyond his district to the county as a whole. He has also shown an ability to look forward into the future beyond the immediate.
Billy Kenoi has done nothing. His apparent priority is to keep things just the way they are for as long as possible.
Best thing anyone concerned with this dust issue can do, in my opinion, is support Dominic Yangong's run for Mayor.
The DoH is compelled by law to respond to the complaint(s).
The issue itself may rebound badly for the County of Hawaii which failed to follow the law in 1959 when HPP and other subdivisions were formed. The laws in place at the time had a number of requirements for road construction. Most all those requirements were ignored allowing the developers to make max dollars with minimal cost. Helene Hale, probably the last surviving member of the then Board of Supervisors, has explained that they looked at Puna as a source of taxes and never expected people to actually move there and need infrastructure or services. Fifty years after the fact the results of such short sightedness has become apparent.
I don't intend to condemn Helene Hale. She is honest about what took place. That was then and this is now.
If the HPP BoD was to be sued or taken to court on the dust issue I would suggest that they file a counter suit against the county. I think the county would have a hard time defending itself. HPP might be the only subdivision with the financial ability to do this.
Friends of Puna's Future (FoPF) has been working hard the last few years to help the subdivisions gain access to a reasonable share of the Fuel Tax Revenue collected by the state. Those funds are intended by law for road maintenance. Approx. 40% of the county roadways are in private subdivision. About 750 miles worth. Driving on those roads generates fuel tax.
Councilman Dominic Yagong has taken lead on the county to pursue this. He is working to bring financial assistance to HPP and other subdivision for road maintenance. It is the right thing to do. Dominic has shown over the years an ability to look beyond his district to the county as a whole. He has also shown an ability to look forward into the future beyond the immediate.
Billy Kenoi has done nothing. His apparent priority is to keep things just the way they are for as long as possible.
Best thing anyone concerned with this dust issue can do, in my opinion, is support Dominic Yangong's run for Mayor.
Assume the best and ask questions.
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Punaweb moderator