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Check this out...From the Trib:
http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/arti...ogcomments
"After selling one of its bulldozers as surplus for $52,083, Hawaii County will have spent $427,025 renting it back by the time its recently extended contract expires June 31"
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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Don't you just love the part that says, "We're not going to blame anybody." Of course, my suspicious mind has to wonder about the relationship between the parties leasing the dozer back to the county and the parties who sold it to them.
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quote:
Originally posted by JerryCarr
"We're not going to blame anybody."
WHOA! "blame"?
Hello???!!
How about "hold the responsible individuals accountable"???
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park
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Might I suggest people email the council and protest this kind of mismanagement.
Why should the county feel entitled to the 2% Land Fund when they exercise so little control in spending?
1 Dominic Yagong <dyagong@co.hawaii.hi.us> (808) 961-8225
2 Donald Ikeda <dikeda@co.hawaii.hi.us> (808) 961-8225
3 J Yoshimoto, <jyoshimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us> (808) 961-8225
4 Dennis "Fresh" Onishi <donishi@co.hawaii.hi.us> (808) 961-8225
5 Emily I. Naeole <enaeole@co.hawaii.hi.us> (808) 965-2712
6 Guy Enriques <genriques@co.hawaii.hi.us> (808) 961-8225
7 Brenda Ford <bford@co.hawaii.hi.us> (808) 326-5684
8 Kelly Greenwell <kgreenwell@co.hawaii.hi.us> (808) 327-3642
9 Pete Hoffmann <phoffmann@co.hawaii.hi.us> (808) 887-2043
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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I was shocked when I first read this, but... there are a few details one should consider (if the article is accurate).
The county sold it in 2003 to Pacific machinery and it was then resold to C&H Ishii. Nearly 3 years went by from initial sale date to rental contract.
Pacific machinery - which is in the heavy equipment business, says the model is obsolete. However, heavy equipment has a very long life span and I know that CAT can manufacture any part for any tractor they have made. It may cost a bunch, but they can make the replacement parts.
Over $400,000 in rental with no maintenance costs, but $550,000 to buy a new one that would need to have maintenance done.
If anything, it was simply sold too cheaply to begin with.
There is a lot to consider, overall on this issue.
"A salesman for Pacific Machinery Inc., which bought the dozer from the county in 2003 and then turned it over to C&H Ishii, said that particular model is obsolete.
But a comparative dozer bought new now costs $550,000, said salesman Dave Kirk.
A used dozer of the kind leased by the county runs $125,000 to $150,000, according to prices on the Internet.
Neither Kirk nor C&H Ishii General Manager Brian Ishii would say what Ishii paid for the machine."
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quote:
Originally posted by mdd7000
I was shocked when I first read this, but... there are a few details one should consider (if the article is accurate)...
I agree. Depending on when it was purchased, the sale amount might have been the current book value on it.
Also besides the purchase cost, and then the maintenance costs, you have insurance costs (both of those may be included in the rental fee listed). I did not see a cost listed for having a maintenance staff on call essentially for one piece of equipment. The rental company may trailer it for the county too as part of the rental fee.
The article and information needs to be expanded to give us a real picture.
Things are not always as black and white as they seem.
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I agree that sometimes things are not as black or white as they seem.
But, whatever the color, when a so called Ethics Committee, gives a go ahead for two county employees to make money from county contracts, the color is stink! And that stink will affect every county contract.
The times they are a' changing!
