Mark police cars
Stalker using blue light on an unmarked car. Sounds like another reason why police vehicles on Hawaii Island should be marked.
This way there is no gray area as to if this is a legitimate police car. If there were two cops in the car then corruption would be cut down, too.
Allie Hahlbeck Jr.
Waikoloa
Truth about Waikoloa costs
The debate over golf course subsidization in Waikoloa Village is heating up again and misinformation is flying in all directions. On Jan. 5, Ms. Lenora Kearney posted an impassioned letter to WHT in which she said the Waikoloa Village Association raised annual dues by 48 percent last year. In fact, the dues were raised by only 28 percent after a 10-year period of almost no increase.
The purpose of the increase was to catch up with inflation and build reserves for future expenditures.
On Jan. 9, Mr. Roger Hansen posted a letter to WHT in which he said there is currently “a plan for improving and renovating infrastructures on this 50-year-old golf course costing between $20 million and $25 million within the next few years.”
The plan he refers to is the association’s list of projected capital expenditures for the 19-year period from 2018 through 2036. I think most people would agree that the period from 2018 to 2036 is more than a “few years.” Furthermore, only a portion of the planned $24 million in expenditures will be used for improving and renovating infrastructures on the golf course.
Mr. Hansen then wrote, “There are approximately 3,000 members of the WVA, a $25 million expenditure equates to over $8,000 assessment to each and every member. Get your checkbook ready.” Mr. Hansen is fully aware of the plan to build reserves slowly, but that didn’t keep him from implying that an $8,000 assessment may occur in the next few years, if not sooner.
Mr. Hansen closed by implying that Hawaii County can operate our golf course much more efficiently than our association. Apparently, he is unaware that the Hilo Municipal Golf Course loses money and must be subsidized by the county to the tune of roughly $500,000 every year.
As you can see, Mr. Hansen uses a crafty manipulation of time frames, costs, and false assumptions, to entice readers into accepting his point of view. I bring these matters to your attention because misinformation will continue to fly around Waikoloa Village in the months ahead.
Don’t believe everything you read or hear. Take time to perform your own due diligence. Otherwise, you may fall victim to the purveyors of fake news.
Richard Gillette
Waikoloa
