Lettters | 11-19-14

Why is Lono Kona Subdivision only area targeted?

I am writing to you in regards to the letter about the sewer improvement district of Lono Kona Subdivision. There are many other subdivisions that do not have sewers.

Why only Lono Kona Subdivision? It is one of the oldest residential and business areas of Kona in existence for more than 75 years. Housing is affordable, for many people with low and fixed incomes, close to town for work and you can walk and live without traveling long distances. Many property areas are small and will not be able to accommodate large equipment without tearing down the house and surrounding land area. Large backhoes and hauling trucks will have a difficult time maneuvering into narrow driveways without damaging electrical poles and lines.

There were a few violators regarding the sewer system and now the county is trying to penalize the whole subdivision for a few property owners who have to comply. Many residents are elderly and can barely afford the mortgage, let alone taxes, utilities and other costs to survive. It will certainly be a hardship for many to come up with $15,000 to $20,000 for septic conversion. Most people don’t have that kind of money in their savings account.

I understand the sewer projects were done for free by the county for other subdivisions in Hilo. I don’t think this is fair for those who live in Kona. This project will create traffic jams, electrical shut offs and financial and other problems in this designated area. Some properties too small for this project should be exempted and grandfathered in. The county should also look into the whole Kona Coast area where there needs to be Environmental Protection Agency-forced compliance and where properties are easier to access. It should also look into people who are into newer development projects to satisfy the EPA.

Hawaii is not the mainland where a lot of mandates of this sort come from. We live in a local island community where developments in a small area have been created and have been in existence for a long time.

I hope you will consider the economic factors of the constituents and the fairness of this proposal instead of targeting one section of the Kona Coast.

Sewer systems do not end pollution. You can just look at the island of Oahu and see that the sewage from a plant overflowed into the ocean during a recent storm. It is not the first time this has happened.

If you force homeowners to convert, you should make the properties tax exempt and waive sewer hook-up fees.

I appreciate your consideration to this matter.

Siu Ling

Kailua-Kona