LIHU’E — The Kaua’i County Council is proposing a resolution asking three
state agencies to fund $2.1 million in county capital improvement projects in
their new budgets.
Because the projects benefit the agencies directly, the
Council said it will ask:
* The state Department of Education to fund the
installation of lights and a rubber track at the Antone Vidinha Stadium at a
cost of $500,000, installation of lights at Hanapepe Stadium at a cost of
$400,000 and the renovation of the Waimea High School swimming pool at a cost
of $600,000.
Another $700,000 in state funds also should be made available
for the installation of lights at the Hanapepe Stadium, according to county
officials.
The county contends DOE should cover the costs for these
projects because they are used primarily for public school football games,
track meets and swim meets.
* The state Department of Transportation and
state Department of Land and Natural Resources to fund the renovation of
portions of Koke’e Road at a cost of $600,000.
The Kusaka Administration
takes the position that the DOT should maintain the road because it is part of
the state roadway system.And Mayor Maryanne Kusaka maintains the DLNR should
pay for its share of the maintenance of the road because it leads to the Kokee
State Park.
The Council and the Administration are pursuing this alternate
funding route because Gov. Ben Cayetano has said he will not release any funds
for public improvement projects on the neighbor islands due to budgeting
constraints.
“The intent is to have them fund it,” said Wallace Rezentes
Sr., Kusaka’s administrative assistant. “The state hasn’t given us any money
for the last two years or so.”
Warren Mizutani, business manager for the
DOE district office on Kaua’i, said it is the county’s responsibility to
maintain the upkeep of the two stadiums and the swimming pool.
“We aren’t
the only users,” he said. “Other organizations (other than DOE) use the
facilities.”
Steve Kyono, who heads the DOT’s Highway Division on Kaua’i,
and Wayne Souza, head of the state parks division on Kaua’i, said they haven’t
seen the resolution and that it would be premature to comment on it.
Council Chair Ron Kouchi introduced the resolution, which is up for approval by
the full Council on Wednesday.
The resolution asks the state Legislature
to support the measure.
