County presents a long wish list

With the start of the state Legislature’s 2004 session today, Wednesday, Jan. 21, Kaua’i Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste and the Kaua’i County Council are asking for $2.2 million for a treatment facility for youths, a facility for recovering drug users, and an emergency shelter for the homeless, among other items on a long wish list.

The proposed projects are among key ones Baptiste and the council have identified and have said need funding to address critical needs of residents.

In the County of Kaua’i legislative package for 2004, Baptiste and the council seek legislative approval to float general-obligation bonds, and to appropriate a total of $6.8 million for capital improvement projects for Kaua’i.

State Rep. Hermina Morita, D-Hanalei-Kapa’a, said she supports all the funding requests in spirit, but stressed the final state budget will determine whether the projects can move forward.

The county is seeking:

• $560,000 for a residential treatment facility for youths;

  $1 million for a transitional residential treatment facility on land between 15 acres and 25 acres. The large property could be used for agricultural programs that could help with the recovery of drug users, county officials said;

• $1 million for baseball lighting and grandstand improvements at Vidinha Stadium;
• $700,000 for the repair of the 33-year-old swimming pool at Waimea High School, to be in compliance with state Department of Health standards.

  The county is seeking 100 percent funding from the Legislature for these projects.

  Kaua’i County officials also are seeking funds for the following projects which require a 50 percent match from the county:

• $175,000 for a master drainage plan for Kapa’a and Wailua, the largest population area on the island. With a master plan in place, a “sound” capital improvement program can be formulated, county officials said;
• $815,000 for a new fire station in Kapa’a, to complement an existing one located along Kuhio Highway in Kapa’a. The Kawaihau district is too large and densely populated for one station, especially with the remoteness and growth of the Wailua Homesteads area, officials said;
• $216,000 for the design of a new disposal facility for when the Kekaha landfill can no longer be used. Kaua’i County officials are currently seeking state approval for a vertical expansion of the landfill. If approved, the facility could be used for only another four to five years, officials said. After that time, another landfill will have to be in place to meet county solid-waste-disposal demands, officials said;
• $450,000 for improvements to the Waimea sewer system;
• $400,000 for improvements to the Lihu’e sewer system;
• $1.1 million for drainage facilities for the Wailua Houselots area. The area was originally intended for agricultural use, but over time land uses led to urbanization of the land. The area has a drainage system consisting of open ditches and a few culverts, but they are inadequate during storms, resulting in inundation of home lots. County officials said construction of a new multi-phased drainage system would lessen drainage and flooding problems that have plagued the area since 1976;
• $650,000 for an emergency homeless shelter. Kaua’i County remains the only county without a “dedicated” emergency homeless shelter, officials said.

In the county’s legislative package, Baptiste and the council also called for the amendment of state laws.

One calls for a change in the law so that the Legislature can fund audits of a county by a legislative auditor.

Kaua’i County political leaders also supported repealing the expiration date of June 30, 2007 for two laws. Both laws provide limited liability to county and state officials in their efforts to post warning signs and assign lifeguards at state and county beach parks.

Baptiste and the council also supported approval of legislation that failed to pass last year.

One deals with monitoring of compliance of an agreement between the state and North West Cruiseship Association related to accidental or intentional discharge of effluent from cruise ships in Hawaiian waters.

The other deals with clarifying the high-water mark on shoreline areas in Hawai’i.

If approved, the legislation would help with the government’s certification of a shoreline, officials said.

It also would guard against incidents where some beachfront owners in Hawai’i have planted vegetation on beaches to try to make their lots larger for the development of homes.

Such situations could result in the public’s loss of beach areas, government officials have said.