Meeting Time: April 18, 2022 at 9:00am HST
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A G E N D A

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    Carol Daum over 2 years ago

    Aloha Council Members,
    I am concerned with the budget item for the Proposed Maalaea Regional Wastewater system. I do not feel odor has been discussed or addressed -at all- or budgeted for with an activated sludge system for odor control. R-1 recycled water has a smell. Odor pollution is a threat to human health and welfare. I am concerned we may be moving forward by trading one set of problems for another. There was a Brown and Caldwell feasibility study showing a regional system would cost 23 million in Maalaea, and it did not address odor. 9.5 million is not a reasonable number and would not be feasible. As a long time, taxpayer and condominium board member in Maalaea I cannot support this at this time. The neighborhood would be located downwind from the facility. We definitely have a need for a regional wastewater system, but is this the right one? Have you visited a facility with above ground R-1 water overflow ponds and irrigation to address odors?

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    Travis Liggett over 2 years ago

    Aloha Council Members,

    I am writing to encourage you to make a moderate FY2023 investment in a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) design study, to be performed by the Department of Environmental Management, to obtain a solid cost estimate for the installation of ultraviolet light disinfection of injected wastewater from the Kahului municipal Wastewater Reclamation Facility.

    While a large multi-million dollar amendment to install UV in Kahului may not be feasible for the FY2023 budget, it seems that a more feasible FY2023 investment would be to commission DEM to develop a PER to gain an understanding of the actual cost to install UV for the Kahului injection well discharges.

    A recent FOIA response from DEM stated that such a PER would be the next step toward realizing UV disinfection of injection well discharges in Kahului.

    100% municipal wastewater disinfection in Maui, coupled with a new Ma'alaea Regional Wastewater Reclamation System, will make for long-overdue, huge strides toward solving injection well challenges.

    Learn more about Maui Island wastewater disposal methods at:
    FlushAware.com

    Mahalo for your hard work!

    Travis Liggett
    President, Reef Power LLC
    info@reefpowermaui.com
    (808) 757-5984

    reefpowermaui.com
    Instagram.com/reefpowermaui

    flushaware.com
    Instagram.com/flushaware

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    Guest User over 2 years ago

    Aloha Committee Members,
    We are long time tax payers in Maui and are impressed with the information Peter Canon supplied you about the history of Maalaea from a family that was there in the early 1970's. There are many reasons to be in support of the request to include $9.5 million of funding for a new Ma'alaea Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility in the 2023 budget, and support for Kelly King's proposed amendment. Many other commenters have supplied reasons. We won't repeat.
    Thank you for your service,
    Cynthia and James Richardson

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    Guest User over 2 years ago

    Aloha Committee Members,
    We are long time residents and strong supporters of funding $9.5 million for a new Maalaea Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility in the 2023 budget! We realize the importance of ridding our community of injection wells and also realize the benefits afforded to our coastal and marine ecosystems with the necessary upgrades.

    We respectfully request that you approve this funding. It is the right thing to do for our community, our economy, our waters and our Valley Isle!
    Our Best & Mahalo ~ Ralph Overton & Nancy Leis Overton

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    Guest User over 2 years ago

    HI,
    I am also submitting testimony on behalf of MEDB and could not figure how to submit an ecomment on the correct meeting date.

    Dear Mayor Victorino and Maui County Council Members,

    My name is Janelle Tamayose and I am a parent and also an STEMWorks Afterschool instructor at Pukalani Elementary School. My 2 daughters have both been involved in Maui Economic Development Board’s STEMWorks Afterschool program; my older daughter, for 2 years, and my younger daughter for 6 years. I have been a STEMWorks Afterschool instructor for the last 5 years. The STEMWorks program greatly enriches students’ lives and teaches them valuable skills they would not receive in the classroom.

    My older daughter, Kelsie, is now 14 years old and a freshman at King Kekaulike High School. When she was a fourth and fifth grader at Pukalani Elementary School, she took STEMWorks Afterschool classes in 3D Printing, Photoshop, and Movie Making. Kelsie was a fairly good student, but was reserved, shy, and kept to herself. Movie Making helped Kelsie not only learn about the process of making movies, but also to get out of her comfort zone. This class helped her to break free from her shyness and be comfortable being in front of an audience. This in turn gave her experience for presenting projects and speeches in her classes. It was amazing to see her growth and how confident she became.

    My younger daughter, Abigail, is now 11 years old and a 6th grader at Kalama Intermediate School. She has been involved in STEMWorks Afterschool classes since she was in 1st grade at Pukalani Elementary School. She has taken classes in Robotics, Coding, STEM Exploration, Movie Making, and was on the competitive robotics team. She is currently taking Digital Art at Kalama. Her greatest growth has been with her involvement in Pukalani School’s competitive robotics team. Abigail’s role on her robotics team was a STEM researcher. As a researcher, Abigail learned how to research topics using the Engineering Design Process and how it is used to find solutions to problems. She was introduced to and gained experience in careers in microbiology, law enforcement, and medicine. She also learned to work together with her teammates and compromise when there was a difference of opinions. Like Kelsie, Abigail has also had to break free from shyness. Part of being on the robotics team meant learning to be comfortable with presenting in front of an audience. She had to be confident in the many fundraising events in the community and telling people about their team. She also learned confidence and poise while making their research video for competition and during the team’s interview by judges. These experiences gave Abigail an introduction into future careers and gave her confidence to be a valuable contributor in her classes.

    The 2019/20 Pukalani Elementary School’s Robotics team competed fiercely and won an invitation to the 2020 VEX Robotics World Championship. Sadly, this competition was canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. This was also a learning experience. Through this experience, Abigail has learned how to handle disappointment. She learned that life does not always go the way you want or expect it to go. Abigail learned that when things don’t go your way, you don’t just sit and complain. You need to always keep a positive attitude and look towards the future. This year, that positive attitude paid off and some members of the 2019/20 robotics team competed again and won invitations to the 2022 VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas in May. Abigail would have not been able to have these experiences or opportunities if not for the support of MEDB and the County of Maui.

    I have taught first grade and Kindergarten STEM/Robotics classes at Pukalani School. I am also a Part-Time Teacher and substitute teacher at Pukalani School. I have seen students both in the classroom and after school. I have seen students that are not at the top of their class academically thrive in their after school STEM class. Afterschool STEMWorks classes give students the opportunity to learn and gain experience with new technology. Some of these students may have never gotten this opportunity anywhere else. Classes also allow them to be successful, even when they struggle learning traditional subjects in class. They gain confidence and are also introduced to STEM careers. STEMWorks Afterschool classes give students hope and motivation to continue their education so they can one day be a contributing member of the community.

    Thank you so much for your support of MEDB’s StemWorks Afterschool program. Students are able to learn valuable skills and gain the confidence they need to be successful students. They are also shown that getting a higher education and a STEM career is possible and that they can succeed in whatever they put their minds to. Thank you for giving students inspiration to dream.

    Sincerely,
    Janelle Tamayose

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    Britney James over 2 years ago

    Aloha,

    I am submitting these testimonies for Baldwin High School Automotive Program students on behalf of MEDB. The students were having trouble getting the ecomment to work and asked me to submit for them since I am the STEMworks Program Specialist in Agriculture and CTE.

    Mahalo,
    Britney

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    Guest User over 2 years ago

    Aloha County Council,

    As Maui residents we fully support including the $9.5 million funding for a new Ma'alaea Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility in the 2023 budget.
    The health of our ocean, coral, and fish is crucial to the survival of Maui and it's people! Please do the right thing by approving this project.

    Mahalo,
    Chris & Lori Lock
    Kihei

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    Guest User over 2 years ago

    I totally support a treatment plant for the Ma’alaea area. I own a condo in Kihei and I know that the Ma’alaea bay and Sugar beach areas need the most attention to their water quality. Please spend the money to stop the injection well pollution. This is a reasonable and well researched proposal.
    Sincerely,
    Liz Stahl
    140 Uwapo Rd 11-105

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    Guest User over 2 years ago

    County Council Members,
    The Ma'alaea community was masterplanned by Maui in 1970 and developed in accordance with that plan. The County required injection wells at the time and that is what was built by the various buildings. That has proven to be a disaster and is completely killing the coral reef, and adversely impacting the fishery, sea turtles and even the whales.

    The County now recognizes that the only option available is the development of a county wastewater treatment plant. The owners of the various buildings and complexes are happy to pay whatever monthly fees are necessary to operate the facility. But is it critical that the County fund the $9.5m development of the project as the community will never be able to afford the initial capitol outlay.

    Please save Maui’s natural ecosystems. The Coral Reef, the Sea Turtles, the fishes and the whales cannot come testify on their behalf. Please use your good grace and and resources to help them by approving the funding of the new regional wastewater treatment plant!! Mahalo!

    Gregory and Charlene Sheehan
    280 Hauli Street #A5

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    Guest User over 2 years ago

    Aloha County Council,

    It is vital that we take care of our oceans and get rid of injection wells!
    Please approve the Regional Wastewater Plant in Maalaea. The wells in that area are some of the worst offenders on the island. I am a condo owner in Maalaea, Maui resident and long time Hawaii resident. We desperately need to shut down these aging systems and see Maalaea Bay restored to a clean and healthy environment for corals, fish, and humans alike. It is the right thing to do! Why would we wait?? The right time to do the right thing is NOW.
    Please vote to approve the $9.5m project.

    Mahalo,
    Tracey Cannon
    280 Hauoli St A17

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    Guest User over 2 years ago

    I may not have the correct place for the meeting but I want to address the water treatment plant that needs to be built in Maalaea. The area is far over due for the county to put in the water treatment for the area.

    Mary Pedretti
    Kanai a Nalu complex

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    Guest User over 2 years ago

    This is a comment in support of the request to include $9.5 million of funding for a new Ma'alaea Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility in the 2023 budget, and support for Kelly King's proposed amendment.