HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

217

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF ANY INCREASE IN WATER CHARGES FOR THE MOLOKAI IRRIGATION SYSTEM TO DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS HOMESTEADERS AND FARMERS.

 

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture are charged with the maintenance and operation of the Molokai irrigation system, including, pursuant to section 167-l1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the setting of all rates and charges; and

WHEREAS, section 167-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, grants the Board of Agriculture the power to fix and adjust rates and charges so the revenues derived therefrom shall be sufficient to cover the cost of operation, maintenance, replacement, any bond debt service, and other charges necessary to cover the capital cost of the system; and

WHEREAS, those rates and charges for the Molokai irrigation system are set forth in section 4-152-22, Hawaii Administrative Rules (Department of Agriculture); and

WHEREAS, customers of the Molokai irrigation system are predominately homesteaders and farmers occupying Department of Hawaiian Home Lands property; and

WHEREAS, the homesteaders and farmers on the Hawaiian homestead lands are concerned that any increase in rates and charges for irrigation water may make it unfeasible or impractical to continue agricultural activities on their homestead lands; and

WHEREAS, it is in the vital interest of the homesteaders and farmers that they be allowed to continue their agricultural

activities on the homestead lands with reasonable water rates and charges; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty—third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the Senate concurring, that the Board of Agriculture, in setting the rates and charges for the Molokai irrigation system, is requested to limit those charges to cover only the costs of operation, maintenance, replacement, debt service, and other charges necessary to cover the capital costs of the Molokai irrigation system, and not add any additional surcharge that may be diverted from the Molokai irrigation system; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Agriculture, in consultation with the Molokai Irrigation System Water Users Advisory Board, is requested to review the operations of the Molokai irrigation system to determine any operational savings that may be undertaken to keep rates and charges reasonable; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and the members of the Molokai Irrigation System Water Users Advisory Board.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Molokai Irrigation System