I was surprised to read in the Jan. 23 Star-Bulletin, where Kenneth Sprague, director of the Department of Wastewater Management, said, "It's proposed to keep the base charge for single-family households at the present $24.85 a month." I enclose my water and sewer statement received Jan. 10, which shows a sewer base charge of $52.29 for two months, or $26.15 a month instead of $49.70 or $24.85 a month. My neighbor's bill reads the same. Why the difference? Water and sewer bills
based on number of daysThe discrepancy comes because, in the new, more detailed billing format, the number of billing days may vary, said Paul Friel, customer service representative for the city Department of Wastewater Management.
"The rates haven't changed," he assures you.
The new bills show the number of days being charged, which may vary from as few as 55 to as many as 64 or so days, Friel said. Officials, using the $24.85/month base charge, figured the daily cost at .81699 cents.
Your two-month charge reflects usage for 64 days.
"The billing period is a reflection of when the Board of Water Supply is reading the meters," Friel said.
The board deals only with clean water, but handles the billing for wastewater management.
My brother took off his front license plate. I've been noticing that on a lot of cars nowadays. He said police using lasers shoot at the plates and if you take it off, it's harder to get it caught. Is that true? Is it legal not to have front license plates? Police aim their lasers at your car, not necessarily your plates, said Dennis Kamimura, the city's chief of motor vehicle licensing.
And, if they catch you for speeding, they'll probably issue you a second ticket for not having a front license plate, he said. It is state law to have both plates.
"There used to be a problem (with front plates), especially in states with a one-plate system," Kamimura said.
"Now, however, all manufacturers have brackets for the front and rear plates."
The opening of the H-3 makes me wonder, when did the Likelike and Pali highways open? Both roadways were opened in increments, unlike the big bang opening of the H-3.
According to Star-Bulletin files, Likelike Highway officially opened on March 6, 1961, following completion of a half-mile section on the Kaneohe side of Wilson Tunnel.
The Pali Highway officially opened Aug. 1, 1961, after "both barrels" (the tunnels) and the road from Honolulu to Kailua were completed. The Kailua-to-Honolulu route opened May 4, 1957.
To a young couple on Pensacola Street for their help on Dec. 22. Our car quit running on the way to taking a friend to her husband's memorial service at Punchbowl. They pushed our car off the road and drove us to Punchbowl. -- S.H. Mahalo
To Daiei Kailua employees and the person who found and turned in my bracelet, which I unknowingly dropped while shopping at Daiei Dec. 29. I called the store and a few hours later, they called back and told me someone had turned it in. -- E.H. Mahalo
To those idiots playing firecrackers on Jan. 9. in Aliamanu. -- Janet Auwe
Free tax help, in an AARP-sponsored program, can be obtained at Waipahu United Church of Christ, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Weds. through April 8; and at Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tues./Weds. through April 15. Earlier information provided by AARP was wrong. Tax site correction
