Kokua Line
Kokua Line
A mainland charity sent us some flower seeds as a gift. Are there any laws or regulations that cover sending seeds to Hawaii? The package doesn't say anything about being approved for Hawaii. Can we use the seeds? Ag lab can take a look
at imported flower seedsThere is nothing to prohibit you from using the flower seeds, but just check to make sure there is no noxious material in the packet. You can double check that by calling the state Department of Agriculture's seed lab, 973-9538.
There is a state and federal cooperative program regulating the sale of agriculture and vegetable seeds.
But "we do not regulate the sale or movement of flower seeds into the state," an official with the Agriculture Department's plant pest control branch said.
However, if we come across a package of flower seeds being offered for sale and we have reason to suspect, from the content label, that it has noxious weed seeds or if we suspect that it may have a seed-borne disease, then obviously we will look at taking appropriate action," he said.
Years ago, for example, when he was shopping, he noticed Uncle Ben's offering seed packets as part of its sales promotion. "I recognized the name of one of the wildflowers on there, which was on the (state's) noxious weed list," he said. He contacted the manufacturer and had the packets pulled.
Most states do not regulate the sale of flower seeds.
About the only ones that do are those with a large nursery or flower seed industry, such as Colorado, the official said.
"Even the federal Seed Act does not regulate flower seeds," although federal officials will take action if they suspect there are contaminants involved under the federal Plant Pest Act or Noxious Weed Act. The mail is "obviously a pathway" for seeds and other materials, but it's a question of not having the resources to inspect every packet coming in, he said.
My father is a state retiree and wants to know if he is going to be affected by the payroll lag? State retirees are part of the Employees Retirement System and "are not going to be affected at all," because the ERS has its own payroll system, said state deputy comptroller Mary Pat Waterhouse.
Despite the pending federal lawsuit by the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly challenging the plan, the state intends to implement the payroll lag on July 1, she said.
Paychecks that ordinarily would go out on June 30 will be issued July 1, Waterhouse said. By October, paychecks that have been issued in the middle and end of the month will be issued on the fifth and 20th of each month.
The lag is supposed to save the state $51 million.
Reference the item about conserving water to save on your water bill: No matter what you do, there still will be a $50 charge on your bill. My house is being rented and the renter was away and usage was very minimal, but the sewer charge was in excess of $50. -- S.T. Auwe
The Board of Water Supply is responsible only for the clean water charges, but it handles the billing for the city Department of Wastewater Management. Hence, sewer and water charges for a two-month cycle are shown together on one bill. The sewer rates are set by the City Council and, for a single-family home, the base rate is $24.85 a month. A waste-water spokesman previously justified the base charge by saying you pay more for dirty water because it requires a lot more handling than clean water and is one of the most regulated government services.
The City Council is considering a proposal to keep the base for single-family homes, raise it for multifamily homes, but drop the volume charge from $1.05 to 55 cents per 1,000 gallons of waste water.
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com
