Measure aims to hasten purchase of voting machines

A measure is moving forward that aims to hasten Hawaii's purchase of new voting machines for a planned special congressional election.

The state House of Representatives on Thursday passed the bill setting up an alternate buying process for voting machines. The proposal now advances to the Senate.

The state elections office plans to award a voting machine contract by March 23, but under current law a protest from any company that loses its bid would halt the process and take 45 days to resolve.

This measure gives a losing company only five days to ask for reconsideration, and a final decision would be issued five days afterward.

A special election in May or June will replace Rep. Neil Abercrombie, who is running for governor.

Sewage spills fall for a third year

Roots, pipe failure, contractor mistakes and grease were the leading causes of sewage spills last year on Oahu, according to the city.

Despite the various causes, sewage spills declined for the third straight year in 2009, dropping from 122 spills in 2008 to 101 last year, a 17 percent decrease, according to a news release.

Honolulu's Department of Environmental Services is working to decrease the most common spills with a maintenance program that includes cutting away roots in pipes, flushing grease from sewer lines, testing for broken pipes with non-toxic smoke, and installing video cameras in the lines to check for defects.

Since 2005, the city set aside $1.1 billion to upgrade the sewer system, and $1.6 billion more is due to be set aside for the next five years, the release said.

Funding limits Big Isle cleanup

HILO » Hawaii County officials know there are potentially hazardous materials in some of the parks and recreational facilities across the county, but acknowledge they have enough money to clean up only two locations.

A county parks department official says after paying $1.15 million to run tests on 123 sites, there is sufficient funding to do repair work on only two locations considered priorities—the A.J. Watt Gym and Arthur C. Greenwell Park.

Elevated levels of lead were found at both facilities, but the department's deputy director, Clayton Honma, says the levels were not high enough to force officials to close the sites.

It is not clear how many locations were found to contain some hazardous materials, but Honma says the Hakalau Gym is the only county recreational facility closed because of hazardous materials.

Hospital begins building helipad

WAILUKU » Health officials say seriously injured people will get care at Maui Memorial Medical Center a bit faster once work on a new helipad is complete.

Construction of a $3 million helipad began Friday with a groundbreaking ceremony at the hospital.

Maui Memorial Chief Executive Officer Wesley Lo says work on the helipad comes as the hospital expands its facilities, including adding a wing and expanding its emergency room.

Once the helipad is complete, it is estimated helicopter crews will be able to get trauma and other patients requiring immediate care to the hospital 10 to 15 minutes faster.

The helipad is expected to be finished in October.

Tokuda returns to Senate work

Sen. Jill Tokuda has returned to the state Capitol following the birth of her second child.

The Democrat representing Kaneohe and Kailua returned to work Thursday after a weeklong absence. Her son, Aden Kenjiro Michibata, was born Feb. 11.

She has resumed duties as chairwoman of the Senate Higher Education Committee.

Kauai council OKs funding for helicopter

LIHUE » Kauai is in line to become the last county in Hawaii to have its own public-use helicopter.

The Kauai County Council has approved a 10-year lease and first-year funding request by the county's fire department.

Pointing to concerns about public safety and liability, Councilman Tim Bynum says he felt there was no option but to OK the chopper.

Councilman Daryl Kaneshiro says funding a helicopter is important because it allows rescue specialists to train, making rescue operations safer.

About $800,000 for the helicopter lease and for contracts covering pilot, maintenance and other costs likely will be included in the budget submitted in March by Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.