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Water rates will not go up for fiscal 2001
There are no water rate increases in the Honolulu Board of Water Supply's $202-million operating and capital improvement budget for the next fiscal year.The board approved the budget after a public hearing yesterday.
Board members agreed existing revenues are adequate to meet planned fiscal 2001 expenditures.
Clifford Jamile, board manager and chief engineer, recommended that rates be frozen at present levels and that any rate increases be deferred.
"Our current schedule of charges is based on a rate study that was implemented in 1993," he said. "Rates were set based on much higher construction costs at that time."
Since then, construction bids have been coming in for lesser amounts, Jamile said.
"We are able to forgo any increase this year and are still able to present a balanced budget due to the savings on construction costs," he said.
The largest capital improvements budgeted are Honouliuli Reclaimed Water Facility, $48.3 million; Nanakuli 242 Reservoir, $10.8 million and major transmission mains along Vineyard Boulevard and Farrington Highway.
The new budget takes effect July 1.
SS Independence goes to Maui home port
WAILUKU -- The 1,000-passenger SS Independence will be moving its home port from Honolulu to Maui starting Nov. 11, increasing the number of visitors staying overnight at hotels by an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 a year.American Hawaii Cruises plans to replace the SS Independence with the 1,200-passenger SS Patriot at Honolulu Harbor.
The Patriot is scheduled to begin its first cruise on Dec. 9.
The Independence will be going on seven-day cruises around the islands arriving at Kahului Harbor on Saturday morning and leaving in the afternoon.
Cruise officials say the Independence carries more than 100,000 passengers a year and that about 60 to 70 percent of the passengers book one or two-night stays at a hotel before or after the cruise.
The Patriot is expected to carry more than 110,000 passengers a year.
Paniolo history needed for flyer, Web site
KEAAU, Hawaii -- Businesses and organizations connected with Hawaii's cattle industry are invited to contribute to a statewide brochure and Web site on Hawaiian cowboy history, the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board announced.Information, photographs, and dates of rodeo and paniolo (cowboy) events are welcome. There is no charge for listing information.
The planned statewide format will be an expansion of the Big Island version of the brochure and Web site created in 1998.
The site can be visited at www.rodeohawaii.com, which has online forms for submitting information.
Information can also be submitted by calling (808) 326-7820.
The deadline is June 5.
Ralph Nader to speak at nonpartisan meet
Consumer advocate Ralph Nader will appear in a nonpartisan community meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Harris United Methodist Church, Nuuanu Avenue and Vineyard Boulevard.The event is free and open to the public.
Nader is the Green Party candidate for president. He last spoke at a public meeting in Hawaii in April 1995. Possible topics for this year's meeting include banking, environmental protection and energy issues.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Did It Signal The Turn?
Two fires overnight char same building
Twenty-five Honolulu firefighters were called to two fires last night at the Makaha Surfside, an apartment building at 85-175 Farrington Highway.The first fire occurred about 9:33 p.m. and resulted in an estimated $3,000 damage to the structure and $1,500 to the contents. Unattended cooking was the cause, Waianae police reported.
The second fire, about 1:54 a.m. today, caused an estimated $20,000 damage to the structure and $5,000 to the contents. The cause is under investigation.
Both apartments were in the same section of the apartment building.
Accident messes up Moanalua Road
Moanalua Road westbound was closed at Middle Street and traffic diverted to H-1 freeway westbound after a traffic accident about 5:38 a.m. todayOne or two cars were involved, according to the Kalihi Police Station. Apparently a sand barrel near the offramp had been damaged and debris spewed all over the road.
