Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: Ever since the state Capitol reopened around 1995 after being renovated, we have been plagued constantly by false alarms in the Capitol alarm system, as often as once every few weeks. No one pays attention to the alarms anymore. Especially since the events of Sept. 11, a reliable alarm system is needed to protect Capitol occupants, constituents and visitors. What is wrong? Did taxpayers get stuck with an un-fixable, unreliable, lousy alarm system? State solved recent spate
of false alarms at CapitolAnswer: The most recent spate of false alarms -- three of them within a span of a few days -- has been addressed, said James Hisano, central services manager for the state Department of Accounting and General Services. The devices that malfunctioned either have been replaced or repaired.
However, officials are arranging to have the entire system, involving hundreds of alarms installed during the Capitol renovation, inspected to see if there may be an underlying problem, Hisano said.
"We're kind of at a loss" as to what's causing the problem, Hisano said.
Officials are having a difficult time pinpointing the problem because of the "fairly complex" system involving "numerous kinds of detectors," including heat and smoke detectors, that monitor the building's fire sprinkler system, elevators, air-conditioning system, etc., he said.
The new fire alarm system was installed to meet new fire code standards, he said.
Q: My daughter and I were at the McDonald's on Dillingham Boulevard in August when we noticed a Board of Water Supply vehicle parked in the lot at Waiakamilo Plaza about 9:45 p.m. When we came out of the restaurant about a half-hour later, the vehicle was still there. I told my daughter that some people in the city are on call and take a vehicle home but are supposed to use the vehicle for city business. What business that person had in this shopping center at this time of night bothers me. The only businesses open were McDonald's and a half-dozen hostess bars. Just then, a man walked out of a bar and got into the vehicle.
A: The employee assigned to the vehicle, whose license number you provided, "has been counseled and reprimanded for his actions," said Board of Water Supply spokeswoman Denise DeCosta.
He is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week and "must remain available with his vehicle in case a water emergency occurs that affects his area of responsibility," she said. "Upon questioning, the employee admitted that he had no city business to conduct in the establishment mentioned."
Auwe
To whoever burned the flag on the antenna of my Dodge Ram truck around 6:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 26, on Kawaiahao Street, near the back entrance to the Honolulu Advertiser. You know who you are. You not only burned the flag, but burned the paint off my truck. -- Arie Bos
Auwe
To the driver of a red Maxima who, on Tuesday morning, Oct. 23, at two four-way stops in Kaimuki, did not wait his turn and almost caused accidents. -- No Name
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