Question: I saw City & County of Honolulu labels on trash bins in the Navy family housing area near Honolulu Airport. I'm presuming that city crews collect trash in that area and hope that the city is reimbursed for that service. How much does the Navy pay for that service?

Answer: Individual homeowners at military housing projects “;outside the gates”; of military bases pay real property taxes to the city and thus are entitled to its refuse collection services.

The city provides off-base refuse collection services to homes in the Honolulu Airport-Navy Marine Golf Course area, McGrew Point, Pearl City Peninsula, Iroquois Point and Kalaeloa, said Markus Owens, spokesman for the city Department of Environmental Services.

He explained that these housing areas are on federal land leased to a private developer. The properties are taxable, so homeowners are assessed real property taxes.

However, Owens said the federal properties do not qualify for all city services, such as road maintenance.

Meanwhile, there are three agreements between the city and the military, covering the four major branches, which state that the military will not use the city's refuse and road maintenance services, or routine police, fire and ambulance services, on any of the bases.

By the unilateral agreements, the city collects a “;Military Housing Fee”; in lieu of real property tax for on-base properties, Owens said.

The Army Family Housing agreement, signed Dec. 23, 2004, expires Feb. 15, 2055; the Hickam Family Housing agreement, signed Feb. 1, 2005, expires Jan 31, 2055; and the Ohana Military Communities agreement, signed March 13, 2009, expires April 30, 2054.

Owens said the agreements cover the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine bases.

“;Each agreement has a set base contribution,”; he said. “;Each year, the contribution is adjusted by the percentage of change of the weighted average 'Base Housing Allowance,' but it can never be lower than the base contribution.”;

As to how much the fees are, we were told the figures were not readily available.

Question: What happened to Dr. Laura Schlessinger's show on Talk Radio AM 990? I miss it very much.

Answer: The conservative talk show host's program was dropped “;due to poor ratings,”; said Chuck Cotton, vice president-general manager of Clear Channel Radio Hawaii.

The show is being broadcast via two neighbor island radio stations, Maui-based KUAU-AM 1570, and Hilo-based KHNU-AM 620. However, reception in Honolulu is either nonexistent or weak.

If you go to Schlessinger's website, www.drlaura.com/listen, you do have the option of listening to her show online.

Auwe

To the callous driver that struck a black kitty on Puuloa Road in Mapunapuna on Saturday morning, April 17, and kept on driving. I imagine you're the same type that would run over a person in a crosswalk and just drive away. Despite going in the opposite direction, I turned around and hurried across four lanes of traffic to pick up that poor cat. Shame on you. You clearly have no soul. Here's something to think about: God is watching. So much for aloha!—Disgusted

Write to ”;Kokua Line”; at Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).