HILO – Mayor Bill Kenoi is asking the Hawaii County Council to approve a nearly $100 million bond request, the largest ever made by his administration.

This is an excellent time to invest in County infrastructure to save money for county taxpayers, and to create jobs for our working families. Interest rates are at very low levels, and County government has an opportunity today to boost the local construction industry while investing in parks, roads and other important projects to better serve our communities.Billy Kenoi in a letter to council

The mayor is proposing a bill authorizing the issuance of up to $99,750,000 in general obligation bonds for a long list of capital improvement projects, which includes $750,000 for cost of issuance.

Our County’s debt service capacity has been reviewed to ensure we have the capacity to issue additional bonds up to the requested amount. With this authorization of $99,750,000, our debt service percentage will be approximately 13.81%. This percentage is within our GFOA guideline that debt service expenditures should be below 15% of total expenditures each year.Billy Kenoi in a letter to council

Kenoi requested the bill be waived from the Finance Committee and be placed on the June 3, 2015 Council agenda “due to the time sensitive nature of this matter.”

The council chair of the finance committee, Karen Eoff, concurred.

In reviewing this matter, timely approval is crucial. It is therefore advantageous that approval is granted and the matter be placed onto the next Council agenda for review.Karen Eoff in a communication to council

Council chair Dru Kanhua approved the request. The ordinance will be Bill 58.

Here is a full projects list. Half of $99,750,000 request will go towards Parks and Recreation projects.

PROJECT LISTING

Parks & Recreation – $50,000,000
Waimea Park
Hilo Municipal Golf Course Clubhouse Improvements
Honaunau Rodeo Arena Improvements
Mauna Kea Recreational Area
Kukuihaele Park Improvements
KALO Gymnasium Interior
Hualani Park Ballfields Improvements
Ali‘i Kai Subdivision New Park Development
Kailua Park Soccer Fields Improvement
Hilo Drag Strip Improvements
Hokulani Street Park
Shipman Park Lighting and Improvements
Kealakehe Regional Park Critical Habitat
Kaipalaoa Landing Park Development
Hawaiian Paradise Park, Community Park
Islandwide Tennis Court Improvements
ADA Transition Plan
Repairs/Improvements to Facilities

Public Works – 20,000,000
Mamalahoa Highway (Route 19) Improvements
Kilauea-Keawe Street Resurfacing
Manono Street Improvements
Kapi‘olani Street Improvements
Kawailani Street Improvements
Komohana Street
Ka‘iminani Drive Phase II
Manowai‘opae Road
Waikoloa Shoulder Widening
Ane Keohokalole Highway (Hinalani to Kaiminani)
Honoka‘a Safe Drop Off (matching funds)
Drywells

Environmental Management – 10,000,000
Hilo Outfall Repair
Repair/Replacement of Wastewater facilities
Kealekehe Effluent Reuse – Makai (R1 Water)
Repair Wastewater Digesters
Repair Pua Wet Well
Solid Waste projects (repairs and recycling improvements)

Fire – 9,000,000
Haihai (Kawailani) Station
Administration Complex (Includes Server Room move from Civil Defense)
Waimea Volunteer Station

Mass Transit – 5,000,000
Baseyard facility (matching funds)
Bus Shelters
Master Plan for island wide facilities

Housing – 2,500,000
Transitional Housing Micro Units
Ouli Ekahi repairs
Park at Ulu Wini
Kamakoa Nui Phase 11 (additional revolving funds)

Civil Defense – 1,500,000
Radio Tower repairs

Prosecutors Office – 1,000,000
Design of West Hawai‘i office

Costs of Issuance 750,000
Total $99,750,000