Funds OK’d for ag inspectors Funds OK’d for ag inspectors ADVERTISING HONOLULU (AP) — Legislative committee members have found a way to provide funding for agriculture inspectors and fighting invasive species. House and Senate conference committee members working on the
Funds OK’d for ag inspectors
HONOLULU (AP) — Legislative committee members have found a way to provide funding for agriculture inspectors and fighting invasive species.
House and Senate conference committee members working on the budget Monday night agreed to pay for 29 agriculture inspector positions out of the state’s general fund.
Twenty of those positions are currently being paid through the Pest Inspection, Quarantine and Eradication Special Fund. If the budget is approved, more money will be freed up for fighting invasive species.
House Agriculture Chairman Clift Tsuji says the struggle to fund agriculture inspectors to prevent invasive species from entering the state has been going on for years. He added that he’s pleased the committee members recognize the urgency to support agriculture inspection and fight invasive species in a reliable and responsible manner.
Honolulu OKs plastic bag ban
HONOLULU (AP) — The Honolulu City Council approved a bill banning the distribution of plastic bags by retailers. The bill prohibits all non-recyclable paper and non-biodegradable plastic bags or bags that can’t be broken down naturally in the environment. The ban would take effect in July 2015.
Wednesday’s vote was 7-1, with Councilman Nestor Garcia casting the only no vote. Garcia says he prefers imposing a fee for plastic bags, at least temporarily. The bill now goes to Mayor Peter Carlisle.
Honolulu is the last county in Hawaii to ban plastic shopping bags. They’re already prohibited in Maui and Kauai counties. Hawaii County’s ban takes effect in two years.
Maui palm tree is a cell tower
WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — No coconuts will fall from Maui’s newest palm tree.
Verizon Wireless is installing a 35-foot-high pole and cellular antenna disguised to look like a palm tree in Waiehu.
The antenna will be camouflaged with faux palm branches and painted green and brown to blend in with the surrounding landscape.
It’s expected to give Verizon customers better cellphone reception in the Waihee and Waiehu areas. It will be going on agricultural land housing a tropical plant nursery.
The Maui Planning Commission on Tuesday approved a county special use permit for the project. No one testified against it at the commission’s meeting. County planner Danny Dias says neighbors located within 500 feet of the project site were notified of Tuesday’s meeting.
