Mahalo to rescuers
Mahalo to rescuers
On Jan. 2, at 28-1706 Puako St. in Honomu, my uncle’s house was on fire, and I would like to thank Ron Kanankanui for his actions in saving my uncle and my nephew’s life on that day.
There are not to many people who would do what he did. Without his courage, we would have lost the lives of both Antony “Duke” Aguinaldo and Reagan Okano. We may have lost the house, but not the memories.
Also, I would like to thank the Hawaii Fire Department, Hawaii Police Department, the Red Cross, and Gidion Aki for all of their help.
I ask to please put this in the newspaper because I’m so grateful, and words cannot express how thankful I am what they have done.
Toni L. Sorcy
Hawaii Paradise Park
Restrict bullets
What good is a Mercedes or a Jaguar without fuel?
Place stricter control on the flagrant use, sale, acquisition, importation and production of bullets (ammunition), and the most sophisticated firearm (weapon) is useless.
It’s a no-brainer. Make it also illegal to reload empty shells without first registering with the proper authorities. Am I on the right track?
Tom Bello
Hilo
Composting costs
This letter is to correct misinformation that was reported on Jan. 9 by Tom Callis in the West Hawaii Today (“Council digs on compost”) and Hawaii Tribune Herald (“Council members back composting plan”).
In the article, Mr. Callis reports, “The council passed a similar resolution in 2011 but that stipulated contractors couldn’t charge the county more than $70 per ton. No responding bidders were able to get below that figure.”
EKO Systems, doing business as Big Island EKO Systems, did submit a bid that was below the $70 per ton rate because of the price cap the council put forward in Resolution 34-11. All serious bidders should have been aware of this stipulation and ensured their proposal was in compliance with all specifications.
EKO was surprised when the Department of Environmental Management went before the previous council after bids had been received to raise the price cap. The previous council denied the request to raise the price cap due to concerns that it was unethical and probably illegal to change specifications after all bids had been received.
EKO understands Resolution 31-13, which is currently being considered, states that, “Whereas, the county solicited and received proposals for operation of organic waste diversion sites and composting operations via RFP NO. 2738 but the proposal which the county determined was the best value to the county, taking into consideration price and the evaluation criteria in the RFP, was not priced within the $70 per ton limit recited in Resolution 34-11 (Draft 2), causing the county to cancel RFP No. 2738.”
EKO tailored its proposal to be within the means of the price cap, as set by the council at the time. Without this cap in place, other proposals may have had components more favorable to the department.
Thomas A. Pawlish
President, EKO Systems Inc.