Hawai'i County panel to reconsider recovery package team to track 'huge investment of federal funds'

Government
Heatherkimball
Council member Heather Kimball at the meeting | hawaiicounty.granicus.com

A proposal to establish a special team to track federal funds for recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic will be discussed again at a Hawai'i County Council committee meeting this week.

Members of the government operations committee previously had failed to agree on the proposal to set up the two- to four-person team that would lobby and work with state and federal officials, and advocate on behalf of the council.

Council member Heather Kimball, chair of Governmental Operations, Relations and Economic Development Committee (GOREDC), strongly advocated for the establishment of the team.

"Because of the huge investment of federal funds," Kimball explained at the last meeting. "My idea on this is that it is all hands on deck and do not let a penny that we would get slip away."

Kimball argued there is some urgency in ensuring that the county is paying attention to all the different funding packages, citing as an example the rental-assistance program under the American Rescue Plan, which some people are having difficulty accessing.

Some members, however, expressed concern that the proposed remit of the team may be too broad and that it should have specific goals and projects on their to-do list prior to liaising with state and federal offices.

Council member Aaron Chung also objected to handing over responsibility to other members to "advocate" on behalf of the council, arguing that was his job to do on behalf of his constituents.

It was proposed that the council supports the investment of funds under the American Rescue Plan, American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan, with a list of areas, including infrastructure, housing, health and education.

The committee voted unanimously to postpone further discussion until the next meeting Tuesday, June 15.