City Council Addresses Water Damage Claims and Sprinkler System Failures

The Maui County Government Relations, Ethics, and Transparency Committee convened on July 22, 2025, to address pressing issues related to water damage claims and preventative measures for future incidents. A significant focus of the meeting was a discussion about mold growth resulting from water damage and the adequacy of the repair estimates provided for a recent claim.

Committee members raised concerns about the timeline for mold development and the extent of damage required for mold to become a problem. It was noted that while mold was mentioned in the initial claim, the repair estimates primarily addressed water damage without specific remediation for mold. This raised questions about the thoroughness of the assessments conducted.

The claimant initially estimated damages at $40,000, but subsequent estimates from contractors were approximately $20,000 higher. The committee is considering settling for the lower estimate, despite the significant damage indicated by the evaluations.

Another key point of discussion involved the need for preventative measures to avoid similar incidents in the future. Members questioned whether adjustments would be made to the sprinkler systems that caused the damage. The department confirmed that they are replacing the faulty sprinkler heads with a different design to mitigate future risks. However, concerns were raised about the warranty status of the original sprinklers, as it appears they may have already surpassed their warranty period.

The committee emphasized the importance of addressing these issues not only to resolve the current claim but also to ensure that similar problems do not arise in other areas. The meeting concluded with a commitment to further investigate the warranty situation and to implement the necessary changes to the irrigation systems.