Council committee closes file on buyout change orders after briefing on demolition, soil testing and signage

The Hawaii County Committee on Finance voted unanimously June 3 to close the file on Communication 24.11 after staff described two change orders tied to the county's voluntary buyout program and the planned demolition and remediation of properties in Puna.

The committee heard that one change order funds installation of signage at accessible buyout parcels and a second covers additional engineering and deeper soil testing after arsenic was detected on a subset of properties. "In total, about 26 properties are getting treated through this program," Douglas Namble, disaster recovery officer for the Planning Department, told the committee.

The report was transmitted under section 2-12.3 of the Hawaii County Code, and Councilmember Reyna moved, with Councilmember Houston seconding, to close the file. The clerk recorded nine members in favor.

Why it matters: the voluntary buyout program follows the 2018 eruption and related emergencies; properties acquired through the program must be maintained as open space in perpetuity, which creates a county obligation to clear standing structures and address hazardous materials where present.

What staff told the committee: Namble said the county conducted a targeted approach rather than a full A-to-Z remediation on every site, hiring an engineering firm to assist with permitting, cost estimating and demolition design. He said the added soil testing followed arsenic detections that required engineering work to make demolition crews' methods and worker safety appropriate.

"This funding is for the engineering and permitting side of it," Namble said, adding that disposal costs for demolition would be addressed when the actual demolition work is bid out. Finance staff confirmed the change orders were routed separately because scopes arrived from the contractor at different times, but both amend a single contract covering the work.

Council questions and staff responses: Councilmember Kerkowitz asked whether any materials were salvageable and whether deconstruction opportunities had been considered. Namble said the current change orders do not authorize deconstruction; the county is working with the engineering firm to determine if any homes or materials can be salvaged for reuse, but "we don't have a clear answer on that just yet." Councilmember Villegas urged staff to prioritize reuse where feasible for the benefit of the Puna community.

Next steps: staff said the demolition will proceed via separate contracting for the demolition work (including disposal costs) and that further program-level reviews could be provided outside the change-order report. The committee recorded the motion to close file as carried, with nine votes in favor.

Ending: Members of the public with questions about specific buyout parcels were not identified during the meeting; staff offered to follow up with more details about change order numbering and deconstruction feasibility outside the committee session.