YAGONG UNDERESTIMATES COST OF 'ICE' TASK FORCE

The island's acting police chief supports hiring four officers to fight
crystal methamphetamine use, but said the "ice" task force would cost much
more than the $215,000 one lawmaker has proposed spending.

Lawrence Mahuna said Hamakua County Councilman Dominic Yagong's funding
suggestion would pay for a year's wages, equipment and uniforms for two
detectives and two officers. The new positions would be split between East
and West Hawaii.

Another $160,010 would be needed each year to cover overtime, training and
fringe benefits like medical and vehicle insurance, Mahuna wrote in a letter
sent Thursday to Yagong.

Mahuna was responding to Yagong's recent proposal to tackle the ice problem.

Yagong wants to create a specialized task force using the $215,000 the
County Council cut in June from Mayor Harry Kim's proposed operating budget
and put in its special contingency account.

Most of the savings came from money Kim wanted to improve the Hilo Municipal
Golf Course, while some came from trimming the council's travel account.

When asked earlier this month about Yagong's proposal, Kim said he would
like police to determine the priority of any new positions that might be
added.

Yagong responded by asking Mahuna if he favors the task force idea.

"We would be in full support of your initiative to create four new positions
within the Vice Sections of the Police Department that would concentrate
their investigative efforts in combating 'ice' and other narcotic drugs such
as heroin, cocaine and 'Ecstasy' in Hawaii County," Mahuna wrote in his
letter.

Mistakenly thinking his proposal would be only $50,000 short, Yagong on
Monday told the Tribune - Herald that amount could be found by not hiring a
special assistant to the council chairman. The job, which pays $49,000 a
year, recently became vacant.

Yagong was then told Mahuna's calculations show the police overtime,
benefits and training actually would cost $160,010. His response was
lawmakers can find the extra money if they prioritize fighting ice use.

At least one council member, however, feels the council's available money
should be spent elsewhere.

Hilo Councilman Aaron Chung said he would like to see $132,249 of the
available $215,000 used to pay for the higher - than - expected cost to
build a new gym in Keaukaha, an area of Hilo he represents.

Three extra drywells and an extended waterline are needed for the new gym
expected to be opened in late November, said Pam Mizuno, deputy parks
director.

While the gym and Yagong's ice proposal both have merit, the gym is almost
done and is a one - time expense, unlike hiring more police, which is a cost
the county cannot sustain, Chung said.

"I think the Keaukaha Gymnasium, in total, it's a better investment in the
long run," he said.

A resolution seeking to use part of the council's surplus money for the gym
has been waived from committee review and will appear before the full
council for possible adoption during its 9 a.m. meeting Wednesday in Hilo.

The measure also includes transferring $11,050 to pay for a large
photocopier. The extra money is needed to pay for a shortfall that resulted
from miscalculating the cost.