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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, February 17, 2005

BUREAUCRACY BUSTER

Permanent puddle can breed pest

By Robbie Dingeman

Q. A neighbor in the Punchbowl area has a permanent puddle because of the recent rains that is 4 to 5 inches deep and about 3 feet in diameter — it's really huge — and is filled with mosquito larvae. Weekly, I throw in a cup of bleach and laundry detergent just to keep the mosquitoes under control. Is there a department I can call to report this problem? Can they make our neighbors fill this puddle and if they don't, will the city or state do it?

A. You can report the problem to the state Department of Health's vector control branch at 483-2535. Department spokeswoman Laura Lott said investigators will look at the puddle. If it's a chronic problem, they will mark it on a map as a place that needs to be monitored for mosquito larvae.

She said the department will talk to the neighbors about the problem and solutions. "They have the authority to fine or cite but they usually try to work with the property owners," she said.

Lott said the department takes such reports seriously. "It's a concern because mosquitoes do carry disease," she said. West Nile virus, which has not been reported within the state, becomes more prevalent on the Mainland when the weather warms up. "We're working very hard to keep it from Hawai'i shores," Lott said.

If you believe the puddle falls within the city easement, city spokesman Bill Brennan suggests you call 523-4381 to see if city crews can fill the hole.

Q. Last January a strong windstorm blew down a newly planted tree in the median strip of Ala Moana Boulevard in front of Ward Centre. Road crews went out the next day and did a great job of cleaning up the downed trees and cut back a portion of one tree that was blocking traffic. Since then, the tree has been lying on its side and is still trying to grow, only now all new growth goes directly into the traffic lane. Who is responsible for this?

A. State Transportation Department spokesman Scott Ishikawa said state crews cleared the other fallen trees right away. But he said the monkeypod tree that was growing on its side remained because of a disagreement between government agencies over who was responsible.

He said that stretch of road belongs to the state but that the city takes care of the greenery in the median. The city's urban forestry expert, Stan Oka, said city crews did remove the tree late last year after going back and forth with the state about who was responsible. "There was a disagreement because of overlapping jurisdiction," Oka said.

To avoid this kind of bureaucratic delay in the future, Ishikawa said, the state and city are working on a written agreement on how to handle similar situations.

Contact the Bureaucracy Buster about your problem at: buster@honoluluadvertiser.com or leave a message at 535-2454 (include your name and daytime phone number in case we need more information).