Community meeting to be held regarding water-delivery agreement with Free Market Ventures

6:00 p.m. on May 8 at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center

Author

Councilmember Tom Cook
April 26, 2024

For Immediate Release:

Press release by:
Tom Cook, Councilmember & Yuki Lei Sugimura, Vice-Chair

Maui County Council

Community meeting to be held regarding water-delivery agreement

with Free Market Ventures

Wailuku, Hawaiʻi (April 26, 2024)—Councilmember Tom Cook and Council Vice-Chair Yuki Lei Sugimura announced today that they will co-host a community meeting at 6 p.m. on May 8 at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center. The meeting’s intent is to gather input from the community and provide information regarding the County of Maui’s proposed water-delivery agreement with Free Market Ventures.

In early April, in response to community feedback and at the request of Director of Water Supply John Stufflebean, the Maui County Council recommitted Resolution 24-47 to the Water and Infrastructure Committee for further review. The resolution authorizes Mayor Richard T. Bissen’s administration to enter into an agreement with Free Market Ventures, LLC, which includes drilling wells in Kula and the County purchasing water from the private source.

“As the Council further reviews this potential agreement, it is important for us to continue involving the community in the process,” said Sugimura.

“The Water and Infrastructure Committee also looks forward to continue working with the Department of Water Supply in examining this potential agreement and assessing its impacts to our community,” added Cook.

The Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center is located at 91 Pukalani St. in Pukalani.

For more information, contact Cook’s office at (808) 270-7108 and [email protected] or Sugimura’s office at (808) 270-7939 and [email protected].

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*Tom Cook is the chair of the Maui County Council’s Water and Infrastructure Committee. He holds the council seat for the South Maui residency area. Yuki Lei Sugimura is the Vice-Chair of the Maui County Council and Chair of its Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee. She holds the council seat for the Upcountry residency area.