Break leaves 69 Waianae homes dry

Sixty-nine homes in Waianae were without water yesterday while Board of Water Supply crews repaired a 12-inch water main break at Plantation Road near Hoomaluhia Street.

Traffic on Plantation Road between Mill Street and Waianae Valley Road was limited in both directions to local traffic only.

The break was reported just before 9 a.m. at 85-576 Waianae Valley Road, 120 feet north of Hoomaluhia Street.

Water wagons were placed on Hoohuikahi Street and at 85-1030 Hoomaluhia St. near the community center to provide fresh drinking water to area residents.

There was no immediate word how long the repairs would take.

New suit filed over police overtime

Of the 422 current and former police officers and firefighters offered settlements in their lawsuit against the city over unpaid overtime, 279 have accepted, according to federal court records.

Another 25 were dismissed from the lawsuit in 2008.

The 183 plaintiffs who did not settle have filed a new lawsuit.

More than 400 city employees—mostly former and current police officers and firefighters—sued the city in 2007 for not paying overtime for pre-shift and post-shift work.

Audit calls for tighter control

HILO » An audit says the Hawaii County Department of Water Supply needs to tighten internal controls because an employee was able to steal more than $78,000.

The 70-page report by Legislative Auditor Colleen Schrandt pointed to the case of Myra Ross, who was recently sentenced to 150 days in jail, 600 hours of community service and five years’ probation. She also paid the department back the money she stole as part of a plea agreement.

The former customer service worker took the money in varying amounts over a 12-year period starting in 1997.

Water Department Manager Milton Pavao says he won’t have any comment until department officials read the final audit report.

Kauai rentals bill advances

LIHUE » A Kauai County Council bill that would legalize hundreds of existing vacation rentals on agricultural lands is gaining ground.

The new bill received a county Planning Commission stamp of approval in April. It sailed through a first hearing at the County Council last month.

The bill, proposed by Councilman Tim Bynum, would give vacation rentals operating on land zoned for agriculture an opportunity to apply for a permit.

Vacation rentals operating before March 7, 2008, would qualify.

Two years ago, Kauai passed a law creating a path for vacation rental owners to legalize their operations by applying for permits.

But that measure specifically excluded those operating on agriculture land.

Coming up

This Fourth of July weekend, AAA Hawaii wants to prevent drunken driving by offering free tows home of up to five miles.

Tipsy Tow service is available from 6 p.m. Saturday to midnight Sunday. Call the hot line at (800) 222-4357 and tell the operator, "I need a Tipsy Tow." A truck contracted by AAA Hawaii will be dispatched.