by Kelly Arbor

Finance Director Travis Thompson blocked a professional study ordered by the county council by refusing to certify that funds are available.

Money for a consultant to investigate whether county contractor Maui Composting Co. is properly handling the sludge composting operation was supposed to come from a professional services budget that has funds available.

In a press release dated Dec. 29, outgoing Maui county Council Chairman Goro Hokama said Thompson indicated he had been directed by the Mayor’s Office to not sign the required form.

Thompson said he was acting on his won and was not ordered by the mayor.

John Murk, a professional engineer whit experience in sludge composting, had been selected by the county council to assess the controversial sludge compost operations at the Central Maui Landfill. The decision to arrange for independent evaluation came after allegations of fraud, worker safely violations, health problems reported by former employees, and the potential public health risks were raised before the council.

Murk flew from California to Maui last week, but didn’t visit the operation because the $4,500 contract never received the finance director’s approval.

Thompson said he had not signed off on the consulting contact because he had $16 million in contracts with expiring funds that needed signature in the last week of 1994, and because he wanted a written legal opinion on whether the county council could hire its own expert. Corporation Counsel J.P. Schmidt had told him verbally the council had acted properly, he said.

Even when he received the written OK, Thompson said he would refer the matter to the new county council to see if it agrees to authorize the contract.

A Jan. 4 letter to the council from Thompson and Mayor Linda Crockett Lingle states “It is my understanding that the State Department of Health had retained independent consultants to evaluate the (co-composting) process. The expenditure of county funds for additional evaluation appears to be redundant.”

In fact, the Department of Health has never contracted for an independent review of the project. A recent evaluation by Richard Gertman of the Community Environmental Council was paid for by the Maui Composting Co.

Gertman recommended that more bulking material, such as green waste or paper, be mixed with the sludge to reduce odors. More water is also needed, he said in his report.

“The lack of moisture causes the composting process to stop before it is fully completed,” he wrote. “If the composting process is not fully completed, the dried materials will again begin to compost when they are re-wetted.”

Critics of the project, such as former employee Tony Clow, allege the company has been mismanaged and has mishandled the sludge composting from the beginning. They question if Maui Composting Co. has the expertise to correct the problems causing the strong odors.

Another concern has been the health of employees of Ameron HC&D Maui and others who work near the Maui Composting site.

Some sludge co-composting product has been sold to the community with the state Health Department approval, although questions have been raised about the quality of the product.

Phil Donahue, who heads the landscaping operation for Kea Lani Hotel in Wailea, said the hotel had purchased some compost last year, but discontinued using it because of a “heavy sewage sludge” small when wet.

Although Maui Composting Co.’s contract calls for providing 10 percent of the finished product to the county, the Parks Department so far has not accepted any of it for the parks.

Floyd Miyazono, in charge of landscaping for county parks, said he had been contracted by the company president Tim Gunter but has declined to try out the composted sludge.

“I have been kind of hesitant because I want to make sure it is safe before I use it,” Miyazono said.