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Private land owner wants property back from CUC
The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. board vowed yesterday to resolve at once the concern raised by resident Conrad Sablan, the heir of a private property upon which a facility of the utilities agency is currently located.
Sablan said it’s been awhile since his family has been communicating with CUC over a 9,400-square meter property where CUC’s Maui water tank and related fences are located.
During yesterday’s public comment period, Sablan said the property was inherited from his father who died sometime in 1988. The title to the land was completed and obtained only just last year, he added.
“I believe this property is owned by my father even before the war. My desire is not to receive any compensation [or land exchange] but a termination/waiver from CUC,” Sablan said.
According to CUC legal counsel James Sirok, when the utilities corporation started constructing its facilities on the property, this was described as an agricultural homestead based on the 1988 mapping.
CUC officials said yesterday that, although they do not question or dispute Sablan’s claim to the land as this is supported by documentation, there remains a need to find pertinent records related to the parcels of land and the construction of utility facilities on the site.
According to Sablan, he’s been patiently working with CUC on the issue and has no intention of elevating the matter to the court.
“Honestly, I am not interested in suing CUC, but to settle this matter amicably with the agency,” he told the board, adding that he recognizes the too many issues now being handled by the agency and additional burden from his family is not the best way to resolve the longstanding issue.
After hearing the heir’s plight, CUC board chair David J. Sablan instructed CUC management and its legal counsel Sirok to further research the issue.
In the case certain documents or related materials are nowhere to be found, the board chairman hinted that CUC will then develop an “agreement” between parties which will stipulate the waiving of rights to elevate the matter/claim to the courts.
