He said the government cannot just wait until the last day before figuring out what to do with a public land whose lease has been discontinued.
The government, he added, will end up resorting to “unprofitable options” for such property.
In this time of economic hardship, Manglona said the commonwealth cannot afford to lose any good opportunities coming its way.
“We don’t want the government to be held back (by current investors) until the last day of the lease and left with nothing to do with the property being vacated,” he said.
Manglona, Ind.-Rota, introduced Senate Bill 17-50 during a session on Rota last Friday. The measure will require the Department of Public Lands to publish a request for proposal regarding the lease of public land not less than one year before the expiration of the lease contract.
Citing the now abandoned property occupied by Paupau Hotel on Rota years ago, Manglona said his bill will give the government a year to come up with options for public lands.
This will benefit DPL directly, he added.
If an investor decides not to renew the land lease, he said, “are we just going to look at each other and ask what to do with the property?”
Manglona said there are hotels now whose operators may not renew their leases and the government may be left with no alternatives regarding these public lands.
“We don’t want it to happen to other hotels whose lease contracts with the government are expiring soon,” he said.
Other investors must get the chance to see these hotel properties, he added.
