Fire chief: Hillsboro hydrants a danger to community
Hillsboro — Faulty fire hydrants pose a serious danger in Hillsboro, according to fire chief Charlie Wilfong.
Wilfong urged council to take action during its May 11 meeting.
"There hasn't been anything done since our last conversation and that's why I'm following up with this," he said. "We need to get a tentative schedule set up and follow through with that because - if we don't do it - I'll make a couple phone calls and it will get done - and you won't like it."
A "dry barrel" fire hydrant is designed so that water drains from the top part of the hydrant when the water is turned off, ensuring the hydrant does not freeze in cold weather.
Wilfong said some of the town's hydrants do not drain properly and froze last winter, rendering them inoperative. The chief said the hydrants need immediate attention while the weather is warm.
"I need to know what we're going to do," he said. "My men are on me - they want it corrected. People in the community are finding out about it. If that hydrant down on the corner doesn't work and your house catches on fire - who's going to answer to that? I'm not."
Councilmember James Johnson said clogged drain holes might be the cause of the problem and suggested a method to blow out the holes with water.
Wilfong said the problem could be insufficient or improper backfill when the hydrants were installed.
Johnson said it would be very expensive if the town had to excavate to fix the hydrants.
"I would like us to make sure that we spend some time to see if we can get them opened to save an enormous amount of money," he said. "If we have to start digging them up - which we may have to - it's going to be very expensive. If we get into six or eight hydrants and we have to refit them, it's going to be a huge expense."
Johnson and Mayor Anne Walker agreed to meet with town maintenance foreman Larry Simmons on May 14 to begin inspection, maintenance and evaluation of the hydrants, starting with the hydrants in most need of repair.
Council voted to join the West Virginia Rural Water Association (RWA), at a cost of $75 per year.
Johnson recommended that the town join the association and informed council that membership would have advantages, including free smoke testing of the town's drainage system, if the town purchased smoke bombs. The RWA would provide personnel and blowers to complete the tests.
Council concurred with Johnson's recommendation and voted unanimously to join the RWA.
Council voted to solicit verbal bids from CPAs to prepare the town's annual sewer and water financial reports. Treasurer Sandy Simmons said she had spoken with the state purchasing department, who informed her verbal bids were allowed for amounts less than $5,000.
Walker proposed the town contract with George Gladwell to supervise community corrections workers performing community service work. Walker explained the workers do not need to be "micromanaged" but require some supervision.
Gladwell currently does mowing for the town under a separate contract. Walker suggested the contractor be paid an additional $25 per day for supervising the workers, or $75 per day if he provides equipment.
Council tabled the issue until the June meeting. Walker will investigate ethics implications because Gladwell is the husband of councilmember Sandy Gladwell.
Walker administered the oath of office to newly appointed town recorder Gail Hyer. Hyer then administered the mayor's oath of office to Walker. Council appointed Walker as acting mayor in January after the resignation of Richard Workman.
In other business, council:
- conducted an executive session to discuss information on individual sewer and water accounts.
- passed two resolutions necessary to apply for the West Virginia Energy Efficiency Block Grant. The grant can provide up to $33,000 to improve energy efficiency at town-owned facilities.
The next meeting of the Hillsboro town council is scheduled for June 8, 7:30 p.m. at the Hillsboro Library meeting room.