February 3, 1981

Commissioners agree to fund fire hydrants in White River

       About 1,900 White River Township homeowners may begin to feel a little safer if a financial commitment for fire hydrant installation receives final approval.  Johnson County Commissioners Russ Ferrill and Jim Long gave their consent Tuesday to use $17,550 in revenue sharing monies for half-payment of the installation of the first 27 hydrants. The appropriation will be subject to discussion at a public hearing March 2 and subsequent state approval. Although he is committed to the hydrant project, Commissioner Bill Ray opposed the use of revenue sharing monies. “I can’t go for this at this present time…I feel revenue sharing needs to go to bridges,” said Ray. Under the agreement with the Indiana Cities Water Company, the utility will absorb $650 of the installation cost for each hydrant or $17,550 for all 27 in 1981. Indiana Cities has plans to install 138 hydrants during the next five years for its un-served customers north of Smith Valley Road. The commissioners made no funding commitment beyond this year, but asked the utility to petition the Public Service Commission for an increase in its hydrant surcharge.  Don Corey, chief engineer for the utility, said customers served by hydrants are charged $1.20 per month for maintenance and other costs. The commissioners suggested the utility could use some of those payments to help offset installation costs in the future years if a higher rate is approved.  Corey explained it could take as long as nine months to get approved for an increase in the fees.  He said any increased surcharge would have to be reduced after the hydrants are paid for.  In other portions of the township, a Bargersville Utilities spokesman said hydrant protection is adequate. “We feel in all our subdivisions we’re in good shape,” said Joe Harrod of Bargersville Utilities.  The municipal water company serves residents south of Smith Valley Road.

        If more hydrants were needed, Harrod explained his utility could not split the cost because it is municipally owned.  Both Indiana Cities and Bargersville Utilities now have rules that require the developer to install hydrants when land improvements are made.  Many White River residents already own homes without nearby fire hydrants.  For more than a year, various White River Township civic groups and the White River Township Fire Department have been working to find a way to install the additional hydrants.  Firefighters said the installation could reduce some insurance rates for homeowners by improving fire protection.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

 

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