March 3, 1981

Technicality halts plans for fire hydrants

       A plan to provide partial funding for fire hydrants in White River Township with federal revenue sharing money has fallen through because of a ruling by the State Board of Tax Commissioners.  The Johnson County Commissioners had set aside $17,550 on Feb 17 to fund half the cost of the first 27 hydrants out of 138 planned for installation in the northern part of the township.  Indiana Cities Water Company had agreed to pay for t half of the installation costs.  But, during a hearing on Monday to appropriate the revenue sharing money, Commissioners President Russ Ferrill told White River residents at the meeting that the state would not allow the county to subsidize a project by a private company such as Indiana Cities. Ferrill said any money paid by the county would have to be paid back. The employee of the State Board who made the original determination was not available for comment today, although another representative at his office said that as a general rule, county officials have to approve projects on a countywide basis,  rather than for a specific area.  “The state said that if we were going to install fire hydrants in the entire county and this were the beginning of the project, they’d see no problem,”  said Ferrill, who, along with Jim Long, voted in favor of the measure.  Ferrill represents the middle third of the county, including White River Township.  Bill Ray voted against the proposal.  Long said “Today he was bothered by the fact that some people in the county see the commissioners’ interest in fire hydrants for White River Township as preferential treatment. “Nearly everything we do tends to favor one area over another.” Long said. “It’s not logical for projects to be rejected on that basis.”  The hydrant proposal originally had been brought to the commissioners, by members the White River Township Coalition, a citizens group.  Coalition President Ron Deaton, who was present at the meeting Monday, agreed with Long’s assessment of the situation. “You have to put fire hydrants where people are,” Deaton said. “I can’t understand their reluctance to spend money where the people are.”  Deaton said his group’s next move probably will be to contact Township Trustee Robert Kelso. While saying the commissioners could not enter into an agreement with a private company, Ferrill said that as trustee, Kelso could work with Indiana Cities because he represents a specific area.  Kelso was not available for comment this morning, although Deaton said he would be contacting him soon.  “It’s frustrating that the county can get us the, but then we can’t use it because of a technicality,” Deaton said.  According to officials at Indiana Cities Water, installation cost for each hydrant is $1,300 with the company and the county each picking up a $650 tab. The utility serves almost all of White River Township north of Smith Valley Road.  According to company officials, about 1,900 homes in the county’s largest township are without hydrant service.  Until a recent rule was adopted by the Public Service Commission, developers were not required to install fire hydrants when building a subdivision. From now on, however, the developer will have to assume the cost in any areas served by Indiana Cities. A similar requirement was adopted in the early 1970’s by Bargersville Utilities, which serves most homes south of Smith Valley Road.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

 

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