Hydrant Hit in Council

On June 8th, a driver hit the metal pipes surrounding the fire hydrant in front of the Council Museum. One of the pipes got stuck under the driver’s vehicle, but a man passing by was able to help the driver get her vehicle off the pipe. The fire hydrant was plowed over and Danna Barnhart, who is on the Council Museum Board, and who happened to see the entire accident, ran to the post office, and asked them to call 911, fearing that water would soon be spraying everywhere.

Sheriff deputies arrived and wrote up a report; water never sprayed because the hydrants are designed to withstand such an accident, but Barnhart said she believes this is at least the fourth time someone has hit the metal pipes surrounding the hydrant, and she would like to have it moved. She said vehicles pulling trailers often make too tight of a turn and hit the pipes meant to protect the hydrant.

Initially, she had planned to get on next month’s city council agenda, but instead she spoke with Council Public Works Supervisor Caleb Shumway who explained that the city does not have the equipment that would be needed to get through the solid rock in that location. He said that he hoped that it might be possible, as part of next year’s large water project, to have the hydrant moved at that time.

For now, the hydrant is not usable, but Shumway said he would speak with the fire chief to determine whether it would be usable again and, he said he would consider installing a stronger hydrant protector.