Pine Haven council looks to hydrant safety

Without having been able to secure an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant last month, Pine Haven's council has been discussing installing the most-needed hydrants on Boe Drive and another location before they reapply for the rest of the anticipated 15 throughout town.

Mayor Karla Brandenburg informed her council at Tuesday morning's workshop of her concern about timing, though, saying, "We'll probably have to wait until spring to do these fire hydrants... but, we need to install the hydrants on Boe Drive."

Councilman Don Lancaster agreed, stating, "If we go in there and do that [now], it's going to involve having that pipe exposed for a while and I really don't think winter time's a good time to do it; I think spring would be far better."

According to Public Works Director Sunny Schell, there are a couple of working hydrants in the vicinity that can be accessed in the event of an emergency until then.

Lancaster, who is the fire department liaison, said that when that department discussed the matter, they concluded, "Between the two, we won't have any problem getting hooked up, should we need it."

So the situation for Boe Drive is currently considered stable, but council wants to move forward with plans to install two hydrants along that roadway in the spring.

The cost for each hydrant is estimated at approximately $8233 along with two town-owned refurbished hydrants and the town plans to fund the Boe Drive plus one expense from the infrastructure budget to the amount of $24,700.

Pine Haven's council is saving the approximately $95,000 from the previous ARPA grant received as a match in the near future, making the funds reach farther and cover the entire community when the town is again recommended for funding.

Schell will call the town supplier to hold the three currently on hand and the council will move to spend the $24,700 to purchase them at their next meeting on Tuesday, December 13.