Fire hydrant causes 'fire works'

Work of relocating a fire hydrant on Main Street has stopped temporarily, but there were fireworks while the work was continuing.

City officials decided to move the fire plug up the street to a "safer location," after it had been knocked off by a car during the early morning hours of March 1. The car slid out of control because of ice on the street.

The hydrant, which is located near the entrance to O.K. Tire Store's alignment room, has been knocked off before, at least once by vehicles going in or out of the alignment or tire changing room.

City Director of Public Works Max Rich proposed that O.K. Tire owner Jim Storey help with the cost of moving the hydrant, since the entrance to his alignment room would be improved. Storey, however, turned Rich down.

"I asked the city two years ago if the fire hydrant could be moved, but Rich said no," Storey said. So, when Rich came around this time, "I told them they'd have to do it without my help."

Rich said the hydrant pre-dates the tire store building by many years, so the city was under no obligation to move the hydrant.

But the disagreement is not the only problem. Water was turned off for a time when the hydrant cutoff valve was moved and some local businesses were not notified. Dr. Scott Smith was forced to cancel several dental appointments because his equipment is water cooled.

Another problem was that dirt was piled in front of the front end alignment room. Storey said that the city crew started digging with no warning, so a pickup truck belonging to the state was "trapped" inside. State employees helped doze the dirt Thursday afternoon so they could get to the pickup.

Work is stopped at this time until another valve is located, Rich said.