The Calhoun County Commission held a special meeting concerning the County Water Service Maintenance with the latest concerns regarding the operation of county water hydrants and local fire service.
Commissioners Craig Arthur, Jacob McCumbers and Eric Lupardus began the discussion with local residents and agencies regarding what needs to be done to insure adequate fire protection.
The meeting was somewhat highjacked by City residents, Mayor and Council when Grantsville resident Gayle Ford requested action by the County Commission on the issues of dilapidated structures, indisposed of trash and the noise levels in City Limits. Commissioner Lupardus said that he had spoken with Mr. Ford on several occasions about the creation of County Ordinances but they are sill in the beginning of the discussion. As for matters of the City, the County is limited as to what actions they can take.
Mayor Robert Petrovsky updated Mr. Ford that the issue of trash for which Ford was concerned about, was in the process of being remedied by a resident who had gotten a dumpster delivered to clean up the property of concern.
Grantsville Councilwoman Rissa Staples spoke to those in attendance saying that “This is not the County we want people to see. Leaders should find a better way in dealing with matters than on social media.” She accused those complaining of having never reached out to her about their complaints.
Mr. Ford informed her that he took care of his complaints at the City Council meeting and that he didn’t even know who she was.
Mayor Petrovsky added that this all goes back to being a good neighbor.
With regard to the meeting subject matter, the Mayor informed the County Commission that Chad Drennen and John were considered “experts on the hydrants”, many of which were grandfathered in. The City has many hydrants on 4 inch lines, and some that are on two inch lines which are for blowoff purposes only and not to be used for fires.” He further said that “It took an emergency to peak any interest in the matter. Grantsville is not the only town in West Virginia struggling, we are an antiquated system.” The Mayor believes the Town of Grantsville has been very accommodating, having been audited multiple times, and himself being criticized and “called every name in the book” because people don’t want to talk. Although he acknowledged that the County had to bail the Town of Grantsville out of unpaid bills in the amount of $39,000 dollars, he said the accusations that they had used funding improperly for the City park was unfounded. According to him, all funding for the park came from monies that could only be used for that purpose and not out of the general fund or other funds which had been suggested.
Water plant operator Chad Drennen told the Commission that they were getting part ordered in for the system but were having an issue finding the hydrant tools to repair current hydrants. Hydrant tools differ depending upon the year the hydrant was made and the company that made it. He has reached out to Gilmer County to borrow their tool for the present time.
Carl Brannon, Fire Chief of Grantsville, asked the City officials present what the “City Service Fee” was being used for if it was slated for Fire and Police. Mayor Petrovsky responded by saying that the City Service Fee was never intended to be given to the police or fire agencies but was to be used for city matters including fire and police as well as covering general expenses such as mowing fees, etc.
He was then asked if the town should not at least help with fire and have a police department.
Petrovsky’s answer was that the City could not make wages competitive in order to hire an officer.
Jason Wilson, director of the Ambulance Service of Minnie Hamilton Health System responded by phone saying that he was worried about the resident safety and the fire departments. His concern was whether or not the 1066 gallon per minutes required for adequately fighting a fire was available in the City limits and if not how do we protect the flow rates.
WSRB uses flow tests to determine the amount of available water in a water system at 20 psi residual pressure. The amount of available water is then compared to the water required to suppress fires in selected buildings during our protection class rating of a community.
The basic premise behind the tests is to “discharge water at a measured rate of flow from the system at a given location and observe the corresponding pressure drop in the mains.”
Each flow test collects information on three different forms of pressure:
- Static pressure – water main pressure under normal, non-flowing conditions
- Residual pressure – water main pressure when water is flowing
- Pitot pressure – the flow pressure at the outlet(s) of the flowing fire hydrant(s)
Additionally, flow tests allow communities to accurately color-code their fire hydrants, providing firefighters with the water-flow capabilities of each individual fire hydrant. Here is a list of what each fire hydrant color represents:
The County plans to address this by working on getting the hydrants across the county painted the appropriate colors.
- Red indicates a water-flow capacity of less than 500 gpm
- Orange indicates a water-flow capacity of 500 to 999 gpm
- Green indicates a water-flow capacity of 1,000 to 1,499 gpm
- Blue indicates a water-flow capacity of 1,500 or greater gpm
When Ridgeview News asked the Town of Grantsville what method of testing they used, a Hydrant Meter or the “Pitot Pressure”, Chad Drennen said that although he used the Hydrant meter, he could do it in a way that did not restrict flow. That restriction of flow would give a false read on actual water pressure lessening the amount reported which was a part of the concern of this meeting. But Drennen did not think that was an issue.
Ridgeview News also asked the Grantsville Fire Department Chief if they attempted to use available and accessible meters on Main Street directly below the house fire of issue. Chief Brannon said that they did not because they did not want to have to stretch fire hose across the Route 5 highway and damage hose. The department did have (although some were unaware) hose bridges that allowed vehicles to cross a fire hose without putting pressure on the hose. Ridgeview also asked if the 911 CAD system did not have the ability to provide the nearest hydrant information as a part of the fire dispatching so that the fire fighters on scene were aware of their nearest connection.
Commissioner Jacob McCumbers said that he thought they had that capability.
Ridgeview’s suggestion was the County as a whole do the best with what they have by insuring that everyone has, and uses the tools on hand.
Much of this issue could have been resolved by our community communicating better, working cohesively, understanding the missing components of our emergency system and filling those gaps properly.
Local Resident Bruce Jones said it best when he said “We’re like a band, a band is only as good as it’s worst member.”
Overall, Ridgeview News considers this one of the best meetings yet. Once everyone got on the right meeting conversation, everyone was willing to step up and do that part. It was exciting to see a positive action in the community change the attitudes and quiet some concerns, while raising appropriate awareness to others.
What was accomplished?
- The matter of hydrants was addressed
- Action is being taken on meter Water Pressure readings
- The City and PSD’s will be mapping their systems to show the location of hydrants
- The location of those hydrants will be input into the 911 CAD system (and may already be)
- Dispatchers will be informed to provide hydrant locations on fire calls to the fire departments they’re dispatching.
