Conway staff proposes shifting private fire‑hydrant maintenance costs to property owners

City staff told the Conway City Council during a Nov. 17 workshop that the city may stop routine maintenance of private fire hydrants on private/commercial property and instead require owners to carry out annual testing and maintenance.

Ted Dudley, public‑utilities staff, said the city currently maintains a number of hydrants that sit on private property and that shifting maintenance responsibility would reduce the city’s financial burden while retaining the city’s compliance inspections. Dudley estimated roughly 50–65 private hydrants would be affected and said typical owner costs would be "a few hundred dollars" for routine maintenance, with higher repair costs only if major components fail. Staff emphasized that compliance inspections would continue and that notification language would be reviewed by the city attorney before letters are mailed to property owners.

Council members asked practical questions about inspection periods and how the change would compare with other compliance checks (for example, required fire‑extinguisher service). Staff said owners would be given a reasonable cure period (30 days) to complete required repairs and that the city’s role would shift to enforcement of maintenance rather than carrying the financial burden. Council indicated general support for staff to proceed with legal review and follow‑up communications.