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Resident urges Mills to remove 1963 hydrant in driveway and fix patched Pindell main before failure
Summary
A Mills resident told the council a 1963 fire hydrant in his driveway and a long-running 'band-aid' repair on Pindell risk a costly winter failure; public works staff said the hydrant was last used in 2016 and acknowledged the area is aging but budget limits delay major fixes.
Scott Clamp, a resident who identified himself as living at 720–725 Wasatch, told the Mills council the town needs to remove a 1963 low-volume fire hydrant that sits in the middle of his driveway and to fix a temporary repair on the nearby Pindell main before it fails. "This hydrant is a 1963 low volume fire hydrant...I need it gone," Clamp said during public comment, adding that prior promises of grant-funded removal had not materialized.
Clamp told the council he has noticed repeated asphalt patches and he fears a sudden break in the main would occur in winter, causing damage to nearby sewer lines and buildings. He described the repair near Pindell as a "band aid" placed years ago and warned the town that postponing a permanent fix would increase costs and risk property damage.
Casey, a public-works staff member who addressed the council, said the hydrant sits on one of the town's oldest pipelines and that a repair clamp is in place near the hydrant. Casey said the hydrant was last accessed in 2016 and that older hydrants sometimes require capping or replacement because they can be difficult to operate. "It is something that will need to be replaced, or removed from service at some point in time," Casey said.
Staff noted the town prioritizes permanent asphalt and infrastructure work in higher-traffic areas because budgets are limited and that lower-traffic residential streets typically receive cold patch repairs now. Council members asked to receive the packet the town submitted for congressional funding so residents and council can see the scope of planned work; a council member said Representative Hageman has supported a phase of work with about $1,000,000 in past congressional sessions, while council discussion described the broader Lower Mills infrastructure need as roughly $5,000,000 in planning estimates.
The exchange ended with the council agreeing to share the submitted packet and to invite further discussion about phasing and potential repairs, while staff reiterated that an on-site inspection and permanent design work would be required before a full replacement.
