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After a hydrant was struck, Cornish council weighs who pays for repairs
Summary
A vehicle reportedly struck a fire hydrant in town, prompting replacement and discovery of an unrecorded mainline valve; council discussed splitting repair labor and parts costs with the driver and noted additional standpipe extension work is needed.
Council members discussed recent water-main work after a fire hydrant was struck and broken, an incident the public-works lead described as caused when a driver hit the hydrant. The crew found an 8-inch valve on the mainline that was not on the town schematic, replaced the hydrant and repaired the pipe; additional work remains to extend standpipes that sit deep below grade.
"Paul Wainscott hit that, hydrant, busted the hydrant off," the public-works speaker said when recounting the incident. Crews struggled to shut the valve during repairs and had to chip cement and replace a section of the mainline; the contractor later re-dug a buried section after a leak was observed and corrected without charge for that re-work, the speaker reported.
Council members discussed cost allocation. One council member recommended that the driver should pay for the hydrant and possibly a portion of labor costs; others observed the town might also bear part of the expense because the valve and other replacements were likely needed eventually. Staff said they will request a bill from the contractor (VCs) and return with a detailed invoice for council consideration.
The council did not make a final determination on the allocation of costs at this meeting and asked staff to obtain the full billing details and consider whether the town should seek partial reimbursement.
