Quincy imposes temporary no‑burn order; council approves staged hydrant testing and small equipment purchases

Quincy council members on Sept. 17 approved a temporary no‑burn order and several fire‑safety measures after a report from Jeremy Barthauer, Quincy‑Miami Township Fire Chief. Barthauer told the council that statewide drought conditions and existing burn bans raised the risk that pit fires or sparks could ignite dry grass and fields. Council voted to enact a no‑burn order for the village "for the protection of the community."

Barthauer reported the department’s recent ISO inspection found missing records for five to seven years of maintenance and hydrant pressure testing. He proposed the department perform hydrant flushing and pressure tests and recommended purchasing a diffuser adapter for gauge testing (estimated $650–$700). Administrator Mike Weber cautioned against flushing all hydrants at once because unused valves and aging lines could fail under sudden stress; the council approved a staged approach, completing two hydrants before the end of October and scheduling additional work in 2025.

Council also approved a $285 purchase of a Storz fitting so the department’s hoses will adapt to new hydrants. Barthauer and Weber discussed equipment procurement details and tax‑exempt purchasing procedures with Fiscal Officer Sandra Ward. The council recorded those actions by verbal vote and instructed the department to proceed with the prioritized tests and purchases. The fire‑safety items were presented as operational, not budgetary, constraints; no additional levies were proposed at the meeting.