(A) No person, except a duly authorized municipal employee, the municipal engineers, or agent of the municipality when acting in accordance with municipal responsibilities and with consent of the Village Administrator, or a member of the Village Fire Department shall open any fire hydrant except in accordance with the procedure hereinafter provided.
(B) Any person wishing to open a fire hydrant, except as provided in division (A) hereof, shall obtain permission from the Village Administrator in advance. This permission shall be on a written form supplied by the Village Administrator which shall specify the name and address of the applicant, the time, date, location, purpose, and length of time the hydrant shall be open and such other information as the Village Administrator shall require.
(C) Any member of the Village Fire Department may open any municipal fire hydrant provided that the opening of such hydrants is part of duly authorized fire departmental training exercises or in the act of maintaining or testing, flowing or flushing of the hydrant. Further, notice of such training exercises must be given by the Fire Chief to the Village Administrator at least one week prior to such flowing, flushing or testing exercises along with a list of the areas within the municipality where such activity is to take place. A duly authorized Fire Department training exercise is understood to mean an exercise authorized by the Fire Chief. There is no fee assessed by the municipality for such opening or for water used.
(D) The minimum fee for opening a fire hydrant shall be $25 provided that the Village Administrator shall have the authority to collect an additional fee equal to the retail cost of the water used in those situations where in excess of $25 of water is consumed.
(E) The applicant shall be responsible for any damage to persons or property attributable to the opening of any hydrant and shall hold the municipal harmless therefrom.
(F) The Village Administrator shall be authorized to refuse permission to open a hydrant when weather or water supply conditions make it inappropriate.
(Am. Ord. 2013-35, passed 1-6-14)
Cross-reference:
Malicious interference with fire hydrant, see § 51.31