Bethany Council Updated On Fire Department’s Communication With Gilman City Fire Department
Bethany’s Board of Aldermen continued their discussion held over from their last December meeting regarding responsibility for utility line locations and the Bethany Fire Department’s relationship with the Gilman City Fire Department during Tuesday’s meeting.
City Administrator Jacob Taylor reported to council members that the city does not have a set policy designating the responsibility for locating utility lines. There are now plans to create and add one now to the city’s current ordinance. The current ordinance only specifies that the city has no responsibility for the inspection, repair, or maintenance of water pipe and equipment if it is on the customer’s side of the point of delivery. Later in the discussion, Administrator Taylor stated that the city may look into a long-term plan to change out water meters which are currently located inside residential dwellings. The cost for that project will require the city to change out meters each year for a period of years. It will also require money to be budgeted for the project. The city has just started a new fiscal year.
Bethany Fire Chief Jacob Denum attended the meeting to update the council on attempts to communicate with the Gilman City Fire Department regarding concerns regarding the Fire District’s Mutual Aid Agreement. In December, council members received concerns of the response rate by the Gilman City Fire Department for fires which are in their own district in which the Bethany Fire Department provides mutual aid. Chief Denum told council members there have been instances when the Bethany Fire Department has been dispatched for mutual aid for a fire within the Gilman City Fire Department territory and has not been notified that the fire had already been subdued. He says a County Fire Chiefs meeting recently held was not attended by representatives of the Gilman City Fire Department. City Administrator Taylor plans to contact a representative of the Gilman City Fire Department prior to the next Bethany council meeting.
The two incumbents up for election were the only candidates to sign up for new terms on Bethany’s City Council. Dan Robertson and Randy Mann both signed up for two-year terms.
