The Lake Orion Village Council had hoped their tactics would get the OrionTownship Board to reevaluate a fire hydrant maintenance agreement, but it looks like they won’t get their wish.
The council did not approve the agreement on July 10, and wanted the board to review their reasons at an upcoming meeting.
On July 31, the matter came up at the end of the township board meeting, with the board ultimately deciding to take the issue into a subcommittee.
That committee, made up of Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk, Treasurer Alice Young and trustee Matt Gibb, met with Orion Fire Chief Jeff Key on Aug 4.
Though village officials said payment and enforcement mechanisms were their biggest reasons for not signing the agreement (as reported in the July 19 Review), township officials said having working hydrants was the top priority for all involved.
‘This is a health, safety and wellness issue,? Dywasuk said. ‘Some of those hydrants have some major problems.?
‘We’re not against the village,? he added.
Key echoed those thoughts, saying the township and village have been working with each other better than recent events may indicate.
‘Working with the village over the last few years, we have been able to reduce the number of unfunctional hydrants,? Key said. ‘We’ve come a long way on this issue since the late 1990’s.?
Dywasuk said Key’s report last year showed that out of 186 hydrants in the village, over half needed some type of service. Thirty were deemed ‘unusable.?
Dywasuk said at the end of this June, Key’s report listed 17 hydrants as ‘unusable.?
‘I have to depend on my department heads,? Dywasuk said. ‘Jeff’s first concern is the safety of the community,?
Key said progress has been made and is hoping the last few hydrants can be repaired.
‘Our concern is the same as it’s always been,? he said, ‘that the hydrants are up to standard.?
The subcommittee was instructed to report back to the board by their Sept. 5 meeting.
‘Hopefully, we can put this whole issue to rest,? Key said.