HomeMy WebLinkAboutI - 09 CVFD CorrespondenceCortlandville Fire District
999 State Route 13, Cortland, NY 13045
Phone: (607) 753-9014
Email: commissionerminutes@cortlandvillefire.org
The Board of Fire Commissioners of the Cortlandville Fire District at a Meeting held on the 21 St
day of February 2023, adopted the following resolution by majority vote:
WHEREAS, early on the Town of Cortlandville lacked a robust municipal fire hydrant system
leading to property owners installing dry hydrants on their property; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Cortlandville since that time has bolstered, increased and continue to
increase their municipal fire hydrant system throughout the town; and
WHEREAS, dry fire hydrants while very inexpensive, require the following maintenance needs
which include but are not limited to maintaining access to these hydrants all year long which
includes removing heavy vegetation during the summer time and snow during the winter time. It
also requires providing a suitable surface for NFPA 1901 compliant pumpers to set up on with
their overall weights averaging forty-five thousand pounds. Piping needs to be inspected for cracks
and degradation of material; and
WHEREAS, it has been the extensive finding, practice and experience of the Cortlandville Fire
District these hydrants prove to be an unreliable water source for water supply and fire suppression
efforts. Once the hydrants are installed, there is no way to adequately inspect the piping that leads
into the water source. The only time this can be accomplished is when the water table is too low
which allows for inspection but if there was to be a fire, there is not sufficient water supply to be
garnered from this hydrant when the water table is so low. Many times the end of the pipes if not
dislodged become clogged with sediment and gravel restricting or allowing for no water to be
drafted. These hydrants also utilize PVC piping that does not hold up well to the fluctuating
environmental conditions of New York State leading to cracking and air leaks which make the
hydrant inoperable; and
WHEREAS, it has been the finding of the Cortlandville Fire District when these hydrants are
needed the most for fire suppression, they do not operate due to one or more of the conditions
listed above nor do they provide the necessary volume of water we require. Hooking into a dry
fire hydrant is a labor intensive event that requires multiple personnel to accomplish. The
Cortlandville Fire District has made it their practice and built it into our fire suppression plans for
municipal fire hydrants to be used when requiring tankers to shuttle water to rural areas of our
District; and
WHEREAS, we have attached pictures of broken dry fire hydrants in the Cortlandville Fire
District to this resolution;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Cortlandville Fire District no longer authorizes
the installation or use of any existing dry fire hydrants. The significant unreliability of these
hydrants poses a severe threat to the health and safety of our firefighters as well as the citizens and
the residents of the public we are sworn to protect.
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Motion to adopt the Resolution made by Commissioner Biviano, Seconded by Commissioner
Alteri.
The Resolution was adopted unanimously.
Dated: February 21, 2023
Courtney L. Metcalf
Secretary
Cortlandville Fire District