[R.O. 2008 § 700.420; R.O. 2007
§ 700.420; Ord. No. 3089 Art. IV § 1, 12-21-1993]
A. Fire Hydrant Use Procedure.
1.
Hydrants shall be operated only by
Fire Protection Districts, the City, personnel authorized by the City
or those persons and/or companies granted a temporary permit to operate
hydrants owned by the City in accordance with these hydrants regulations.
The operation of a hydrant by any unauthorized person and/or company
shall result in impoundment of any hoses, wrenches and/or nozzles
City personnel deemed used in the hydrant operation and/or charges
levied and/or subject to prosecution by the City of O'Fallon.
2.
The authorized hydrant user shall
provide all equipment necessary for hydrant use, including hoses,
control valves and an approved Department of Natural Resources Backflow
Prevention device, plus and other equipment the City deems necessary
for the safe operation of the hydrant.
3.
The City reserves the right to deny
any request for hydrant use for any reason the City believes necessary
to protect the property and/or the best interests of the City.
B. Hydrant Use Permits.
[Ord. No. 6145 § 5, 9-24-2015]
1.
Upon approval, a hydrant user may
purchase a one-day, a fifteen-day or a thirty-day permit.
2.
Purchasers of one-day permit(s) may
purchase multiple quantities of one-day use permits, as approved by
City staff.
3.
Fifteen- and thirty-day use permits
are intended for use on construction projects or developments, as
approved by City staff and shall only be used on hydrants within the
area specified on the permit.
4.
Use of a hydrant without a valid permit shall result in the impoundment of the equipment connected to the hydrant and subject the unauthorized user to the penalties set forth in Section
700.250.
5.
Use of a hydrant without an appropriate backflow prevention device will result in the immediate revocation of the hydrant permit, impoundment of all equipment used in the improper operation of the hydrant, and subject the unauthorized user to the penalties set forth in Section
700.250.
C. Hydrant Use Fees And Charges.
[Ord. No. 6145 § 5, 9-24-2015; Ord.
No. 6879, 2-10-2022]
1.
The fee schedule for unmetered fire
hydrant usage will be as reflected in the City's annual budget under
fees and charges.
2.
For government funded construction
projects only and during warm weather months, a temporary metered
rate may be established by temporarily installing a privately rented/maintained
meter with the following requirements:
a. A customer account will have to be set up with the City.
b. A five hundred dollar ($500.00) deposit shall be provided.
c. The meter sizes allowed will be 1, 1.5 and 2 inch meters only.
d. The monthly base rate for this temporary setup will be two hundred
fifty dollars ($250.00) regardless of the size of meter utilized.
e. The rate for water usage shall be 1.25 times the current ordinance
established rates per one thousand (1,000) gallons.
f. The minimum period for metered fire hydrant usage is two (2) months.
g. At the City's option a fire hydrant meter set up may be provided
instead of allowing the privately rented meter.
h. No connection fee will be assessed with this option.
3.
If a hydrant or any other City infrastructure
is damaged by improper use, the user shall be responsible for all
costs related to the repair of the hydrant or other infrastructure.
4. Unauthorized or improper use of a hydrant shall subject the equipment used to impoundment and subject the unauthorized user to the penalties set forth in Section
700.250.
5. The City may waive or reduce hydrant use permit fees for City maintenance,
improvements, or construction projects.
6. The City reserves the right to develop and implement policies, permits,
and procedures for hydrant operation and amend hydrant use procedures
whenever the City deems necessary.
7.
All hydrant users shall follow the
permit and use procedures and pay the applicable fees as adopted by
the City and as may be amended from time to time.
D. Procedures.
[Ord. No. 6145 § 5, 9-24-2015]
1.
To set up a hydrant use account,
a hydrant permit form shall be filled out and approved by personnel
in the City's Utility Billing Section.
2.
Persons requesting a hydrant use
permit must sign an acknowledgement verifying that all Department
of Natural Resources regulations pertaining to backflow prevention
will be followed when hydrants are used.
3.
Once the account has been established,
hydrant use permits may be obtained by calling the Utility Billing
Section, during regular working hours, stating the location of the
hydrant and the date(s) requested. The permit use fee will be billed
to the account holder.
4.
Requests for fifteen- or thirty-day
permits must specify the purpose and the specific area for the permit
(e.g., project limits, subdivision, etc.). Once fees have been paid,
and the permit issued, any hydrant within the specified area may be
used during the permit period. At the end of the permit period, the
permits become invalid. Another permit must be purchased for continued
use of hydrants in the specified area.
5.
City personnel will randomly inspect
for proper use and damages to hydrants.