Tampa rejects $690K hydrant inspection contract
TAMPA -- The City Council today rejected a $690,000 contract with a company to inspect the city's fire hydrants.
Council members said the city's water department should try to do the work.
Last year, an audit revealed that the city had fallen far behind on hydrant inspections.
Water department officials say their staffers spend most of their time repairing and replacing old water pipes and don't have time to inspect hydrants.
- Janet Zink, Times staff writer


For once we read a story of government doing its job. I hope this sort of sensibility will spread to the other local councils and commissioners around Tampa Bay. It's not a head scratching moment, take two or three of the four guys who are standing around watching the two guys who are actually working and put them to use!
Posted by: Don Mott | March 06, 2008 at 01:50 PM
let's remember this when someone is killed in a fire, a non-working hydrant blamed and the city is sued for millions. that $690k is going to seem like a bargain.
Posted by: sarah | March 06, 2008 at 05:08 PM
Tampa rejects 690K hydrant contract.
Recently, I had the hydrant in front of my house checked by the St. Pete Fire Dept. (It is one of the FEW things I think St Pete does right) The crew leader said that they perform these checks as time permits. Hey TFD, what about you guys???
Posted by: Bob | March 06, 2008 at 06:23 PM