| Like most city residents, the pastor
of Bethel AME Church assumed that fire hydrants would work when needed. I never paid the
fire hydrants any attention, the Rev. Alphonse Allen said. Now that he knows there are
162 that wont deliver water, however, he and others want to see how the city goes about
fixing them.
Its still yet to be seen which neighborhoods get the new hydrants first, the Rev. Allen
said. We as a church will be watching. He questioned what system, if any, will be used to
set priorities for the repair work. He wondered if more affluent neighborhoods be at the
top of the list.
The city on Monday hired Linde Enterprises to begin replacing dead hydrants at a rate
of 16 a day beginning Thursday.
Tricia Kunz, 650 Adams Ave., didnt know until she read the list in Saturdays paper that
faulty hydrants stand like unarmed soldiers in the 400 and 500 blocks of her street.
Im hoping the city will do something about it, said Miss Kunz, mother of a toddler. It
doesnt concern me too badly because my apartments first floor and all one floor. God
forbid, if something did happen, Im able to get out. It concerns me as far as my stuff
would be gone.
Trish Pettus, 506 Adams Ave., said she hasnt closely followed the news about the citys
nonworking fire hydrants. She wasnt sure if theres adequate fire protection right now, but
she said a city the size of Scranton shouldnt have so many dead hydrants.
Of course Im concerned, like any good citizen, said Jim Hosie, an East Scranton
resident who was walking through the Midtown Apartments on his way to work Monday
afternoon. Im concerned that people can be ticketed for parking near them and they may not
even work. |
