Photo by Joselyn King Ohio County Commission President Randy Wharton presides over Tuesday night’s commission meeting.

WHEELING — Fire hydrants in Ohio County are in need of regular maintenance, and that is a concern for the county’s fire chiefs.

Valley Grove Fire Chief John Gearry, also the new president of the Ohio County Fire Chiefs Association, addressed county commissioners Tuesday night on the issue of making sure the county’s hydrants operate properly.

The Ohio County Public Service District oversees 624 fire hydrants and “at least 20 are absolutely not working,” according to Commission President Randy Wharton.

“It is something that has been on my radar for quite a while,” Gearry said of fire hydrant maintenance. “I recently attended some PSD meetings. I can’t speak for them, but I think they share my concern.

“From my analysis, there is a lack of resources (among volunteer fire departments) to take on the size of the project there needs to happen to get us to where we need to be.”

The work is going to take additional money and people to check out each of the fire hydrants, Gearry explained.

“I don’t think we are in such dire straits that the entire system is a failure, but we really need to address this now. It has gone on for quite some time,” he said.

Gearry suggested a short-term plan needs to be put in place to identify which hydrants aren’t working properly, and to make plans to get those hydrants repaired.

After this, a long-term plan for continuing maintenance is needed, he said.

A consultant is needed to come in to examine the county’s hydrants, or a designated committee needs to be formed to research matters pertaining to them, according to Gearry. He said it is recommended the valves and water flow for each hydrant be tested at least twice a year.

It is becoming even more important the hydrants work properly as more and more volunteer fire departments no longer have tanker trucks to provide water when needed to fight a fire. There are only three tanker trucks among fire departments in Ohio County, Gearry said.

Wharton said fire service fee dollars in the county could be used to address any immediate hydrant needs. He said there is also $8.03 million in federal dollars coming to the county through the most recent COVID relief package that could be put toward hydrants.

“Water and sewage is a no-brainer on that,” Wharton said. “We don’t even have to check with anybody on that.”

The commission next meets at 6 p.m. April 6 at the City-County Building, 1500 Chapline St., Wheeling.