RESOLUTION NO. RS2009-792

A resolution expressing the Metropolitan Council’s desire that additional fire hydrants be installed in the older subdivisions of the General Services District portion of District 14 to improve fire protection for the homeowners and fire fighters of the area.

WHEREAS, the Hermitage community represents the second fastest growing suburb of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County; and

WHEREAS, the state-ordered takeover of the water services in the Hermitage community by the Water Services Department was finalized on June 25, 2003; and

WHEREAS, the takeover included a number of capital upgrade projects to the water/sewer infrastructure serving the Hermitage community; and

WHEREAS, Project No. 99-WG-85 laid a 36” Water Main from the K.R. Harrington Water Plant in Donelson east to Hickory Hill Lane in Hermitage; and

WHEREAS, the 36” Water Main is adequate to improve the water services for the Hermitage community; and

WHEREAS, Metropolitan Nashville adopted a policy in 1988 that required private developers to install fire hydrants as a condition for the approval of new development; and

WHEREAS, there remain three (3) residential subdivisions in District 14 that were built prior to the adoption of this policy; and

WHEREAS, the Hermitage Hills subdivision (1959-65) includes 1,327 homes, but is serviced by only 21 fire hydrants representing a 1:63 fire hydrant to home ratio; and

WHEREAS, the Stones River Estates subdivision (1961) includes 47 homes, but is serviced by only 2 fire hydrants representing a 1:24 fire hydrant to home ratio; and

WHEREAS, the Dodson Heights subdivision (1960-66) includes 138 homes, but is serviced by only three fire hydrants representing a 1:46 fire hydrant to home ratio; and

WHEREAS, employees of the Metro Fire Department have informed Members of Council about the adverse impacts fire fighters face when fighting fires in subdivisions that have an extremely low number of fire hydrants and have inadequate access to water to extinguish fires; and

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council recently enacted Ordinance No. BL2009-407, which provided an increase in water and sewer rates, in part to address the capital needs of the Department of Water and Sewerage Services; and

WHEREAS, it is important to install additional fire hydrants in the Hermitage community to improve access to reliable water sources for area fire fighters to extinguish fires and enhance the residential environment of the older subdivisions in the General Services District portion of District 14.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record as expressing its desire that additional fire hydrants be installed in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2009-2010 in the older subdivisions within the General Services District portion of District 14.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a certified copy of this Resolution to Mayor Karl Dean, to Metro Water Services Director Scott Potter, and to Fire Chief Stephen Halford.

Section 3. That this Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Bruce Stanley