New hydrant goes in ahead of fire hall concrete

Things were busy at the corner of Third and Broadway Streets Tuesday as city workers installed a new fire hydrant. Public Works Supt. Pat Davison said the hydrant there hadn’t been operational for a long time, so it was decided to replace it ahead of the concrete going in for the new fire hall location in the background. He said they completed the installation about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday after a leak had to be dealt with late afternoon. Fire Chief Doug Mitchell said all five new overhead doors have been installed and new coded locks are also in. Members of the Imperial Volunteer Fire Department (IVFD) have also been tearing out drywall and walls that will allow conversion of two offices into a kitchen area. All of the concrete—a length of 140 feet—from the new doors to the street will be completely torn out and replaced, Mitchell said. The IVFD estimates a move to the new site by the end of May.