NOBODY TALKING DOWN AT CITY HALL

Remember back in August when the fire at the Red Thread and beyond was happening? What you did not know was that it was a Keystone Cop event with flummoxed firemen, amateur electricians, and God intervening by not allowing strong winds. Believe it or not the nearest fire hydrant had no water. Another on Main had about five gallons and pooped out. Fortunately another on Main saved the day and perhaps a few buildings. On top of all that they couldn’t shut off the electricity or get to the switches to get power back to many nearby buildings. An attempt to get inside the Red Thread, hopefully to shut off the power, was thwarted because someone had changed the lock and a man who had the right key did not. ApparentlyAndy Damiani offered a crowbar but just then a man tried his key for the hell and it worked. The huge plates on the sidewalk, and entrance to underground electric cutoffs were too heavy to lift without a forklift, not one was handy. Both the City Manager and Debbie George, according to onlookers were running around like headless chickens, doing their best to help and save the city from embarrassment. We heard today that reporters from the local papers would write about the comedy but as yet can’t find anyone at City Hall that will talk. The city knows there are old water mains that could lead to fire hydrant problems. The fire was in August but it took to October to dig up the one by Red Thread. Testing others would be good for some of that surplus $$.