Cities and county failed to inspect fire hydrants

An investigation by Matt Dixon of The Villages Daily Sun (The Villages, Fla.) revealed that fire hydrants in Sumter County have not been regularly inspected.   A request for maintenance records by the paper revealed that none existed.  Municipalities county-wide had been under the impression that the county was responsible for the maintenance of fire hydrants.  But County Fire Rescue Chief Bill Gulbrandsen stated, "Sumter County Board of County Commissioners does not own any public water utility system and therefore owns no hydrants. At this time, Sumter County is responsible to inspect no hydrants."  In an effort to rectify the lack of oversight, Joint Planning Agreements for hydrant maintenance are being adopted throughout the county.