Martinsville City Council held its regular meeting at 7pm on Wednesday, January 14 at City Hall. Council member Wendy Isbell was absent, due to vacation.
Public Comment
Robert Maxwell, Secretary of the Martinsville Fire Protection District Board of Trustees, addressed the council during public comment regarding the recent fire at the First Christian Church.
Maxwell spoke about issues encountered with hydrants during the response, noting that at least one hydrant was not functional when firefighters attempted to use it.
Water Department Supervisor Corey Cook responded, stating that some hydrants in Martinsville are not intended for firefighting use and are marked with white-painted tops to indicate that status. Cook said the hydrant referenced by Maxwell had been shut off due to a known leak.
Maxwell reiterated that the fire response involved not only Martinsville firefighters, but also Marshall Fire Department personnel, who responded through mutual aid.
Councilman Chris Davidson, who also serves as Fire Chief for the Martinsville Fire Protection District, explained that the hydrants in question are not rated as “fire hydrants,” as they do not meet the required flow standards. Instead, he said they are classified as flush hydrants, which are not designed to support sustained firefighting operations.
Maxwell stated that the Fire Protection District Board would be willing to work with the City and assist with funding the purchase of new fire hydrants.
Cook noted that new fire hydrants typically cost between $10,000 and $20,000 each, but explained that the challenge extends beyond the cost of the hydrants themselves. He said the City’s older water mains are not capable of supporting the flow demands of fire-rated hydrants without risking line collapse or negative pressure elsewhere in the system.
Davidson thanked Cook for his assistance during the fire, noting that Cook responded by activating additional pumps to help supply water as needed.
Mayor Robert Lovell said he would work with Cook to develop a map of hydrants throughout the City, including indicators identifying the status and intended use of each hydrant. Lovell also noted that the City of Martinsville had previously applied for a grant to replace water lines on the south end of town, which would have significantly strengthened the City’s main water infrastructure, but that funding for the project was ultimately withdrawn.
Council Actions
Water Department Superintendent Corey Cook spoke to the council about the hiring Pedrotti Co. to calibrate chlorine feed settings. Mr. Cook explained that when the system was initially designed and installed, the maximum limit of chlorine allowed was set at 2.0 ppm.
He explained that the limit has changed, and the current maximum amount needed to keep the south end’s chlorine residual levels within acceptable limits has nearly been reached.
It was also noted that the estimate of $4080 is high, and will likely be closer to half that amount. The council approved hiring Pedrotti Co.
The council also approved the following actions:
- Minutes of the Regular Meeting held December 10, 2025.
- Payment of Bills in the amount of $410,428.26
- Treasurer’s Report for the month of December 2025.
