Konop blames Bell for faulty hydrants

DOWNTOWN TOLEDO - Toledo mayoral candidate Ben Konop pointed a finger of blame at political rival Mike Bell, claiming the city's former fire chief didn't do enough to make sure fire hydrants are in working order.

The Lucas County commissioner also claimed during a news conference Friday in the lobby of One Government Center downtown, that inaction contributed to the loss of historic Old West End home on Mount Vernon Avenue.

Konop demanded that undersized water lines need to be identified and replaced.

"I think citizens rightly deserve to know, first of all, if they have a four-inch line in front of their house, which they don't know apparently because of the city's mismanagement of this problem and the fire departments under Mr. Bell's lack of leadership," Konop said.

The county commissioner added that the problem should be fixed by the city without an assessment or increase in taxes for citzens.

Bell responded, saying Commissioner Konop is using Barbie Harrison's tragedy for political gain and that maintaining those lines is not the fire department's responsibility.

"The stretch is for one, your going to take a fire cheif that's been gone for two years from a location and say it's his fault," Bell said. "And two, your going to take an issue that is not related to the fire service from the stand point of who has to paint them, and who has to mark them."

"You are going to make that also the responsibility of the fire chief so, I, I can understand what he's doing but, I have to wonder what his motives are."

Bell also added the city presently has 23 miles of four-inch water lines. The hydrants they serve work for some smaller fires.