An out-of-town contractor was cited last week for the alleged theft of township water from a fire hydrant behind the Oxford Meijer.
The New Haven-based Pamar Enterprises, Inc. was ticketed for allegedly violating two township ordinances when the driver of one of its tanker trucks was discovered Sept. 3 allegedly using a fire hydrant to fill his storage unit.
Pamar Enterprises, Inc. is an underground utilities contractor specializing in sanitary, storm and water mains, horizontal boring and land balance work.
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Department cited the company for allegedly violating the “Oxford Township Water Supply Ordinance” (105.A), which constitutes a municipal civil infraction, and the “Fire Ordinance” (95.001), which constitutes a misdemeanor.
According to the water supply ordinance, “No unauthorized person, firm, or corporation shall open or cause to be opened any fire hydrant without first securing a permit as required by the Oakland County Drain Commissioner and without paying to the Drain Commissioner the appropriate fee based upon the estimated water usage from the fire hydrant. Proof that the Drain Commissioner’s permit has been obtained shall be presented to the Township Building Inspector before the hydrant is opened.”
Under this ordinance, township attorney Chris Kaye said the township will be seeking reimbursement from Pamar Enterprises, Inc. for the water that was allegedly stolen.
Exactly how much water was allegedly taken has yet to be determined, Kaye said. “We’ll have to do an investigation.”
Oxford Fire Lt. Terry Roeher, who was called the scene of the alleged theft, estimated the tanker truck looked like it could hold between 6,000 and 8,000 gallons of water.
According to the county Drain Commission, township water customers are charged $29.50 per month for their first 1,500 cubic feet of water and $9 per 1,000 cubic feet after that.
One hundred cubic feet of water is equal to 748 gallons.
In addition to reimbursing the township for allegedly stolen water, Parmar Enterprises, Inc. could also be made to pay a fine of “not more than $500” for violating the fire ordinance, which is a misdemeanor.
The ordinance states, “A person shall not obstruct, obscure from view, remove, tamper with, damage, deface, or otherwise disturb or restrict the access to any fire hydrant or fire appliance required to be installed or maintained udner the provisions of the Code except for the purpose of extinguishing fire, training or testing purposes, recharging or making necessary repairs or when permitted by the Fire Chief.”
Supervisor Bill Dunn said he wants to make “an example” of Pamar Enterprises, Inc.
“We want to send the message that anyone who tampers with fire hydrants or steals township water will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Dunn said. “Those hydrants are there for the public’s safety, not to be used as somebody’s private, free wells.”
“If you take township water without permission, you’re going to pay for it,” the supervisor warned.