Worthington neighborhood's fire hydrants get fresh paint thanks to Boy Scouts

• On the job

Julie buntjer/Daily Globe Dustin Hunt (back, in red) works with his fellow Boy Scouts to paint a fire hydrant on Cecilee Street Tuesday in Worthington. Hunt organized the painting of 18 fire hydrants in the Watland Addition neighborhood to try and earn his Eagle Scout.
• Troop 134

Julie buntjer/Daily Globe Members of Boy Scout Troop 134 and volunteers involved in the fire hydrant repainting project are Isaac Sanchez, Brian and Brandon Dykstra, Eric Fletcher, Cain Rautenkranz, Josh Kleve, Dustin Hunt, Thomas Hunt, Scott Hunt and Don Meyer

Talk about it

WORTHINGTON — With paint splattered on their legs, fingers and faces, a group of local Boy Scouts went from one fire hydrant to the next in the Watland Addition Tuesday, giving each structure a new coat of bright red paint.

They repainted 18 fire hydrants in all, a project led by 16-year-old Dustin Hunt of Worthington, who hopes to earn his Eagle Scout by completing the community-minded effort. Hunt, a member of Troop 134, solicited the help of six fellow Boy Scouts and his younger brother, Thomas, a Cub Scout.

Dustin’s dad and assistant Scout Master, Scott Hunt, said the family has lived in the northeast Worthington neighborhood for quite a few years and the fire hydrants appeared to have not been painted for “quite some time.

“With the new addition to our section of town, we thought the (hydrants) should look beautiful, too,” Scott said.

Dustin had to coordinate people, business donations and the Worthington Public Utilities’ needs to make the project a reality. The city donated the red paint, Diamond Vogel donated paint brushes, and Pro-Build chipped in the paint scrapers.

Eric Roos, Worthington Public Utilities water superintendent, said Dustin’s volunteer project was the first he’s seen in his eight years working for public utilities.

“Projects like this are always nice to involve the community,” Roos said. “Any time a kid is wanting to do something for a community is nice. The neighborhood really appreciates it.”

There are approximately 600 fire hydrants within Worthington’s city limits, and Roos said it’s a big undertaking to keep them looking nice.

“We made a pretty good effort a few years ago, but last year we didn’t get out there as much,” he said. “Six hundred hydrants is a lot of work.”

The city typically sandblasts each hydrant and then applies a primer before painting, but for the Scout project, the city power-washed the hydrants to be painted.

“The coating the kids are putting on is good for about three to five years,” Roos added. “I think they did a great job.”

Boy Scouts joining Dustin Hunt in the work Tuesday were Brandon and Brian Dykstra, Eric Fletcher, Josh Kleve, Cain Rautenkranz and Isaac Sanchez. Also volunteering were Dustin’s aunt and uncle, Laurie and Don Meyer, and his mom, Donna Hunt.

It’s possible that another one of the Scouts will continue with the fire hydrant repainting efforts for his Eagle Scout project, and Roos said he welcomes volunteers to come forward to do these types of community improvement projects.

As for Dustin, he has a couple of years yet before his time runs out to apply for the Eagle Scout honor. In addition to completing his report on the project, he wants to help his fellow Boy Scouts and perhaps even take a little break to admire his project.

“I liked getting (the hydrants) all new again,” he said with a grin. “We made it look nice. I hope birds don’t poop on it.”

“It was a great project,” added Scott Hunt.

Daily Globe Reporter Julie Buntjer may be reached at 376-7330.

Tags: boy scouts, news, worthington