The Saline County 9-1-1 Commission has begun to give shape to a job description for the position of director, commissioners said at their monthly meeting in Arrow Rock at 5:30 on Thursday, Oct. 11, continuing their practice of meeting at multiple locations in the county.

The job description has been submitted to County Prosecuting Attorney Don Stouffer for review.

Sitting in for Chairman John Fletcher, John Rieves commented the commission expects the eventual job description to be "a living, breathing document" for at least the first few years, as the job evolves and changes.

Rieves also noted that fieldwork has been completed and that 75.6 percent of the forms requested from county residents have been returned.

Rieves urged those who have not yet replied to make an additional effort to get the information to GEO-Comm soon.

Postal maps have been delivered to the the Post Office, giving staff there an opportunity to express any concerns.

Rieves noted the postal staff seemed to have few problems with the proposed new rural addressing.

Fire department staff also reviewed the maps and said they believe the number and letter scheme will "make their jobs much easier." The addressing follows standards set by the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). All Federal and state highway numbers will remain the same (U.S. 65, Missouri 41 and 240 and others).

Information sessions will be held throughout the county in coming months to explain the new addressing scheme and the reasons for it. Project coordinator Jane Bevans will also meet with community leaders in cities across the county.

Contact Kathy Fairchild at marshallhealth@socket.net