An array of challenges: Commission works through myriad issues involved in implementing new 9-1-1 system

Continuing its practice of holding 9-1-1 Commission meetings around the county, the group met Thursday evening, Dec. 13, at the Nelson Lions Club in Nelson.

Jane Bevans of Geocomm, the company working with the commission, presented details of addressing guidelines that will be used as the project moves forward.

Key to the addressing issue is the fact that every location must have a unique address. The commission is following guidelines established by National Emergency Number Association (NEMA).

For the most part, house names and numbers in cities and towns will remain as they are; however, the possibility remains that a few adjustments within city limits will be required.

The following guidelines apply for addressing numbers:

All addresses not within incorporated areas in the county will be assigned house numbers and street names. These numbers will begin with 10,000, immediately identifying them as rural addresses.

The addressing grid begins with 10,000 in the southwest corner of the county and moves north and east, allowing up to 500 numbers for each side of the road.

These guidelines apply for street and road naming or numbering:

The road number grid for east-west public roads begins at the southwest corner of the county, moving north from 100, increasing by 10 numbers each mile. The suffix will be "Rd." (Road).

North-south public roads will follow an alphabetic grid and use the suffix "Ave." (Avenue). The grid begins at the southwest corner of the county with the letter A, and increases one letter each mile. The letters E/F, I/J and Q/R will be combined to allow for sufficient road names. Sound-alike names (Bare/Bear) will not be used.

East-west private roads with three or more structures will use PVT with the road number grid and the suffix "Dr." (Drive).

North-south private roads with three or more structures will use PVT and a name from the alphabetic grid, also with the suffix "Dr." (Drive).

An isolated dead-end public road will use the suffix "Ln." (Lane). A public road that is contiguous, crosses another road and then dead ends will retain the existing suffix used on the overall length of the road.

Diagonal public roads will use the grid that best represents their overall direction and use the suffix "Trl." (Trail). A diagonal road name or road number will be determined based on its starting point, which is either the furthest west or the furthest south.

Highways will retain their current designations.

Even numbers will always be on the right side of the road as the numbers increase.

Yet to be determined is the location of the 9-1-1 dispatch center. Commission member John Rieves pointed to several items that will determine where the center can be placed, including the height of the communications tower. The center cannot be placed near major roads and highways or railroad lines and will need space to expand in future.

Rieves also pointed to the target date for opening the center by early spring 2010 as the next "big issue" question that commission must address.

Questions from the audience indicated some confusion on the part of residents about landlines versus cell phones and how those means of communications will be impacted by the dispatch center. Bevans indicated landlines will be the first to benefit from the new system, followed by cell phones. Due to Federal Communications Commission restrictions on how wireless communications are handled, however, and the differences among cell phone carriers, it will take some time before those issues can be resolved satisfactorily.

The group's next meeting is in Gilliam at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, at City Hall.

Contact Kathy Fairchild at

marshallhealth@socket.net