This information is
from the draft minutes of the August 1, 2018 Public Safety Committee meeting
Lt. Grusendorf introduced Dispatcher Russ Hall who is now
working full-time on the 911 Enumeration Project. Lt. Grusendorf provided a
brief background of the project, noting that Mr. Hall is working 40 hours a
week and still struggling to keep up with the workload. Lt. Grusendorf
indicated he foresees the project taking a couple of years, adding they have a
good plan that will work well, it’s just going to take time. Committee Chairman
Healy asked if since they are going to have to address the villages at some
point, should they try and include them now. Lt. Grusendorf agreed that they
should take control of all of it so there is consistency with the process. Lt.
Grusendorf went on to say that not everyone is going to be happy because
they’ve had their address for 20 years and it may change. Lt. Grusendorf
stressed the importance of this project stating if a house is on fire, they’ll
eventually find it through the smoke, but if someone’s loved one is having a
heart attack and their house number is wrong, they might drive right by, adding
if this situation isn’t handled, the County could be held accountable.
Dispatcher Russ Hall distributed and briefly discussed
handouts showing the status for the Towns of Grove and Alma as well as the
County as a whole. Mr. Hall indicated that the Town of Alma is preparing to do
a sign project, so they would like to address them next so they have correct
information for their signs. Mr. Hall stated that currently, the State knows 30
percent of our addresses, and the remaining 70 percent are not on file.
Legislator Harris asked if the recent Census can help with that problem. Mr.
Hall stated the Census information can actually add more confusion to the
situation because they are sending homeowners addresses asking them for
confirmation, and the homeowner is assuming what is provided to them is what
their correct address is and that isn’t always the case. Mr. Hall indicated
that some people call 911 and provide their address, and the road given doesn’t
even exist in the system. Legislator Hopkins asked for examples of people who
have had addresses for 20 years that are not correct. Mr. Hall stated some are
old addresses that the homeowner refuses to change, some are numbers being
transposed, and some are homeowners who may have bought an old farm and then
built a new house on the same parcel but it was 200 yards up the road which
could potentially change the address. Committee Chairman Healy noted the same
issue arises with developers that subdivide properties. Mr. Hall indicated that
the number one problem and cause for error is sign placement, adding that the
County needs to take a huge role in the signs so they can be considered County
property, and we would able to inflict a penalty should they be moved by a
homeowner.
