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MINUTES NOVEMBER 2, 2011 CALL TO ORDER: The Shenandoah Town Council held a special meeting on Wednesday, November 2, 2011, at 6:00 p.m., with Mayor Clinton O. Lucas, Jr., presiding. ATTENDANCE: Council Members present were: Mayor Clinton O. Lucas, Jr.; Vice Mayor William Kite; Councilmen Russell Comer, Jr.; Charles Jenkins; Richard Pierce; and Keith Sampson. Council Members absent were: Councilman I. Michael Lowe. Citizens present were: Wesley Shifflett, Page County EMS Coordinator; Josh Hahn, Page County GIS; Steve Campbell, Page County E-911; Owen Jenkins, Jr.; Matthew Clark; Charles Propes; Jennifer Bowling; Annie Schupner; and Ron Schupner. Media Representatives: Ted Hayes, The Valley Banner. SPECIAL MEETING Mayor Lucas stated this special meeting was called for the purpose of discussing proposed changes to addresses in the Comer Lane, Ramona Avenue, and Wahnona Avenue area. He stated Page County Officials will give a presentation on the matter and everyone present will have the opportunity to speak. He stated Council Members want to ensure emergency services are able to find citizens when they dial 911, but also feel changing addresses puts an extra burden on the citizens. Councilman Pierce stated he would have to leave the meeting early due to another appointment. Wesley Shifflett stated his office received a complaint about the rescue squad having difficulty locating the Schupner residence. He explained the non-connecting street caused a delay in the response time to a 911 call. He noted the County understands changing addresses can be considered a burden, but it is sometimes necessary to enhance emergency service response to 911 calls. He explained when they began reviewing the area, they found the addresses were not in compliance with the E-911 Addressing Code adopted by the County in 2005 and the Town in 2006. He then gave a presentation, which included sections of the E-911 Addressing Code. He stated they hope to clear up the confusing addresses, make them consistent with what is found throughout Page County and the E-911 Addressing Code, and assist with emergency response when a citizen calls for help. Following the County review, he noted they found Wahnona Avenue and Ramona Avenue do not physically connect all the way through, which is not in compliance with the E-911 Addressing Code and is causing delays in emergency response time. He stated they also found the house numbers are not in sequential order along Comer Lane, which further complicates things for personnel responding to an emergency. He concluded they are hoping to gather information tonight, hear feedback, and answer any questions from the Council or the citizens. Vice Mayor Kite stated the old Shenandoah Land Improvement Company maps show the layout of the streets. He noted some of the platted streets are not physically open, but stated they could be in the future. He stated his GPS took him right to the location when he put in the Schupner address of 1200 Wahnona Avenue. Therefore, he did not know why emergency responders have encountered a problem finding this residence. Councilman Sampson inquired why it took almost six (6) years, since the adoption of the E-911 Addressing Codes, to determine there was a problem with these addresses? Mr. Shifflett stated the County did not go looking for addressing problems, but discovered this issue when there were delays with the rescue squad locating a residence in this area. Councilman Sampson inquired if all the addresses have GIS coordinates? Mr. Shifflett stated most do, but the rescue squads do not have mobile GPS units in them. He noted they would install the GPS units, if the Town would be willing to pay for them. However, he stated having access to GPS would really just be a band-aid solution to the real problems being experienced. Councilman Comer stated the recommended solutions of having the Ramona Avenue addresses renamed to Comer Lane seems to complicate the matter more rather than solve the issue. He noted the rescue squad personnel would be driving down Comer Lane, but then there would be Comer Lane addresses off on lanes to their left and right as well. Mr. Shifflett stated there are no plans within the near future to fully develop these sections of Ramona Avenue and Wahnona Avenue to have them connect with the other sections. Therefore, according to the E-911 Addressing Code, they should be given other names. He explained if three (3) or more houses exist on a lane, then it would be given an official street name. Councilman Pierce inquired if the Schupner’s are given a new street name and a couple of more homes are built in the future, then would the Schupner’s street name change again? Mr. Shifflett stated no, it would stay the new street name given now. He noted if the land beyond their Lane is developed in the future with three (3) or more houses, then it would receive a new street name. He explained this is what the E-911 Addressing Code requires. Ron and Annie Schupner suggested since the location of their home is causing the emergency response problem, they be allowed to come up with a new street name to solve the issues on their lane. Charles Propes stated the small section of Ramona Avenue could be fenced off and made into a private lane, since he is the only house on that small section. Following a brief discussion, Mr. Shifflett stated they hope to make the necessary address changes to assist with emergency response and have the least amount of impact on the citizens as possible. Following questions, Mr. Hahn stated the post office does not have to assign addresses for new homes, as it is governed by the E-911 Code adopted by the County and Town. Vice Mayor Kite stated these are not new homes needing new addresses. He noted they are existing addresses and he believes it is an unfair burden on the citizens to change them all in the area, especially when GPS is able to get anyone to their door. Owen Jenkins, Jr. stated he has lived in this area since 1979 and it would be very expensive for him to change his address to the 30 or 40 agencies he deals with now. Annie Schupner stated they have people in their home with medical issues and just do not want the rescue squad to be delayed due to problems finding their address. She noted they would be willing to just have a new street name for their residence, if that is possible. Mayor Lucas stated at some point the available technology needs to be pushed aside and common sense applied to find addresses in Town. He noted the Schupner’s have a right to timely emergency service response and noted if they are willing to have a new street name, it could solve the issues. Councilman Jenkins inquired if the dispatcher gives the emergency service personnel directions to the homes? Mr. Shifflett stated no, just the address and they use the cross street book as well. Jennifer Bowling inquired if the rescue squad was on a section of the street and the house numbers were lower than where they need to be, then that should tell them they need to go to another section of this street. Mr. Shifflett stated that is correct, but when the street does not physically connect all the way through, it causes confusion and delays in response time. He noted every second counts when responding to emergency situations. Councilman Comer suggested the Schupner’s address be renamed to either Ad May Lane or May Lane in memory of the original owner of the Schupner house. Annie Schupner stated they would like to have the new street named Pete’s Lane or something in memory of Pete Judd, who lived on this lane and passed away recently. Steve Campbell stated he believes there is already another Pete Street in the County, which could cause a conflict in emergency response. He noted when the dispatcher pulls up addresses if there is more than one Pete, both come up on their screen and they have to determine the proper location. Mr. Hahn stated the E-911 Addressing Code states the owners of the homes on the new street have a voice in what it should be named, but the Town Council does have the final say in the matter. He also pointed out if every house in this area had a sign with their house number, it would help emergency response time as well. The E-911 Addressing Code requires house numbers to be posted with a special reflective sign. Matthew Clark stated a problem also exists with other addresses in Town. He noted there are several places in Town with the same house number, but one is on South Second Street and one is just on Second Street. He stated this causes confusion for mail and other deliveries as well. Mr. Shifflett stated so far these have not been an issue with emergency service response, but noted they are confusing. Regarding the issues on Comer Lane, Wahnona Avenue and Ramona Avenue, Mr. Shifflett stated the County would take all the comments tonight under advisement and compare everything to the E-911 Addressing Code regulations. He stated he would prepare a report and forward it to the Town. There being no further comments, Mayor Lucas stated there have been two (2) suggestions for a new street name for the Schupner’s and both of those would be considered, as well.
There being no further discussions, a Motion was made by Vice Mayor Kite, seconded by Councilman Jenkins, to adjourn the meeting at 6:56 p.m. Members Vote was as follows: YEA: Vice Mayor Kite NAY: None. ABSTAIN: Mayor Lucas.
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