Beech Tree News Network

The importance of having an accurate address clearly posted is evident to anyone who has ever been in need of emergency services. That is why members of the local emergency services, as well as local delivery services, are urging the residents of Butler County to post their new numbers at the end of their driveway.

"It's been nearly a year since we completed our readdressing of the county," says EMS Director Brian McKinney, "and many people still do not have their new numbers posted."

The state-mandated readdressing of the county took place after a failed audit of the dispatch center by the Commercial Mobile Radio Service Board. McKinney says that about 75% of the dispatch centers across the state failed the audit and have been forced to readdress their county as well.

Office Manager Nancy Cardwell says that while many people have picked up their numbers, a lot of people have yet to post them.

"We can't just stress the importance of posting your numbers up at the end of your driveway," says Cardwell, "EMS or the Sheriff's department could have a difficult time locating your house if your new numbers aren't displayed visibly by the road."

For the people without a mailbox on the road, McKinney suggests that they place a post at the end of their driveway with their new numbers facing in the direction that emergency services would be coming from.

Director McKinney added, "A lot of people still have their old numbers up and that makes it really confusing for everyone involved."

Another local business that is struggling to deal with the confusion from the readdressing process is Five Seasons Flowers and Gifts in Morgantown. Owner Roger Moore says that his deliveries can be affected by having the old number posted or no number posted at all.

"It's just a big problem, when you go out and try to deliver and the numbers are all mixed up. You could be running up and down the road trying to find the right house," says Moore. He added, "It's a simple procedure and the county will give you free numbers if you go pick them up."

"I know it was an inconvenience to the residents of Butler County, but it had to be done," added Cardwell.

In order to encourage Butler County residents to post their new numbers, one free set per household has been made available at the courthouse. The numbers match the specifications of the county-wide ordinance stating that all numbers must be at least 3.5 inches in height and should be reflective. Anyone who has yet to pick up their numbers can do so at the EMS Addressing and Billing office located across from the Judge-Executive's office.

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Stoy by Katie Kirby, Beech Tree News.