GPS mapping of buildings, roads and landmarks for the three-county 9-1-1 addressing project has begun in Doniphan, Ellsinore, Grandin, Greenville, Naylor, Piedmont, Williamsville and Van Buren.
Crews from Spatial Data Research (SDR), Inc., the contractor for the project, will be mapping addressed structures, named roads, long driveways, fire hydrants, street signs, water towers, parks, cemeteries, bridges and other landmarks.
SDR will collect the posted address number on each home or business, a brief description of the structure, a rural route address (if any), and other posted information such as resident or business name. The addresses will be reviewed, and problem addresses flagged for each city's review. Problem addresses include addresses that are out of sequence, including even and odd addresses found on the wrong side of the street. Cities may choose to correct some or all of addresses. Most city residents, however, will continue using their existing addresses.
SDR field crews drive vehicles marked with white magnetic signs with red lettering. The signs read "911 Mapping Addressing." Field mappers carry photo IDs identifying them as SDR employees. The field vehicles drive slowly, stop in front of structures to collect the needed information on their laptop mapping systems, and also stop on corners to map hydrants and road signs.
Mapping in rural areas will begin in November, with one mail route each out of the Piedmont, Van Buren and Doniphan post offices chosen as the pilot route for the county. SDR has already met with the Post Masters to review the 9-1-1 addressing process. Pilot routes allow contractor and post offices to form good relationship and create working processes for data collection and review that can be repeated on all mail routes. The entire rural mapping process is expected to last twelve to fifteen months, with nearly twenty thousand structure locations to be mapped, and fifteen thousand rural addresses to be assigned.
All new addresses must be approved by the USPS in Kansas City. Residents will be notified of new addresses on a ZIP code by ZIP code basis with initial notification for some routes expected in mid to late 2018.
The rural mapping and addressing process includes a postage-paid questionnaire postcard which will be left at some homes. If SDR is unable to determine the mailing address of a residence, the postcard, requesting additional information, will be left. When needed, the card will be left in a clear plastic doorknob bag on the home, gate, fence or some other obvious location. Residents are asked to complete the card and either drop it in the mail, or call the printed toll-free number as soon as possible.
The county commissions in each area appreciates the support and cooperation of all the county residents during this process. Together, and with the support of the Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission and Delta Regional Authority, they are working to ensure safety of their citizens and visitors.