City may require house numbers – Move would help emergency workers

One of the most important items to have during a home emergency could be the numbers on your house. Noticeably, some houses within McMinnville city limits don?t have them.

It?s with that in mind, city officials are considering an ordinance that requires city residents to clearly post their house number.

Even though such an ordinance could generate controversy, Mayor Royce Davenport said he believes it?s the right move to make.

?I think we should do something,? said Davenport. ?We should take a stand that we care enough about our citizens to try and save a life.?

During a recent city Safety Committee meeting, it was noted that the lack of visible house numbers is becoming a problem for city departments, especially at night.

As relayed by Mayor Davenport, during what should have been a routine call to fix a water problem, the employee could not find the house because it was unmarked. In an effort to find the house, the employee had to walk up and down the street with a flashlight.

By the time the employee found the house, he was greeted with hostility for not getting there faster.

Although finding the street wasn?t a problem, finding the house was. Other city departments have experienced the same experience. This situation could easily become dangerous in an emergency when every minute counts.

?We are talking about people?s lives here,? said Davenport. ?What if someone dies because the ambulance is turning around at the end of the street while trying to find the right house??

Although all new structures are required to have 4-inch numbers, there is no ordinance requiring property owners to place the numbers on their existing homes. Some aldermen think passing a new ordinance requiring the numbers on existing houses would be met with resistance.

?There are a few people in this community who have very good reasons for not wanting people to know where they live,? said Alderman Patti Nunley.

Despite any negative feedback from those opposed to the ordinance, Davenport thinks one should be considered.

Other suggestions to correct the problem were made but ruled out:

? Placing numbers on the curb ? not every house or business has a curb.

? Placing numbers on mailboxes ? not all mailboxes are located immediately in front of the house. Some mailboxes are located across the street and some residents have their mailboxes clustered.

In order for this proposed rule to go into effect, an ordinance will have to be drawn up and passed twice by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. If an ordinance is passed, everyone will be given 30 days to place numbers that are visible from the street.