PIEDMONT - The City of Piedmont is now on board with the Mineral County mapping and addressing project to be in compliance with United States Postal Service (USPS) and National Emergency Numbers Association (NENA) standards.
The council voted to accept the resolution at the January 23 meeting when all but one council member, Streets Commissioner Bob Fike, voted to support the new system.
Fike does not support the project because he believes the majority of emergency calls within the town are responded to by Tri-Towns Fire Department in Piedmont, Tri-Towns Emergency Medical Services and Potomac Fire Department - both of Westernport, not by any other entity of Mineral County.
“This really doesn't affect the citizens of Piedmont,” said Fike. “When you enter into Piedmont on the rural routes, it will affect these residents, but in the Town of Piedmont it doesn't seem feasible,” said Fike. “In rural areas it is good because emergency responders will know exactly what house to go to. But I feel right here in Piedmont it isn't a good idea.”
After speaking with several Piedmont citizens, Fike said they requested he not vote to support the new system because they didn't want their addresses to change.
“When residents get their addresses changed, their license needs changed, utility companies, credit card companies - any kind of correspondence has to be changed,” said Fike. “I respect the decision of the other council members but I don't agree with it.”
Piedmont Mayor Ebbie Gilmore says the council will conduct the first reading of the resolution at their next meeting on February 13.
Gilmore said he and the majority of the commission are in full support of the new system since they will have a certain level of control over its operations.
“It won't affect too many people,” said Gilmore. “We have the right to control it and if anything comes up we have to OK it for changes. That's why I feel alright about it.”
He emphasized that the project will only affect those on the outskirts of the town.
All residents in the county who possess addresses containing an “RR” for rural route or “HC” for hand carrier will receive a new address, according to Marc Bashoor, Mineral County Director of Emergency Management & Homeland Security.
Bashoor explained that this state-wide project is a part of a state-wide contract.
“Actual municipalities have to make a decision to adopt this or not,” said Bashoor. “If they do not, the contractor would not go into the corporate limits to verify information.”
