Commissioners have been receiving calls from residents questioning why their physical addresses are being changed. The reasons are both simple and complicated. Commissioners are not making the changes and have nothing to do with the change program. The changes are coming from 9-1-1 Communication office. This office is in the process of switching to a new mapping system and unfortunately addresses will have to be changed to be compliant with this new system.
Robert Rothe, 9-1-1 Communications Director offered information during the regular meeting of Commissioner’s Court on April 24, 2017. He encourages those with questions to contact his office (830-741-8997) for a more detailed explanation of the reasons for an address change. While the change may mean some costs for residents, it is a very necessary change.
As of Monday, there were 21,452 physical addresses in the County. According to Rothe this number is growing everyday. So far only about 3% of the addresses will have to be changed. Obviously, the changed addresses are “old” addresses in areas that have been developed for years (i.e. old subdivisions). New addresses will be issued under the new criteria so as to be in line with the new mapping system.
Rothe shared the following information:
“The NG-911 system was ordered in early October 2016 and was delivered on March 20,2017. The system went live on April 29, 2017.
The new system has three software components 1. Vesta- the call taking software. 2. Vela locate- the digital map display software. 3. Analytics Lite- the call statistics.”
Sheriff Brown did comment. “This system has moved us 20 years forward [in dispatch service].” Dispatchers are having an “easier” time getting services to callers.
Why addresses are changing
“Modern 911 utilizes a digital map to deploy law enforcement, fire and EMS responders. The dispatch center actually sees from where a 911 call is initiated as well as other information related to the that telephone number. The location is plotted on a computer screen and displays the actual latitude and longitude of that location.”
There are three phases of 911 telephone services:
• Phase 0- This Phase is voice only just like calling the Sheriff’s office directly. The dispatchers screen does not show them the number from which the call was made nor dies it give them a name with this Phase of service. These calls will not display their location.
• Phase I- This Phase of service shows the dispatcher a name associated with the telephone number as well as the number from which the call was made. If they are cell phones they will display at the cell tower that transmitted the call.”
• Phase II- This is the highest Phase of service. It incorporates voice, number and location information. Landlines will display the address associated with number. Cell phones (most common used today) will display location of the cell phone call based on Global Positioning System (GPS).”
The changes are occurring due to:
“In order for the digital map display to work for landlines there must be an exact match between the digital maps information and the information contained in the District’s “Database Manager and the telephone companies data base.”
Address points are the biggest problem for the 911 District. The accuracy of an address point at the current time is about 30 feet either way from a point of entry (driveway or front door). Beginning in 2018 address points must be within less than 10 feet. Odd addresses must be one side of the block and even on the other. This is a big problem for some of the addressing in the county now, thus the changes.
Particular Challenges to Addresses and Mapping Maintenance
Road Number- The road numbering system utilized by Medina County cannot have duplicate road numbers assigned to separate unrelated roads.
Blocks and Block Ranges- Everything related to the digital map display works off the block ranged centerline file. Block numbers need to follow the odd, even, higher, middle and lower rule. Numbers must coincide with the location along the road way.
911 Findings
The District has found and continues to find address numbers that cannot be used in the digital map display.
Both odd and even numbers are interspersed on the same side of the road. Only odd or only even numbers on both sides of the road.
Addresses assigned to block ranged roads that are far too long. Addresses assigned to the location of Houses that are not in the that block range.
Assigned addresses are out sequence.
By Trina Williams
Staff Writer