New rural address signs raise some questions

McLeod County is slightly more than halfway done replacing 4,200 rural address signs, but some residents still have questions.

The project involves replacing old and faded rural address signs with reflective blue signs to help emergency responders reach crisis scenes faster.

Both County Board Chair Kermit Terlinden and County Geographic Information Systems Director Christy Christensen said they continue receiving calls from people wondering why the signs can’t be posted on existing mailbox supports.

The freestanding signs are being posted near driveways so emergency crews know exactly where to turn when responding to an address. Also, some rural neighbors’ mailboxes are clustered together, which would make it difficult for responders to know which driveway to turn into.

The county also wants to avoid potential liability if its signs are mounted on nonconforming mailbox supports. Many rural mailbox posts do not meet breakaway safety standards.

Speaking at Tuesday’s (July 7) County Board meeting, Terlinden noted many people working as emergency responders don’t live here and aren’t familiar with where everyone lives. Placing signs in a consistent spot takes any guesswork out of the equation.

In an interview after the meeting, Christensen said, “In the winter when it’s raining and snowing, you want to expect where that sign is going to be — at the entrance.”

He added that most of the callers he’s spoken with understand the county’s position, once he explains the reasoning. “The reason we’re doing what we’re doing is to serve the citizens of McLeod County the best we can,” Christensen said.

For more information, call McLeod County Geographic Information Systems at (320) 234-0230, or go online at www.co.mcleod.mn.us/GIS and click on the “2009 Rural Addressing” link.

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)