Township ponders mandatory residential address signs

DINGMAN — A new 911 emergency reflective address sign ordinance, which will soon be a requirement for every Dingman Township residence, may be a problem. “I don’t know how we’ll be able to enforce the new ordinance,” said Township Supervisors Chairman Tom Mincer. “If you want the sign on every house lot we are going to have to go around to all the homes. If it is going to be like it is now then we don’t need a new ordinance,” stated Sewage Enforcement Officer Chris Wood. Currently any resident who applies for a new home or home improvement must have a 911 emergency sign in order to get final approval. The supervisors hope to make it easier for emergency services to respond more quickly. To enforce the law, the township needs to inform all residents that the ordinance is in effect. Township Solicitor John Klemeyer said that a mailed notice would cost at least $5,000. A public notice in one of the local papers would satisfy the township requirements but not everyone might see it. “I would rather see us take the $5000 and give the new signs to anyone who gives us a letter stating the cost of the sign would be a hardship for them,” said Supervisor Dennis Brink. He went on to say, “It’s hard to find homes in the fog and rain and the purpose of 911 reflective emergency signs is to accomplish speedy rescues.” Mincer expressed his concern over the ordinance being a way to help residents rather than just becoming another new ordinance people have to abide by or face a fine. Dingman Township Fire Chief Bill Mikulak said often when they are looking for a house they have to pass a numbered house first then go to the next numbered house which may be down the road a bit. If the number they are looking for is between these two numbered homes, they backup and try to figure which house they want, except of course if there are flames shooting out from the roof. Some of the communities such as Conashaugh Lakes and Gold Key Lake have rules in place to require homeowners to have emergency house numbers on their property. Mikulak said Conashaugh is about 90 to 95 percent compliant. “If we take on the job of putting the signs up for a fee and we do it in some communities like Sunrise Lake they might be down by the next morning,” stated Wood. The proposal was tabled till the next meeting in two weeks.