(KAIR)--Following the approval of a resolution by the Atchison County Commission, a local 4-H club will work with County residents to see that address signage is posted properly on every rural residence.

The resolution was approved during the October 23 meeting of the Commission, and states that "the owner of each residential, commercial, industrial and public building site located outside the corporate limits of any city in Atchison County, Kansas shall erect and maintain permanent signage, prominently, displaying the site's unique 911 locator address."

The county will, at the request of the landowner, "pay the costs incurred to obtain materials to construct 911 address signs" and utilize County staff to construct, and post, addresses at no cost.

The previous County ordinance, adopted in 1993, required such address postings only in unincorporated areas.

According to a press release issued by Atchison County Emergency Management Director Wes Lanter, the Atchison Aviators 4-H Club is partnering with the County “to post address signage on every rural residence in Atchison County.”

It was the efforts of one club member, and her family, that led to the commission resolution. Nora Colwell, in the release, said she noticed the lack of addressing several years ago when she was involved in the fire safety education program conducted by the Atchison Fire Department. “I learned of my family’s need for our house number to be visible day and night and from both directions of on-coming traffic,” Colwell said.

After initiation from the Colwell family and the Aviators 4-H Club, the Atchison County Commission adopted Resolution 2018-1443 on Tuesday, October 23 detailing the signage description and posting locations.

Lanter, in the release, said the project will help “first responders arrive in a timely manner in the case of an emergency at a residence” as “a clearly posted address makes the difference” when seconds count.

The Atchison County Emergency Management and Road and Bridge Offices are mailing out applications along with a copy of the resolution to all rural addresses in the county. Return applications by November 30th to the Atchison County Emergency Management office at 10443 US HWY 59 in Atchison, KS 66002. Or email him at wlanter@atcoks.org.

An application can also be completed on the Atchison County website at www.atchisoncountyks.org (follow the link on the left side of the page under links and announcements).

For more information, contact Atchison County Emergency Management at (913) 804-6131.