911: ADDRESSING WORK WELL UNDER WAY

JACKSON - Mike Niemeier politely and patiently handles each phone call to his office in the County Administration Building, where he sits each day behind a computer terminal and a stack of computer printouts. Within seconds of one conversation coming to an end, the phone rings again.

On most days, when he closes the office and pushes the answering machine button, Niemeier still has several hours of work left, making data entries into the computer system and returning calls.

Niemeier has one of the less glamorous but most essential jobs in the effort to install a countywide 911 emergency telephone system in Cape Girardeau County. He is involved in the address change notification, which will make it possible for emergency services vehicles to easily identify the location of every residence in the county.

About 8,000 residents in the county have been advised by the post office that their address will change. Route and box numbers that have been used for years will be replaced by actual addresses. Residents of small towns will have their streets named and numbers assigned to every house.

"It's all a little bit confusing, but we're trying to work with everyone to make this process successful and as painless as possible," said Brian Miller, the county's director of emergency operations and chairman of the committee responsible for implementing the 911 system.

"The idea is to help people out. The whole idea of the 911 system is to benefit people and not create problems," said Miller. "We try to do everything we can to make things work out for the folks. If anyone has a question we want to try to help them and resolve any problems that are out there."

The new addresses can be used at any time, but they must be used within a year, according to the post office. Old addresses with route and box numbers are being replaced with a number address and the state or county highway number, or with a newly named road that was previous unnamed.

Many of the people who call the 911 office at 243-4911 are just wanting to seek verification that their address is changing. Others don't understand why the change is being made.

"They are getting these priority cards and want to know why things are changing now," said Niemeier. "Some like it and some don't. But when you explain the concept of 911 and that we need physical addressing to make things work, most understand. With the old route and box number, only the post office knew where that was."

Niemeier points out that not only will the new addressing system make it easier for emergency vehicles to find homes, it will also make it easier for deliveries and services to be made be it a parcel delivery, a TV repairman or a pizza.

The notification cards have a postage paid section to be torn off and returned to indicate the residence received the notification. The card also verifies that the name and phone number is correct.

Another important part of Niemeier's job is keeping the data base up to date, which is essential to an effective 911 system. For that reason, most of his nights are devoted to making entries into the computer for his day of work on the phone.

In some cases, people did not receive address cards, so Niemeier finds their location on the map in his computer and they are assigned an address. Later, once the flurry of calls ends, Niemeier will spend time in the county assigning addresses to new homes.

By the end of the month, Niemeier said anyone who lives outside of Cape and Jackson that has not received a notification card needs to contact his office.

Equipment for the 911 system has been ordered, and if things go well, the service will be on line by Nov. 1, within two years of the time voters in Cape County approved a fee on their phone bills to cover the costs of the system countywide.

Citizens in the out-county and Jackson currently do not have a 911 service. Cape Girardeau has the service, however, the new system will be much more modern, with operators receiving the name and address of location of the call when it is made.

Niemeier and Miller agree that once the system is on line, keeping all data current will be essential to a quick response with emergency services to residents of Cape County.

But for the next few weeks as the notification continues, Niemeier anticipates long days and nights on the telephone and computer.

"The phone is ringing almost constantly, but that's what we're here for," said Niemeier. "We're trying to take care of all the calls as quickly as we can."