CAPE COUNTY COMMISSION APPROVES NUMBERING ORDINANCE

JACKSON - The Cape Girardeau County Commission has approved an ordinance that requires county residents to post numbered addresses on their homes and businesses.

The ordinance was passed Thursday with the hope of getting most county residents to voluntarily properly display correct address numbers to enhance emergency response time. The ordinance coincides with the new countywide 911 emergency telephone system, which went on line in November.

Residents are required to place numbers on their residence that are visible from the street. Numbers are to be at least 4 inches high.

For business owners, the ordinance requires two sets of numbers 6 inches high -- one set to be visible from the street and the other set visible from the rear of the building if there is access from a street, alley or parking lot.

Building numbers are to be in Arabic and a color contrasting with the color of the building. Script numbers are not allowed by the ordinance.

If a home or business structure cannot be seen from the road, the ordinance requires the owners or occupants to have the correct address numbers placed on a stake or sign which can be seen from the road. If a mailbox is on the same side of the road as the structure and standing alone, then the address numbers can be attached to the mailbox.