SCOTT, NEW MADRID COUNTIES MAPPED FOR ENHANCED 911

NEW MADRID -- Officials in New Madrid and Scott counties hope their Enhanced 911 system is up and running in September, the same time Perry County's system is expected to start.

All three counties are in the middle of a vast mapping process. Every county resident will get a new address as a result. The new addresses are simplified to help emergency service personnel find people in trouble.

Scott and New Madrid counties joined in passing Enhanced 911 measures in 1994, meaning phone customers in those counties pay a 15 percent surcharge on their local telephone bills. The joint venture saved money on mapping and equipment.

Sikeston bailed out of the agreement over a dispatching dispute and likely will have its own Enhanced 911 system. Scott City and Miner also have their own systems.

But rural residents currently without 911 service of any kind stand to benefit greatly.

"A lot of people are wanting it," Scott County Presiding Commission Bob Kielhofner said. "We're out here with road numbers that are confusing. Although we're able to fumble around and find someone in trouble, the Enhanced 911 system is cleaner."

Jim Mauk, 911 director for the two counties, said mapping in New Madrid County is almost done. Mapping in Scott County is about 70 percent complete and will be finished in a month.

Mauk said Scott County residents soon will receive letters telling them their new addresses. First, the U.S. Postal Service must approve the addresses.

"Post office people usually like the new addresses," Mauk said. "Those in both counties said rural delivery is easier when homes are addressed for Enhanced 911 service."

Streets in most cities will remain the same, although the mappers might suggest some changes. For example, Sikeston has a Lynn Street and a Linn Street. The similar pronunciation may confuse emergency response teams.

Network Design Engineering out of Little Rock won the bid for mapping the two counties.

Streets are being named primarily after birds and trees, Mauk said.

"I mostly went to the residents and asked what name they would like," he said. "Some people didn't care. Others wanted streets named after families who lived on them, and I thought that would be helpful for emergency workers."