LAKE ADDRESSING PROPOSAL

Problem: Ineffective and inefficient public safety response on Morse Reservoir.

Every agency involved in public safety on Morse Reservoir can tell stories of frustration about their delayed reponse to a critical incident, or even a non-critical incident, because of the inability to understand the location of an event as it is relayed by someone on the water, or by someone at a street address looking at the water. Quick reaction is usually key to effective public safety response. Reaction time is considerably slowed to an off-water scene reported from the water, to an on-water scene reported from off-water, and to an on-water scene reported from the water because of a simple and normal inability to describe a location in a way that makes sense to responders.

Proposal: Address piers on Morse Reservoir in a sequential manner.

Addressing piers, or potential piers, on Morse will allow a mapping system that is understandable to responders. It is suggested that numbering begin at the dam, as it is a point that will never move, and move sequentially from there.

Numbering should be done in a highly visibly, consistent manner. The suggested method is black reflective letters on a reflective white background, no smaller than 6” high. The materials used would have to be durable and weather resistant. After an initial address plate is provided through this initiative, homeowners will then buy and post their own numbers. To meet the consistency need and as a public service, Autografix is willing to provide the numbers at a very reasonable cost that is well below their usual profit margin costing.

This program is very similar to the highly successful “pier” addressing program used on Lake Wawasee in Syracuse.

Implementation

The initial assignment of pier numbers is complete. The county mapping program was used to build the list. The list was built with reserved spaces for growth or double lots, if recognized. Community docks received a pier number.

The program has two benefits:

a. Public Safety.

The addition of a street, “Morse Reservoir” to our GIS will be required.

The street range will be 1 to the final number of piers available.

An address advisory will be entered for each specific pier number that

gives its actual street address.

Conversely, each street address will receive an advisory that gives its pier address.

b. Social.

Have you ever tried to explain to someone how to get to your house in a boat? It is very difficult.

Have you ever lost, or found, boat toys or fenders? Pier numbers written on these items identify who owns them.

Although not part of the public safety side of this project, this process will include the recruitment of volunteers to carry on a social parallel to this program. All lake residents talked to about this program are very excited about the social possibilities, making it an important point to use in our implementation efforts. The social aspect of this project is guaranteed to become as expansive as it has at Wawasee; in fact, it will drive the project for residents because of its convenience.

Letters from the public safety department leader and from the Morse Waterways Association to each citizen will explain this project. Volunteers, which we call Zone Captains, will deliver the pier address plates. As part of the delivery process, a letter asking for participation in the Social phase can also be delievered, with a suggested place to drop off the participation agreement if the resident does not wish to use the mail or e-mail. Fire stations will be asked to volunteer as drop off places. Morse Waterways website is also suggested as a collection point.

All inquiries should come to Kim Jowitt, 773-1872.