By Zac Anderson
Sarasota Herald Tribune (Florida)
SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. — It will take years and likely be contentious, but an effort begun this week to change duplicate street names and addresses in Sarasota County will save lives, emergency officials say.
The County Commission approved an ordinance Wednesday that gives county officials broad authority to rename streets and change postal addresses.
The duplicate addresses confuse emergency workers and result in life-threatening delays for police, fire trucks and ambulances. In February, a 3-month-old baby died after an ambulance was sent to a home in Englewood instead of the correct address in Sarasota with a nearly identical name.
Sarasota County's former fire chief testified during a recent meeting that he once sent fire trucks to five different addresses because the street name is so common and the caller could not provide detailed information.
Business groups and real estate professionals expressed concerns about the new law, arguing that a new street name or address could confuse customers and hurt business. Any address change could also be costly, with businesses forced to replace stationary, signs and other ads.
County leaders spent months meeting with business groups, who ultimately supported the plan.
Commissioners have urged emergency officials to avoid changing street names whenever possible, and focus primarily on duplicate addresses.
The name change process has extensive requirements for public notification and community input.
Copyright 2009 Sarasota Herald-Tribune Co.
All Rights Reserved
