Hamilton County residents might soon have a knock on the door as part of an important new county-wide program to improve public safety.
Between April and October, representatives from GeoComm will be driving all the roads in Hamilton County, verifying both road names and addresses throughout the county. This field verification process will enhance the accuracy of the countywide Address Point Layer, which is of great importance for public safety purposes. This is why in January, Hamilton County, selected Geo-Comm, Inc. of Saint Cloud, Minnesota to collect and verify map data for use in the 911 dispatch center and by emergency responders.
Each field technician will drive either a silver Hyundai Santa Fe or a white Toyota RAV 4, which will be clearly marked with GeoComm and 911 logos on each side of the vehicle. In some cases, the GeoComm field technician will only need to verify the location of the residential structure and will not need to speak to the resident. In these cases, you may see a GeoComm vehicle come up your driveway, then turn around and leave. If your house number is not posted on your structure, a GeoComm field technician may approach your house to verify your address. If your house number is not currently posted, you are encouraged to post it as this will assist the field crew, and avoid the need to have to speak to a field crew member, or to follow up by reporting your address via the online survey or a phone call.
If the resident is not available and the house number not posted, the field technician will leave an informational packet including instructions for the resident to fill out an on-line survey, or to respond by phone. Information that the resident provides on this survey will assist in the timely completion of this project. Any information provided to GeoComm will be considered confidential and its distribution restricted to only those parties involved in the Hamilton County project.
This field verification process will enhance the accuracy of the countywide Address Point Layer, which is of great importance for public safety purposes.
If the resident or business has concerns or questions about this process or providing information over the phone or through the online survey, please contact a Hamilton County GIS representative at 423 209-7766.