Council mulls new street addresses

The Sisters City Council has embarked on a new street numbering and addressing system for the community in the interests of public safety.

At its October 26 meeting, the council heard City Planner Neil Thompson bid for consistency, a virtue lacking in the present numbering system.

Some houses bear odd numbers on the even-numbered side of the street, and vice versa, while other numbers don't progress consistently down the blocks. Gary Frazee, director of public works, noted that entire blocks are out of synch: "There are three 100-blocks on Spruce Street, for example," he said.

Inaccurate numbering and a hodgepodge of number sign styles add to the problems of emergency services respondingto calls. Fire Chief Don Mouser told the council the Sisters-Camp Sherman RFPD wants to be involved in the process of numbering, possible changes of street names and the naming of new streets.

Mouser said consistency will be the most important factor in adopting new signs. They should be the same size, shape and colors -- and preferably should be reflective, he said.

Thompson said he has discussed the bulk purchase of signs with local hardware stores and that they can be obtained at a nominal cost, as low as S4.50 each.

Frazee suggested that the city coffers be plumbed to see if Sisters has funds available to pay for and provide the new signs. Still under consideration is whether to have the signs affixed to structures, or placed on posts at the roadside.

Sisters has an ordinance on the books which names Elm Street as the east-west dividing line for the town, and Cascade Street as the north-south divider. Because Fir Street presently is used as the east-west divider, a switch to Elm will require number changes for about 70 percent of east-west addresses, Thompson said. Fewer changes will be needed along the north-south line.

In other business! Jim Fisher, executive director of the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce, announced the names of eight persons who have shown interest in being appointed to the Sisters Community Improvement Commission, which was established in late June.

The appointees are city residents Deb Kollodge and Steve Wilson; residents from outside the city, Michael Black and Dick Sandvik: Chamber representatives Walt Helser and Mike Wonser and City of Sisters representatives Neil Thompson and Councilor Sheryl Whent.

Three councilors will be absent November 9, the council's next regular meeting date, to attend a conference. Thus, the council will meet at a later date, probably November 16.