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GoogleThe Bloomfield Town Council approved a housing number ordinance during its Tuesday meeting.
Council President Roger Doane explained, "This is something we've needed. I didn't realize how many (property addresses) were missing."
The ordinance requires the owner and occupant of each house or building within town limits to display its postal address in a visible manner that can be seen from the road, street or highway.
Bloomfield Police Lt. Harvey Holt stressed the need for such an ordinance.
"Houses that are not properly marked are delaying our response," he explained.
Having a visible address is critical in a life-threatening situation.
"Sometimes we go door to door looking for a house," Holt also said.
According to ordinance 2009-08, if the house or business structure is not visible from the road or if it's more than 100 feet from the road, three inch reflective numerals must be placed on both sides of the mailbox or roadway post.
All numerals should be a minimum height of three inches, be kept legible, and made of reflective, durable, weatherproof material
of a color that stands out against its background.
The new ordinance will be enforced by any public safety officer including but not limited to reserves and volunteers acting
in their official capacity and by designated employees of the town departments acting in their official capacity.
Residents and business owners now have 30 days to comply with the new ordinance.
The first violation of this ordinance will be a written warning with an explanation as well as the action needed to comply, deadline
for compliance and possible penalties for failure to do so.
The second violation will be considered a class D infraction subject to a fine of $10.
A third or subsequent violation is also a class D infraction subject to a fine of $20 per violation.
Each day of non-compliance after the deadline constitutes a separate violation.
All proceeds from violations will go into the town's general fund and can be paid by mail.
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please
Wow they must be desperate for funds, we have all these drug dealers and thefts going on and there missing with petty things like this.
Come on this town counsel needs to get there priorities straight.
I have lived in this town for many years and it is a factor of odd and even all the odd number are on one side and even on the other.
If the Police can no figure out what side of the street is even and what is odd then it is time to get some educated police.
I cannot believe that anyone would think this is a waste of money. All homes and businesses should have a number for many reasons. If you or anyone else had an emergency, "bfman" wouldn't you want them to find your house. This is one of the best ordinances I've heard of in a long time. Now, is there any chance of getting that in Linton?????
It's not a matter of the police knowing what side is even or odd numbers, a number is needed and it's not expensive to buy the numbers at Walmart.
Thanks, Bloomfield Town Council for leading the way. I hope you enforce it....
I think it would be a good idea for the entire county to adopt an ordinance like this. Kudos to the Bloomfield Town Council for doing something that will help the people of Bloomfield on many different levels.
I sure hope the County Council follows suit!
Are they going to assist Bloomfields needy, or just throw fines at them? I'm not saying it's a bad thing but, they need to take everybody into consideration if they can.
I am a firm believer in people voicing their opinions, but not at someone's expense. I am a well educated Police Officer that works for the town. I am not afraid to post my opinion when it comes to someone putting down the hard working men and women in this county. I have many years of college and several academies behind me. I also have continuing education on a yearly basis. Your local emergency responders only ask for your help. There are numerous houses in the area that are not labeled and some of them are not in sequential order. Some of the house numbers are on the wrong blocks. It is impossible for us to know each and every house. If you know so much about the drug dealing why are you not helping your local law enforcement. I have an empty seat next to me every night if you feel you can contribute or do better. See what your local emergency workers have to deal with on a daily basis. Maybe one day we will need to go to your residence. I hope it is properly marked. Sometimes the difference between life or death is that second. I do thank those of you in the community that do take pride in their emergency workers. 99% of them are volunteers and they are the everyday "Heroes." Try thanking one, not degrading one. As far as the needy in town. We do a lot that the public knows and doesn't know about. Most of it comes out of our own pockets. Even when our paychecks are cut. Sometimes at a sacrifice to our own families.
you can thank Gov. Daniels and the state legislature for cutting property taxes which in turn cut reimbursements to the cities and towns,causing them to cut services and not having the money to replace police officers or firefighters when one retires or quits to go to a profession that pays more or has less stress. Most police officers and firefighters have to have at least one more job (some have two part-time jobs) to make ends meet. Does this answer your question as to why there are only 3 instead of 5??
It seems such an easy task to make sure your home is properly labeled with your address, could save your life or the life of another one day. As another poster has already said, you can buy the letters or numbers at Wal-mart fairly inexpensively.
One could argue all day about the pros and cons of this ordinance. However, at the end of the day it is a person's private property that we are talking about. They are not encroaching on anyone's rights, or endangering others, by not displaying numbers, regardless of any other consideration.
The Bloomfield Town Council is encroaching on individual liberties, and I don't believe that they have been given the authority to do so. I challenge someone to prove that the Council has legitimately been given authority to enact such an ordinance.
I agree, For Liberty. Good idea or no, private property is private property.
It seems to me that the town council in Bloomfield (Worthington as well, judging from recent GCDW articles on the matter) seems to fancy itself a large and intrusive HOA. Problem is most people live in rural areas to avoid such intrusion.
I would add to the discussion some words from Benjamin Franklin.
"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
Private property rights are an essential liberty.
Background for this quote can be found here:
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Benjamin_Fr...
Infringing on our rights? Come on people. It's time to get in the real world. How would you like to be the UPS/ Fed Ex Man trying to deliver a package and having a hard time locating the proper address? Or, what if you are having a heart attack but the EMS can't locate your address due to the numbers not being posted!! Would you complain when your package is misdelivered or the EMS is slow to arrive? I can guarantee that you would be unhappy. They are not asking for you to put up the numbers in gold..just visible numbers. Wow, it still amazes me how people complain about the simplest things. If you have a legitimate concern go the the town board meetings and voice them. The town board has always welcomed the community to come and be heard.
"Infringing on our rights? Come on people. It's time to get in the real world."
Your 'real world' and our rights were fought for throughout the history of this country by people who thought more of their rights than temporary safety or comfort. Did the men at Valley Forge suffer through an intolerable winter to secure our 'right' to quick deliveries and quick EMS arrivals?
If you are concerned the EMS can't find you, or that your packages won't arrive on time, put the numbers up. But do not infringe on the people's liberties with unnecessary ordinances.
Get real folks and take a drive through Bloomington, you won't find a single house or business without a visible address.
I tell ya, some of you act like such hicks!
Good grief...I can't believe how many big baby's reside in Bloomfield.The council is making you put numbers on your house...Why don't you roll around on the floor while kicking and screaming saying "I don't wanna" It is just pathetic.
You people think you are being wronged over some numbers on a house so medical workers can find you to save your life.Try being a little kid that will lay alone and die a slow painful death because there is no EMT to call for help, no doctor to cure the sickness,no hospital.
I bet that child would trade his/her right arm for the freedom you WASTE everyday.
You have no respect for your freedom. You like freedom I am sure but you can't appreciate what you have without seeing for yourself what it is to live without it. So piss and moan about some numbers that could save a life,have your freedom speeches and then to top it off tell everyone how you value human life but are not willing to put your stupid pride on the shelf to help save someone else's.
You should all be ashamed of yourself.
Good work GCPD and Town Council for having everyones best interest at heart.
O.K. I can understand the need for addresses to be
posted, our house address is out of order. UPS & FedEx are always delivering our stuff someplace else.(EVEN THOUGH OUR HOUSE # IS IN PLAIN VIEW)
However I dont think it requires an Ordnance or Fines.
Proud Vet
Without the ordnance and Fines none of the "children" will do as there told.
All the "freedom" fighters will resist doing what needs to be done. It's like threating a unruly kid with time out or being grounded, you have to do it or they won't listen. :)
I have numbers on my house and I think its a good idea. However I am never for the government adding one more thing to their list of stuff they can tell us to do. It's like the seat belt law. I always wear mine. Everyone should wear one and I would even go as far as to say you are stupid for not wearing it, but I still don't believe in being forced to do so by the law.
This is a perfect example of, if you don't force people to whats right, they won't do it, so you can't blame the government or the town board, it's in our best interest.
You know, I think the answer to this situation might be to pass another ordinance that states that all tobacco, alcohol, and fatting foods can only be acquired by home delivery ONLY! Now sit back and watch those addresses go up!!
Linuxman; I agree 100 % I have my numbers and I wear my seatbelt. But if I didn't it would effect no one but me. It's my packages that might not get delivered. It's my emergency that might not get responded to. I would not have any one to blame but myself. I do not need big brother to look out for me.
You people need to be saved from yourselves....
Do you have any idea what self preservation is or do you not care at all. Do you people have that same outlook for your children? Oh "mommy doesn't wear her seat belt so neither will I" "daddy doesn't do what the police tell him to so neither will I" LEAD by example. It effects everyone around you when you choose to NOT do the little things.
Again, despite the people who refer to adults as 'children' who need to be governed in their every move and thought, or those who complain that those who love liberty are nothing but complaining, uneducated 'hicks', the main point here is individual liberty and those basic tenants of the U.S. Constitution that protect 'Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness'.
It is not even about whether or not it is a good idea. If it is a good idea, most people would voluntarily do it. It is not the government's job to protect people from themselves.
If you do not protect even the smallest of your liberties, you are doomed to lose them one by one, little by little, until you find you have none left.
Well said "For Liberty"
It still completely baffles me why these people want the Government to wipe their noses and their butts for them. Its like the old saying goes. Give them an inch and they will take a mile.
It would also be nice if the county would change road signs to match what they have named our roads. That might also help with emergency response too. They need to get with it since even the ups people can't find us.
OMG, I can not believe some of these comments.
Your liberties, are you kidding me, this is about posting your address, it should be manditory through the Federal Government, period, what's the big deal?
It's like having a speed limit or traffic laws but what if we just said " oh, if it's a good idea to drive slow and reasonable, then I'm sure everyone would do it voluntarily, BULL CRAP!
It's against the law to drink and drive, right but look at how many still do it and kill innocent people and children every day but you would think because it is obviously a stupid and selfish act, than people would voluntarily stop - well it doesn't work that way.
Thi is why government has to step up and protect us from people who need protected from themselves.
I guess you people who are so about your liberties and are so offended, wouldn't mind signing an agreement that states, "that due to the importance of my liberty, which is more important to me than my family is, I therefore, do not expect an ambulance, delivery people or emergency personal to show up at my home in a timely manner, if the need arises, because I didn't want to post my address." Oh, and I'm sure you won't have to worry about the fire department, they will eventually find you, just follow the smoke and flames, right!!
You know you guys act like the town board is forcing you to put out your cigarettes; put down your beer; get out of your PJ's before noon; turn off your TV; get a job and spend time with your kids and cook dinner at least five days a week, geez, get a life!!
Oh, and this might be crazy to even assume but I'm sure it's safe to say that all of you who are all about the constitution and your rights have an American Fly flying high and proud in your front yard,I doubt it!!
Sunny dazy your analogies are poor examples. Roads are government owned property. They have the right to tell us what to do. Drinking and driving can affect others besides yourself. You are still missing the point. Its not about whats the right thing to do. Its about another government finger being stuck into our lives. Where does it stop? Do you know Bloomington is working on an ordinance that will make it illegal to cut down a tree on your own property without permission. How about that fact that on Kirkwood avenue they can tell you what color you can paint your house or business.
All I have seen are either arguments that ignore personal property rights, or 'straw man' arguments from people who can't believe that I:
1)Fly a flag (I do, everyday)
2)Love my kids (I do, all 7 of them)
3)Wear my seatbelt (I do and so do my kids)
4)Believe drunk driving should be against the law (It should! Drunk driving deprives others of their right to life)
"Do you know Bloomington is working on an ordinance that will make it illegal to cut down a tree on your own property without permission."
The people of Bloomington have started small and are working their way up to forfeiting all of their personal property rights.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man
I'm sorry but if the local governments didn't step in with ordinances and zoning, people would be living like animals. At least in Bloomington you won't find junk cars parked in front yards.
I just don't understand how anyone can even argue over the issue of posting their address, this is ridiculous, it hurts no one. If people aren't "made" to do things whether it be through fines or some form of punishment, they just won't do it.
Here's one for you, I think residents should be fined for not recycling. I think each household should be forced to recycle so much per month, or you are fined and fined heavy! What do you think of that?
I think if your home has a computer or tv in it, your house should be kept clean and your kids should have passing grades . . . . I think every yard should be mowed to a certain height . . . I think every home should be required to have a garden growing and flowers blooming . . . . and all schools should have uniforms for the students and teachers. This is just the beginning of what I think.
This world is a mess because we are too afraid of offending someone or violating their rights!
I would ask everyone involved in this debate to please read the Constitution (both U.S. and Indiana). They are the only reason we are even able to have this conversation on free soil. Our men and women in uniform, our congressmen and women, our president, and our law enforcement officers take an oath to 'protect and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, both foreign and domestic'. They take that oath because without adherence to the principles laid forth in those documents, there is no rule of law, and thus no free country. Ponder that for a while, we are a FREE PEOPLE! We do not have to grovel to a dictator, we are able to live our lives, as we see fit, to the best of our God-given abilities. Never take freedom lightly.
As Thomas Jefferson wrote:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED"
Sounds like you want to live in a dictatorship. Did you know that the founding fathers linked personnel freedom and property rights together? Do you love freedom at all? Is there anything you wouldn't be okay with the government telling you what to do?
I do what I'm supposed to do,I'm not the problem, the problem comes from those who don't do what's right, those who abuse the words of the constitution and those who take advantage of our freedoms.
I'm sure our founding fathers had rules and regulations that people were expected to abide by.
This whole things isn't about freedom, it's about hard headed radicals playing the, "their taking my rights way" card!
I hope before it's over the town board votes to pass an ordinance that every other house has to be painted pink with white pooka dots and that all of the sidewalks look like those in the Wizard of Oz!
Well, it's time for me to sign off on this conversation. I believe that we've all made our respective points, and I thank God that we have a newspaper that allows this sort of back and forth. Thanks Sunny Dazy for an opposing viewpoint. Thanks Linuxman for your views as well.
As much as I would like to believe I am always right, I hope that through discussions like this I can find out where I might be wrong.
I'l just be grateful that I live in a free country founded on Constitutional freedoms and not the bizarre, homogeneous world that sunny dazed says she wishes for.
Call me OCD - BTW the Wizard of OZ isn't bizarre, it's a classic, although Dorothy's farm yard was somewhat of a mess but WOW, Oz was beautiful wasn't, nice and neat, like it should be!
Happier Daze to all!
sunny dazy
Please feel free to ignore "sarah m" she is very confrontational and only looks for people in these forums to argue with.
I must say I am simply amazed by some of the comments on this. This is simply to assist the emergency personnel, nothing else. Absolutely no ones civil liberties is being infringed on. Actually there has been such an ordinance in Bloomfield since atleast 1917 (yes 1917) but was not enforced. All the council really did was update it. It is also required within the county that with the new 911 addresses that peoples numerical address be displayed. In trying to keep it uniform with the surrounding area the town ordinance was nearly an EXACT copy of that the county is now requiring. Most every single city,town, county anywhere in the country has such requirements. The poeple that live on rural routes need to go back and look at the paper that was sent to them by the commissioners last summer stating what their new 911 address was to become. The requirements of house numbering in that letter is nearly word for word what the town adopted.
Futhermore...
I do not see where anyone that pays any attention to what goes on can say that the town council does not have it's priorities in order. Think of some of the things in these 2 short years the council has done.
Approved the purchase of the mobile cascade system for the fire dept to refill the air bottles, which had previously been denied.
Approved purchase a squad vehicle for the fire dept to use for medical runs. Not only saving wear and tear on the fire trucks responding to medical runs but the fire dept is able to keep all the medical supplies in one vehicle. The council merely approved the purchase. The fire dept did all the foot work.
Approved the purchase of 4 complete sets of new fire gear and there is a grant in process to recieve more.
Has installed the emergency sirens. They are not simply just tornado sirens. They can be used to do all types of emergency notifications from tornado's to amber alerts or anything else that may arise.
Has gotten the new sidewalks in town (which looks fabulous)
Has been worked in conjunction with the school on a grant to have have sidewalks put in where there currently is no sidewalks at all under the Safer Route the School grant
Has approved the purchase of a brand new police car as well as a dump truck for the street dept. Both vehicles were not just something the council said to buy. Each dept went and found the vehicle that would best serve their needs and asked for approval to purchase.
There is a constant effort by everyone to find ways to improve and upgrade the waste water treatment plant. SIDC works extremely hard on finding every option and also dealing with all the red tape at the state level. Also as an FYI... When the sewage rates were raised. Nevermind for now the fact that they should have been raised over 5 yrs ago. There was talk even before anyone was elected two years ago that rates were overdue to be raised. There was public hearings on the rates raising and not one single person showed up for any of the public hearings. There was really no input from anyone during any of the public meetings.
With the help of many dedicated residents the swimming pool has been reopened.
For someone to say there is other stuff the council needs to do like getting drugs off the streets. That is the police officers job not the councils. The job of the council is to provide them with the tools to do that job. Like the addition of the drug dog. The police did all the footwork. The council simply gave the go ahead.
If anyone has any ideas on things they would like to see happen all that person has to do is simply come to a meeting and voice their ideas and or opinions, or just to listen. At the meeting a couple days ago, only one single resident came to the meeting.
Aaron, we can agree to disagree. I have no problem with the town council suggesting--even strongly--that numbers be put up. I have a problem with them threatening to fine people for noncompliance. It is a level of intrusion that I, and apparently some others, are uncomfortable with.
I've seen mention that there are addresses in Bloomfield that are out of sequence. Will there be anything done to fix these problems?
Has the dog made one drug bust yet? I'm pretty sure Bloomfield is 100% drug free because we never have a drug bust. SARCASM.
I really don't know what the big deal is. I have been on the rescue side of this issue and believe me when seconds count between life and death the house numbers are a godsend. Nothing you can imagine is worse than knowing someone needs your help and you cannot find the house because there isn't a number. I SAY HATS OFF TO THE BLOOMFIELD TOWN COUNCIL... GREAT JOB COUNCIL.
You want what's weird? On my laptop this article has 10 replies, no matter how many times I refresh it. On my Blackberry it has 40.
Figure that one out.
You know that if people are not threatened for noncompliance, it would be like anything else no one would pay any attention and just leave things the way they are. I really don't know how this is considered an intrusion, Intrusion of what? people not wanting to obey the rules? kiddos let me tell you everyone has rules to go by whether in their jobs, in the public parks, or in Walmart.
So again I ask intrusion of what??????
I think the fact that most people already have their addresses displayed (at least from the cursory look I've done after reading the article) blows some holes in your argument.
:shrug:
Invasion of what? Property rights. Under what authority should the town council be able to fine people for something as benign as not having reflective numbers so many feet from their house? Suggest that it be done? Sure. Great idea. It's such a great idea that many people have already done it. But as long as a person is a property owner who (presumably) pays property taxes then their property should be theirs to maintain as they wish, provided they aren't infringing upon the rights of others.
Period. Simple as that.
As an aside, believe it or not, some of us are able to function perfectly well in life (some of us are even quite successful!), at Wal-Mart, in public parks, and elsewhere without being threatened with fines and punishment.
I'm a bit shocked that we're in a minority.
Boy, I moved away from bloomington to get away from stupid rules and regulations but this one I feel is a great idea I was in law enforcment for 3 years and this is something that should defenitly have punishment for not doing it. I feel the 20 dallor max. fine is to low and instead of geting upset about this everyone should be upset about the bloomfield police department being put on the back burner. I feel the posting of an address is for everyones safty including the officer. Lets say their is a foot chase and there are no adresses posted on the houses on a particular street how dose that officer tell other officers were he/she is to get help. Also going from 5 officers to 3 officers is a safety issue for everyone in the comunity also.
The dog, "Dristan" has had made many "Busts" as you call it. She has also tracked several runaway and lost children, felons, and suicidal patients. What about the officer protection she has provided, helping calm down irritated subjects by her presence alone. We as a Police Department don't advertise our K9 business in the paper. We have more important issues to deal with. If you read the paper there have been articles on "Dristan's" drug arrests. There have also been K9 busts that have lead to arrests for other more serious crimes. She had done the town of Bloomfield a great service and has paid for herself many times over. Thanks to all her supporters in the community and for those that donated their time and money to get her here.
i agree Dristan is a wonderful police officer when i see her out in public i think to my self every department needs a k-9 unit how do we donate money to ensure we can keep her
Donations for Bloomfield's K9 program can be made in person or by mail with the Town of Bloomfield in care of the K9 Fund. All proceeds go directly towards the purchase of her equipment, training and emergency medical expenses.
Intrusions, Violation of Liberties, I live in a rural area so no one can tell me what to do....?? All I have to say is Wahh Wahh Wahh...what a bunch of wining babies...
Just go to Walmart and get some dang stickers and put them on your freakin' mailbox already!
I applaud the Bloomfield Town Council for doing this...it should be mandatory...it is in everyone's best interest...including my taxpayer dollars. What a waste of gas if the Fire Department can't find a house, not to mention the labor to do so.
Linton, Worthington, Jasonville, and the Greene County Commissioners should follow suit on this one. State Law would make even more sense...
Nice work Bloomfield!