Doug Rasmus, a Fairlane Circle resident who said he goes by Debbie, told the Warrenton Board of Aldermen on Aug. 5 that ambiguous addresses on Fairlane Circle have caused delayed emergency responses and repeated delivery failures. “If I give number B, they think I live in an apartment,” Rasmus said during public comment, adding, “I do not feel safe in my subdivision” because multiple residences share the same numeric address with letter suffixes.
City staff told the board they had already contacted dispatch and the post office and that both entities had confirmed the problem and agreed the city could correct it. “We have talked to 911, we talked to the post office,” said Guy Jeevers, public works director. City staff said the post office agreed to forward mail for one year after a renumbering to give residents time to update records.
The board voted 6–0 to direct city staff to proceed with address changes beginning with Fairlane Circle and then review other problematic areas. The motion instructs staff to coordinate with 911/dispatch and the post office and to notify affected residents in advance.
Why it matters: Board members and speakers said the issue affects public safety, deliveries of critical medication and residents’ ability to get timely emergency care. Rasmus described an incident on Dec. 9, 2024 in which a fireplace insert created heavy smoke and he said first responders initially went to his neighbor’s address; he also described a medical emergency in which he said first responders first stopped at the wrong house. Neighbor Tony Spinelli urged the city to create a clear application pathway for future requests so residents would not be bounced between agencies.
Details and next steps: City staff said they will work with dispatch to map and assign five‑digit numbers, verify post office acceptance and send written notice to affected households in advance of any change. Staff also said they would confirm display requirements in the city code for where numbers must be posted on properties. The board’s motion gives staff authority to “proceed with the address changes within the city encompassing Fairlane Circle and others.”
Public comment and staff context: Rasmus described prior experience elsewhere in which address confusion delayed emergency care; Tony Spinelli, a Fairlane Circle neighbor, said multiple agencies had previously told residents the problem was the responsibility of another agency. Staff said those conversations produced clarity and an internal path forward. Brandy Walters, city staff, said the city will send notification letters and that the post office will forward mail for one year after the change.
Implementation risks and limitations: Staff must coordinate with county/dispatch and the U.S. Postal Service and manage likely resident pushback (for example, changes to brick mailbox numbers). The board directed staff to notify affected residents before changes take effect and to clarify whether city code requires specific placement of address numbers.
What the board decided: The board authorized staff to proceed with renumbering work beginning with Fairlane Circle; the action passed on a unanimous voice/roll call vote.