Riley County Commission names private driveway 'Anderson Lane,' orders re‑addressing to improve emergency dispatching

Riley County commissioners on May 28 approved a resolution to name a private driveway off Anderson Avenue “Anderson Lane” and to readdress the properties along it, saying the change is needed so emergency responders can find homes reliably through the county’s NextGen 911 mapping system.

The commission voted after a lengthy public hearing in which NG911 committee staff, the county’s dispatch manager and fire operations leaders described how the drive appears in the county’s computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system as an unnamed driveway rather than a roadway, creating extra radio traffic and step‑by‑step directions that can cost crucial seconds on high‑priority calls.

“My main focus as the dispatch manager has to be public safety and the efficiency of response,” said Tyler Ces, the county’s communications center manager, summarizing dispatchers’ concerns and showing a CAD screenshot that lacked a recognizable roadway entry. Deputy Chief Doug Russell of Riley County Fire District Operations said responders sometimes have to stop and mark the entrance by radio or place cones to identify the driveway for arriving units.

Amanda Webb of the NG911 committee said the group strongly recommends naming and renumbering private drives that serve multiple residences so addressing and road segments match the state’s NG911 grid and geocoding. Sherry Taylor, the county GIS address assignor, explained that CAD systems require a named road and consistent grid assignments to geocode addresses for dispatching.

Several residents who live on the driveway told commissioners they were willing to accept a road name but urged the board not to force new house numbers. Nathan (last name not given) and other neighbors said they already have visible signage and that changing numbers would impose paperwork burdens on older residents and caretakers, affecting everything from Social Security records to medical and postal services.

“We’ve had great response and no knowledge that there’s been a problem,” Nathan told the commission, while Joyce Courier, who said her 93‑year‑old mother lives on the drive, said recent emergency calls were handled quickly and without confusion.

Commissioners acknowledged the residents’ hardship concerns but said the long‑term safety benefits and the need for a uniform, state‑compatible addressing system outweighed the logistical inconvenience. After discussion the board moved, seconded and approved the resolution to name the private road Anderson Lane and to readdress the affected properties so they conform to the NG911 addressing grid. The resolution was signed by the chair.

Next steps outlined by staff include publishing the adopted resolution, sending individual letters to affected property owners and notifying the U.S. Postal Service so mail routing and election records can be updated. Webb said the NG911 committee will work with property owners and the post office to coordinate the transition and suggested the county provide guidance on the specific list of agencies residents should notify.

The board did not set an alternative timetable for the change; commissioners said staff would return with implementation steps and that they will monitor the outreach and transition.

Why it matters: Modern emergency dispatching relies on geocoded address data. When private drives that serve multiple homes are not recorded as roadway segments in CAD systems, dispatchers and first responders must use additional radio directions and ad‑hoc guidance that can delay response times. The county framed the decision as a technical fix aimed at reducing those delays.

The commission closed the public hearing and continued with other agenda business.