OLDS — A proposed revision to a town bylaw that would require all houses to have clearly visible numbers on them is expected to come back to town council for approval.
That provision came up for discussion during council’s June 7 policies and priorities meeting.
It said, “all houses must display house number visible to the street (and) can not be obscured by vegetation.”
Chief administrative officer Michael Merritt said some sort of provision like that is needed to make it easier for police, firefighters or ambulance personnel to get to the right home in an emergency.
The proposed provision was added after staff received several recommendations over the past while to do so, he said.
However, Coun. Mitch Thomson thought that was a case of over-regulation.
“Even when it comes down to house numbering, telling people that they have to put a house number on, I mean, I just think they would normally do that. I don’t want to see people getting ticketed for that,” Thomson said.
On the other hand, Coun. Mary Jane Harper said people don’t always do what seems logical.
"We’re all presuming that it’s common sense, and common sense doesn’t always prevail,” Harper said.
Coun. Mary Anne Overwater liked the provision.
I believe that is something that all residents should have, because if they want to make an emergency phone call, they want emergency services to get to them,” Overwater said.
“They can’t be looking and trying to find where that house is. So I believe that is very important.”
