The Allen Township supervisors addressed the issue of homes in the township not bearing house numbers.

At the board's July 11 meeting, a committee was named to develop recommendations that the supervisors could adopt. Fire Chief Nick Lalik, Township Manager Ilene Eckhart, Michael Chordas, Gary Behler and Dale Hassler were selected to serve on the committee.

The fire company and ambulance seeks a uniform housing numbering system to make it easier for emergency personnel responding to calls.

Visible house numbers reduce the time needed to respond to an emergency.

Particularly in high density areas, properties need to have reflective signs so the numbers can be seen from the road, Lalik said.

He was not concerned with the color of the signs, but rather that they could easily be seen by the approaching fire truck.

The Uniform Construction Code notes the property identification numbers should be four inches high, though three inches is also acceptable.

On Howertown Road, homes are found on the left, but the numbers on the mailboxes are on the right side, making it difficult to find a particular house.

When mailboxes are posted with the house number, they should be at the individual driveways, emergency officials suggested.

Emergency vehicles travel fast, making it important that house numbers are clearly visible. With an increasing number of apartments in the township, mailboxes close to each other with numbers pose problems for emergency responders.

Eckhart said she gathered sample ordinances from other municipalities and displayed a green and white reflective sign with numbers four inches high.

The cost for such a sign is approximately $60.