No matter how much we argue, disagree or interrogate each other we still live in the greatest God Blessed nation in the world. If we want it to stay this way we must be willing to ask questions and voice individual opinions without fear of repercussion. We can find answers and, in most cases, compromise together on solutions. We must stand for the Constitution, Liberty and the freedoms that are God given and we are not being selfish but, on the contrary, we are being wise, thinking of the future generations and not our own wants. Notice I said wants not needs.

In Commissioners Court on Monday the 26th of October 2009 the court held discussion on the placement of 911 address signs on all property inside Ellis County. This discussion was triggered by House Bill 2665 that was passed by the 81st Texas Legislature and went into effect on September 1, 2009. This new Act gives the Commissioners Court of a county the authority to adopt and impose standards and specifications for the design and installation of address number signs to identify properties located in unincorporated areas of the county and provide a penalty.

This however is not an issue that should be mandated by government with the possibility of a $200 fine for not complying.

If you have never needed any emergency responders you would never think how hard it is to locate property in the country that does not have an address. We never think about how important time is in an emergency situation unless it is our own emergency and then one minute is too long, just ask a teenager. We just assume that with computers and GPS it is easy to be found, even the pizza deliverer finds my address in the country but not in fewer than thirty minutes. Heck, how many of us have seen the UPS or Federal Express driver go back and forth, up and down the road and finally stop and ask you for an address for a delivery? The address is yours and you get frustrated because the package should have been there days earlier and you know they have GPS and Google so what gives? I will tell you, you probably have not posted a 911 address at your driveway and in the country especially, if you are not familiar with the area, all driveways look the same.

I hate government involvement into my personal freedom, especially when the government mandates a rule without me having a choice. The Texas Legislature has given us a choice: 1. The Commissioners Court decides if the residents of Ellis County are not responsible for their own safety and need to be told what is best for them or 2. The Commissioners Court by resolution adopt a set of standards for 911 address signs that describe the size and general placement and allow the property owners to choose without consequences from the government, to install and maintain the signage. This allows an individual to make a choice, but they choose what is best for them — not for their neighbor — but their own family. It is a personal choice and we should not judge the individual’s decision but we, at least, need a standard to follow. I can not speak for the Commissioners Court but I have to trust the individual to choose and that choice should have nothing to do with a fear of loss of freedom but more with love of family if an emergency should rear its ugly head. Will address signs help the criminal that wants to burglarize a home? That should be part of the decision process an individual will make when deciding to put up 911 address signs.

We have an example of the American spirit right here in Ellis County and it is the Bristol Volunteer Fire Fighters. Chief Brandon Nichols and the fire fighters started a fund raising campaign to help the fire department, they did not sell cookies they sold 911 address signs. They did not do this because of a government mandate but out of a concern and need (not want), time is short when there is someone in need and hunting down driveways was taking time, wasting fuel and man hours. After two years they have sold around 200 signs and if you drive around the area of Bristol and Telico you will see 6”x18” green signs with white numbers everywhere. I applaud the fire fighters for their American spirit and the residents that made a free personal choice in helping out the fireman and themselves.

If someone needs to find you and your property is out in the country, they can, it will take some research on the internet or the local café but they can find you. But in an emergency when minutes count there may not be time to search the internet or stop at the local café. I ask you to read from the book of Proverbs, chapter 1 – 4 and then you make the decision by using wisdom, not fear. The word “Freedom” should always be in the first question asked but “Wisdom” should always be used in finding the answer.

God Bless and Peace,

Heath Sims