When you dial 911 in an emergency, you rely on first responders to find you quickly and efficiently. For that to happen, your address information in the E-911 system must be accurate. Here in Van Buren County, we are committed to maintaining precise and up-to-date addresses to ensure the safety of our residents. Sometimes, however, discrepancies arise that remind us how critical this information really is.
A Recent Case of Address Confusion
Recently, a new property owner reached out to Walter Elsner, the Address Administrator in our office, with a question about her address. She had been receiving conflicting information from various utility and service providers regarding the name of her street. After investigating, Walter discovered that her property, along with several others, was located on the corner of two roads. The neighbors were all numbered on the same street as the subject property, but this street was mistakenly associated with a road name that mirrored the name of another, parallel road.
Sensing the potential for confusion—especially for emergency responders—Walter conducted further research using old paper maps. These records revealed that the side street in question was certified as a public road under a different name, according to a Van Buren County Road Commission resolution dated November 20, 2014.
The Solution: Renaming and Renumbering
To correct this issue and ensure that 911 dispatch and other services could locate the properties accurately, the street name and addresses needed to be updated. The road was officially renamed "Geer Drive," and the nine properties were renumbered accordingly.
As part of this process, Walter collaborated with multiple agencies, including the Van Buren County Road Commission, the Sheriff’s Department, the local post office, and Keeler Township officials. As part of the process our office ensured that all affected homeowners were informed of the changes. Letters were sent to each property owner, including:
A map of the updated road and address layout.
A spreadsheet of the old and new addresses.
A copy of the official road commission resolution.
Updated property data sheets from the county tax database.
While we recognize that changes like these can be inconvenient, the accuracy of this information is vital for public safety. In an emergency, the difference between a correct and incorrect address could delay lifesaving services.
Why Address Accuracy is Critical
Imagine calling 911 during a fire, medical emergency, or burglary. Emergency responders rely on the precise address data in our system to reach you as quickly as possible. If your address is incorrect or unclear, it could lead to dangerous delays. Address changes, while inconvenient, are a crucial part of keeping you and your family safe.
To help ease the burden of this recent change, our department is offering new reflective address signs to affected homeowners at no cost—a $25 value. We strongly encourage all residents to ensure that their home’s address is easily visible from the road, especially at night, as this can further assist emergency responders.
What You Can Do
If you live in Van Buren County and are unsure whether your address is accurate or are aware of a potential conflict, don’t hesitate to reach out to our office for verification. You can contact us at (269) 657-8243 or via the contact form on our website for assistance. In the case of the recent updates on Geer Drive, affected homeowners were encouraged to visit the office to pick up their new reflective address signs and submit a change of address form to the post office if needed.
A Final Word on Public Safety
Keeping address information current is not just a matter of convenience—it’s a matter of life and death. We urge all residents to take address updates seriously and cooperate with any necessary changes. Your safety, and the safety of your loved ones, depends on it.
For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact the Van Buren County E-911 Addressing team. Together, we can ensure that Van Buren County remains a safe and well-prepared community.
For homeowners affected by the recent changes to Geer Drive, please see the attached letter and accompanying materials for more details.
