BYRNES MILL ROAD Here's some information about the naming of Byrnes Mill Road, depicted in red on the map below. During the summer of 2009, "a decision was made" by Jefferson County bureaucrats to eliminate Byrnes Mill Road from our maps.     That's what we were told when, at the request of a number of Byrnes Mill citizens in early July, an official of Jefferson County's Highway Division was asked why a new, unfamiliar and confusing street sign appeared just outside our city limits. It read "Lower Byrnes Mill Road."     There seemed to be no logic to the decision renaming that road "Lower Byrnes Mill Road." The new sign, "Lower Byrnes Mill Road" appeared on a portion of Byrnes Mill Road above "Upper Byrnes Road" (a road once known as "Lake Montowese Road") and also on the portion of Byrnes Mill Road running from Highway 30 to Old Gravois Road.     At this time, Grant MacLaren sent a memo to the Mayor of Byrnes Mill. The memo was discussed at a Board of Aldermen meeting. No formal action taken, but some citizens voiced complaints to County officils, 9-1-1 staff and MoDot staff. A few weeks later, some even more confusing signs appeared. The Byrnes Mill Board of Aldermen asked alderman Grant MacLaren to follow up on the situation. Grant wrote this letter to Chuck Banks. Mr. Banks responded immediately, saying he would comply with MacLaren's request on behalf of the city. The existing "upper" road is "lower" than most of the newly named "lower" road, no matter how measured. The "upper" road is at lower latitude than much of the newly named "lower" road. North is usually considered to be "up" from south, yet much of the northern portion of the newly named "lower" road is north of the more southern "upper" road. The altitude of much of the newly named "lower" road is higher than the "upper" road. "Byrnes Mill Road" is shorter, and more accurately descriptive than "Lower Byrnes Mill Road." "Byrnes Mill Road" is the best name for the road. Jefferson County 9-1-1 "coordinates" street names in the county. They do not name the roads, but make sure that names and addresses meet certain rules for safety and accuracy. Conversations with 9-1-1 officials indicate that the road coud be named "Byrnes Mill Road" without chaging any street numbers. There seems to be great support by, and no opposition from, residents for naming the road "Byrnes Mill Road," and citizens are expressing their desires in signed petitions requesting County officials to properly name "Byrnes Mill Road." HOME