Denny Johnson likes his ornamental mailbox, which is set on a well pump.

It’s been in front of his home, 1855 North 700 Road, for 25 to 30 years. It’s never been hit or caused a problem. That’s why he objected Wednesday night to a proposed resolution that would regulate mailboxes on Douglas County roads.

“I came here to defend my mailbox,” he said during the Douglas County Commission meeting. “It violates every rule put before you in this resolution.”

Commissioners made no decision regarding the mailbox resolution. They decided they wanted time to revise the proposed resolution and sent it back to the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, which generated the regulations.

The commissioners said public safety was the main reason they were considering the proposed mailbox resolution. County engineer Keith Browning said the proposal was based on regulations used by the Kansas Department of Transportation for highways.

About 20 people, including Johnson, questioned why commissioners had the need to regulate mailboxes, saying that if someone were hurt, it would be the homeowner’s problem.

During his presentation, Browning said the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office reported that between 2001 and November 2004 there were 1,439 accidents in the county. Of those accidents, 354 vehicles exited the roadway, and vehicles in 18 of those cases hit or damaged a mailbox.

“Eighteen doesn’t seem like a lot, but it’s 18 chances for a catastrophic incident,” he said.

The proposed regulations, which come from the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, would ban certain supports for boxes, such as concrete, masonry, solid stone, steel stronger than a standard steel pipe measuring 2 inches in diameter, or any material measuring more than 6 inches in diameter.

Should the proposed resolution pass, residents with mailboxes deemed out of compliance will be notified and given a year to comply. Those with mailboxes in place also would have the opportunity to go through an appeals process.