A business circulating fliers around Lawrence soliciting money for painting addresses on curbs has not been approved by the city.

The flier claims you can help 911 emergency responders by paying $12 to have your house number painted on the curb. It also says the program is city-approved.

Lawrence City Clerk Frank Reeb said no city departments have given approval, and neither has the Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical Department.

“The city code requires the addresses to be on the structure. That’s what we count on,” Fire Marshal Rich Barr said. “When we respond to a call, typically we’re not looking at the curb. We’re looking at the structure.”

Minnesota native Ross Richardson, who is a carpenter in the summer months, said he’s just trying to provide the community with a service that can save emergency crews valuable seconds in life or death situations.

“Some of these houses you can’t find the house number at all,” Richardson said. “At nighttime in an emergency the fire department could go right by.”

City officials said they had not licensed anyone to be soliciting residents to paint curbs and planned to contact the Lawrence Police Department.