On June 19, 13 canoers and kayakers were stranded on the Little Miami River for nearly 40 minutes because they could not tell fire crews where they were located.
Chief Marvin Moeller said the project could shave up to 20 minutes off response times.
“That could be the difference between someone drowning, someone getting hypothermia,” Cordonnier said. “Hopefully it will make a big difference in someone’s life.”
Tuesday, the Little Miami River Kleeners recognized Cordonnier with a certificate for his work.
Cordonnier said he was inspired by his friend, former Scout Connor Campbell, to do the project. Campbell died of a heart condition in 2010 at age 11, but he had always hoped to make the change himself.
“When Connor was a Cub Scout with Nathan’s den, they went on a canoe trip and he was talking with his dad and he said, ‘Where am I? I don’t know where I am. What is that road?’ and nobody knew,” said Connor’s mother, Jill Campbell. “And he said ‘Well, what if something happens, how would anybody find us?’”
Cordonnier put Connor’s name on every sign.
“It was very emotional for me,” Campbell said. “The good thing, though, is I can see him living on and being proud with what Nathan’s doing — that’s more important.”
Chief Moeller said he hopes to move forward with state bridges soon.
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