November 2006

CHURCH’S COMMENTS

ACSM/IPLSA/MSPS CONFERENCE UPDATE

Plans are moving forward for the spring 2007 ACSM/IPLSA/MSPS Conference, which will be held in St. Louis, Missouri.  Many workshops and technical sessions will be held during Friday - March 9, Saturday - March 10, Sunday - March 11 and will end Friday afternoon - March 12.   The exhibit hall, featuring vendors from around the world along with national and local vendors, will open at 2:00pm on Saturday - March 11. 

Exhibit hours will be:

                Saturday - March 10            – 2:00pm to 7:00pm

                Sunday - March 11               – 10:00am to 6:00pm (8:00am to 10:00am for private demos)

                Monday - March 12             – 10:00am to 2:00pm (8:00am to 10:00am for private demos)

The Millennium Hotel is the Conference Hotel. Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-325-7353. Be sure to mention “ACSM” to receive the discounted rate of:

                South Tower (Standard) $109 single/double plus tax

                North Tower (Deluxe) $119 single/double plus tax

                $20.00 per night for each additional person

All of the conference events (*except for the IPLSA Annual Banquet) will be held at the America’s Center Convention Facility.  Continuous shuttle service will be provided between the Millennium Hotel and the America’s Center Convention Facility.

* The 50^th Annual IPLSA Banquet will be held at the Millennium Hotel on Friday evening March 9^th.

 WATCH FOR THE CONFERENCE MAILING

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION SETS FINES

The IDFPR Land Surveyors Licensing Board has followed the lead of other licensing boards when it comes to PLSs not meeting the Professional Development Hour requirement.  The following action will be taken:

                Completed hours 0–7 =      $2,500 fine and 6 months to make up

                                                8–15 =    $1,500 fine and 6 months to make up

                                           16–19 =       $500 fine and 6 months to make up

All PLSs who fail an audit will be added to the audit of the following renewal. The make up hours may not be used for meeting the PDH requirement for the next renewal period.

Renewal requirements:

1. Each renewal period (even numbered years) the applicant shall certify, on the renewal application, full compliance with the professional development requirements set forth in Section 1270.65 Professional Development, of the Administrative Rules of the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Act of 1989.
2. The IDFPR Division may require additional evidence demonstrating compliance with the Continuing Education (CE) requirements (e.g., certificate of attendance). This additional evidence shall be required in the context of the Division’s random audit. It is the responsibility of each renewal applicant to retain or otherwise produce evidence of compliance.
3. When there appears to be a lack of compliance with CE requirements, an applicant shall be notified in writing and may request an interview with the Board. At that time the Board may recommend that steps be taken to begin formal disciplinary proceedings as required by Section 10-65 of the Administrative Procedure Act [5 ILCS 100/10-65].

8. Restoration of Non-renewed License.  Upon satisfactory evidence of compliance with PDH requirements, the Division shall restore the license upon payment of the fee provided in Section 1247.75 ($20 plus payment of all lapsed renewal fees, not to exceed $600).
9. Wavier of PDH Requirements

1.        Any renewal applicant seeking renewal of a license without having fully complied with the PDH requirements shall file with the Division a renewal application along with the required fee set forth in Section 1245.75 ($75.00), a statement setting forth the facts concerning non-compliance and request for a waiver of the PDH requirements on the basis of theses facts.  A request for a waiver must be made prior to the renewal date.  If the Division, upon the written recommendation of the Board, finds from such affidavit or any other evidence submitted that extreme hardship has been shown for granting a waiver, the Division shall waive enforcement of the PDH requirements for the renewal period for which the applicant has applied.

2.        Extreme hardship shall be determined on an individual basis by the Board and be defined as an inability to devote sufficient hours to fulfilling the PDH requirement during the application pre-renewal period because of:

A.      Full-time service in the armed forces of the United States of America during a  substantial part of the pre-renewal period;

B.       An incapacitating illness documented by a statement from a currently licensed physician;

C.       A physical inability to travel to the sites of the approved programs documented by a currently licensed physician

D.      Any other similar extenuating circumstances.

3.        Any renewal applicant who, prior to the expiration date of the license, submits a request for a waiver, in whole or in part, pursuant to the provisions of this Section, shall be deemed to be in good standing until the final decision on the application is made by the Division.
 

IDFPR LAND SURVEYORS LICENSING BOARD MEETS

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Land Surveyors Licensing Board (Board) met on October 19, 2006 in Springfield with all members present. The following are some of the items discussed:

1. TOPO Standards – during the comment period the department received a letter on the proposed TOPO rules from the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers (ISPE).  In the letter they asked the following language be inserted in the proposed rules. “A licensed professional engineer may perform topographic surveys specific to a design project. A license professional engineer may not, however, offer topographic surveying services independent of a specific design project under their supervision.”

2. After discussion the Board approved the following language, “A licensed professional engineer, knowledgeable in topographical surveying may perform topographic surveys specific to a design project. A licensed  professional engineer may not, however, offer topographic surveying services independent of his/her a specific design project under their supervision.” Motion and second to approve passed with all voted yes.

3. Proposed TOPO Standards update: The above language will be inserted and be sent to JCAR for final approval.  The proposed rules must be approved by JCAR by June 16, 2007.

Proposed Legal Description Standards – A sub-committee of the Board is working on formulating Legal Description Standards to become part of the administrative rules.  Watch our Web site for updates as these standards develop.

Verification of Experience Form

Discussion at the Board meeting raised an issue concerning the PLS Exam Application.  At least 25% of the applicant’s experience has to be field experience.
 

IDFPR LAND SURVEYOR LICENSING BOARD CANDIDATES NEEDED

Several members of the IDFPR Land Surveyors Licensing Board terms have already or will be expiring this year. All PLSs who meet the qualifications should send their resume to their respective chapter presidents and ask that they be considered for nomination by the chapter.
 

HANNA PARK ESTABLISHED

On August 10, 2006 the DeKalb Park District dedicated a park in the name of William E. (Bill) Hanna, PLS 1941.  Bill was an active member of the Northeast Chapter for many years and the location of the park was in a subdivision laid out by William E. Hanna Surveyors in.

NEW LOVING SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE

The Lowell H. and Dorothy Loving Scholarship has been established by the National Society of Professional Land Surveyors (NSPS) Foundation, Inc.  Those interested should go to our home page and click on the blue NSPS logo, then click on Education on the left side of the page.  All NSPS Foundation, Inc. scholarships are listed. 

NEW NSPS TRIG-STAR SCHOLARSHIP TO BE OFFERED

Members of the NSPS Trig-Star, the NSPS Board of Governors and the NSPS Board of Directors approved a new scholarship for students who participate in the 2006-2007 NSPS Trig-Star Program.  The scholarship is in addition to the scholarship offered to those who score highest on chapter, state and national exams.  Those interested should go to our home page and click on the blue NSPS logo, then click on the NSPS Trig-Star Program on the left side of the page.

CHURCH APPOINTED TO THE NSPS FOUNDATION, INC., BOARD OF TRUSTEES

IPLSA executive director Robert E. Church was appointed by Joseph M. Dolan, PLS to fill an unexpired term of James F. Boyer, PLS of Tennessee who resigned to spend more time with his family.  Church attended the NSPS Foundation, Inc., Board of Trustees meeting during the recent NSPS Fall Conference in Arlington, VA.

LETTER SENT TO SENATOR DEANNA DEMUZIO (D-49)

A letter was sent to Senator Deanna Demuzio (D-49) of Carlinville asking her to consider sponsoring a bill to amend the Illinois Freedom of Information Act that would require governmental entities to make GIS information available to design professionals.  Current law prohibits design professionals access to GIS information.

2008 IPLSA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The IPLSA Chicago Chapter continues to work with the association office on plans for the 51^st IPLSA Annual Conference, which will be held February 2008 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, Illinois.

IPLSA JOINING WITH NSPS TO OFFER NEW INSURANCE PROGRAMS TO MEMBERS

The IPLSA Benefit Association is teaming up a new insurance program being offered by the National Society of Professional Land Surveyors (NSPS) on a national basis. The IPLSA Benefit Association will continue to offer their existing programs and the NSPS plan will offer professional liability, life, disability and long term care.

ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE PLACING OF PINS, PIPES, AND SIMILAR OBJECTS IN ROAD SURFACES

An ordinance prohibiting the placing of pins, pipes, and other similar objects in road surfaces was up for discussion at the September meeting of the Village of Bull Valley, Illinois. At the meeting the ordinance was tabled for further discussion with IPLSA members.

IPLSA POLICY MANUAL APPROVAL TO BE CONSIDERED

The proposed IPLSA Policy Manual will be under consideration at the Official Board of Directions meeting on December 2.  The proposed manual, which removed policies previously adopted by the IPLSA Board from the by-laws and placed them in a stand alone manual for easier reference. The manual was drafted by the IPLSA Constitution and By-Law Committee chaired by Don Rich, PLS and was sent to all chapters’ presidents and placed on the IPLSA website for viewing by IPLSA members.

“LOOKING FOR LINCOLN” DEPUTY COUNTY SURVEYOR, TEXT RAIL DEDICATED

On Saturday, October 7, a “Looking for Lincoln” Text Rail was dedicated on the southwest corner of the square in Petersburg, Illinois.  A text rail is a story board that is placed at any site that has a Lincoln story to tell.  IPLSA worked with the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and suggested that they use Lincoln’s surveying career as the theme of the rail.  Lincoln laid out Petersburg and signed the plat on February 17, 1836.  Sponsorships to fund the rail came from residents, businesses and friends of Petersburg who sponsored a brick that was installed around the rail.

HISTORIC SURVEYING AT NEW SALEM

On Saturday, October 6, and Sunday, October 7, IPLSA participated in the annual historic surveying event at Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site near Petersburg, IL.  Re-enactors in period clothing from the Museum of Surveying in Lansing, Michigan and IPLSA used antique surveying equipment to demonstrate how land surveying in the 1830s.  A period campsite, display of surveying instruments, and plats and maps were available for public viewing.  Lincoln used similar equipment and his equipment is on display in the Visitor’s Center.

Two one-hour programs were offered in the Visitor’s Center Theater on Saturday: “Men Behind the Maps” was presented by Lisa Jacobs, curator of the Museum of Surveying in Lansing, Michigan and “A. Lincoln, Deputy Sangamon County Surveyor” was presented by Bob Church, IPLSA Executive Director.

Two one-hour programs were offered in the Visitor’s Center Theater on Sunday: “Early Surveying in Illinois and the Rectangular System” was presented by Bob Church, IPLSA Executive Director and “Creating and Constructing the A. Lincoln Deputy Sangamon County Surveyor Statue” was presented by Bob Church and John McClarey, the statue sculptor.

LETTER SENT TO IDOT SECRETARY MARTIN

In response to a complaint from an IPLSA member concerning a posting on the Professional Transportation Bulletin 142 a letter was sent to IDOT Secretary Timothy W. Martin.  The complaint raised the issue that three jobs appeared to contain only work under the definition of land surveying, but required a Professional Engineer as the Project Manager.   This would not allow a strictly land surveying firm to contract to perform the work.

IPLSA MEMBERS OFFER HELP WITH BOY SCOUT MERIT BADGE

On Saturday, September 29, 12 Boy Scouts ranging from the ages of 11 to 16 participated in a daylong surveying program at Parkland College in Champaign/Urbana, IL.  Todd Horton, SIT, director of Parkland’s Construction Design and Management Program was the leader of the day’s activities.  Joining Todd was David Phillippe, PLS from HDC Engineering, Inc., Ed Clancy, PLS from Berns, Clancy & Assoc., Inc., Mike Bytner, PLS and Rick Pendill from Weaver Boos Consultants, Inc., Matt Graven and Keith Brandau from Sodemann & Associates, Mike Carpenter from A-B Land Surveying, P.C., Tom Scott from H.L. Chastain & Associates, Ben Fisher, PLS from City of Urbana, Kyle Schulze student from SIU and Tyler Brinkman, Eric Karacsonyi & Mike Peach students from Parkland College.