January 2005

New  PLS ACT Administrative Rules Adopted

The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) approved the proposed rule changes as submitted by the Professional Regulation Division of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.  The original Proposed Rules were distributed to IPLSA members. After a comment period most suggested changes were made prior to final approval by JCAR.  To review the adopted rules go to the cover page.

IPLSA Website update

We are constantly updating this website in order to provide new and useful information.  Please note the following changes:

• The addition of the American Flag, which is dedicated to former and present members of our Armed Forces.

• A flashing note about the newly adopted Administrative Rules.

• The Federal Township Plat information has been added to the “Also See” list on the cover page.

• The NCEES Examination calculator use policy.  Please let us know how we can make this website work for you.

November 2004 Veto Session Legislation –  Here is What Can Happen!!

On February 3, 2003, SB0520 was introduced into the Illinois General assembly by several Chicago Senators.  The synopsis of the bill was to offer financial assistance to teachers wanting to purchase a home.  The reason for the assistance was to encourage more people into the teaching profession.  Nothing in the bill effected land surveying so we did not track the bill further. During the November 2004 Veto Session, I received a call form the Illinois Title Insurance Lobbyists informing me that during the session an amendment had been adopted to the bill that added the following language: The County Recorder shall collect an $11.00 surcharge for the recordation of any real estate-related document, one dollar of which shall be deposited into the count’s general fund, one dollar of which shall be deposited into a Country Recorder Housing Surcharge Account and $9 of which shall be deposited into the Rental Housing Support Program Fund.  Sets forth the conditions upon which and purposes for which expenditures may be made from the Accounts.  If passed the bill would have become effective July 1, 2005.  We were able to defeat SB0520 as amended.  If they still want the bill it will have to be re-introduced after the next session starts.
 

IPLSA 2006 Conference

The Heart of Illinois Chapter has organized its committee in anticipation of hosting the 49^th IPLSA Annual Conference in Springfield.  I am working with the Chapter on the conference program. IPLSA members are encouraged to submit suggestions on speakers and programs for the conference.
 

U.S. Department of Labor – Prevailing Wage – Land Surveying

Curt Sumner, Executive Director of National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Labor.  The purpose of the letter was to once again clarify the Davis-Bacon Act when it comes to land surveying activities and prevailing wages. 

Executive Director Sumner received response on November 1, 2004 and a portion of the response is as follows:   “As indicated in the 1993 letter you reference, it has been a longstanding position of the U. S. Department of Labor that preliminary survey work, such as the preparation of boundary surveys and topographical maps, is not construction work covered by the Davis-Bacon Act especially when performed pursuant to a separate contract.  Thus, the Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements generally would not apply to such survey crew work”.

Where surveying is performed immediately prior to and during actual construction, in direct support of construction crews, such activity is covered by Davis-Bacon requirements for laborers and mechanics.  The determination of whether certain members of survey crews are laborers or mechanics is a question of fact.  Such a determination must take into account the actual duties performed.  As a general matter, an instrument man or transitman, rodman, chainman, party chief, etc., are not considered laborers or mechanics. However, a crew member who primarily does manual work, for example, clearing brush, is a laborer and is covered for the time spent.
 

ACSM/NSPS – IPLSA – MSPS Spring 2007 Conference

NSPS Executive Director Curt Sumner, Missouri Society of Professional Surveyors Executive Director Sandy Boeckman and I met in St. Louis in October to look over the conference and hotel facilities that are available for the 2007 ACSM/NSPS – IPLSA – MSPS Spring 2007 Conference.  We obtained favorable hotel sleeping room rates, parking rates and convention space rates.  I am very excited that IPLSA will be a co-host along with the Missouri Society and will keep the IPLSA membership informed.
 

National Society of Professional Land Surveyors (NSPS)

As reported in prior newsletters that under the “New ACSM” each of the member organizations (MOs) are autonomous and are governed by their own Boards.  It is the hope that under this new procedure, land surveyors under the direction of the NSPS Board made up of NSPS members will be able to act more responsible to its members.  It is believed that land surveyors will want to join NSPS and become a part of the national effort that is concentrating on land surveying issues.  To this end the NSPS membership has put together a “New Member” recruiting kit.  The kit will contain a short power point presentation, and materials to show the exciting programs that NSPS is involved in.
 

ACSM Government Affairs Update

Year End Victories - ACSM was able to get several victories through the 108^th Congress, but none are more important as the two victories that ACSM got at the end of the session. Two pieces of legislation that ACSM have been working on for the past three years finally are on their way to becoming law. The language in the Allard Geospatial Bill, which creates the Office of Geospatial Information in the Department of Homeland Security, will become law in the Intelligence Reform bill and the Federal Prison Industries reform legislation will become law through the Omnibus Spending bill.  During the ACSM Lobby Day earlier this year, which I attended, we met with staffers for many members of Congress and pushed these issues. Our perseverance paid off. 

Language in the Allard Geospatial Bill Finally Becomes Law - We have been working with Senator Wayne Allard (R-C0), Representative Pete Sessions (R-TX) and other members of Congress to pass legislation, which would among other things, increase the geospatial capabilities and create a Geospatial Information Office in the Department of Homeland Security.

Federal Prison Industries Reform Becomes Law - There is a provision in the FY2005 Omnibus bill passed by Congress that will allow private businesses to compete for federal contracts, that were in the past automatically given to Federal Prison Industries (FPI).  Previously, FPI was given work that provided scanning and digitizing services to federal agencies including digitizing maps for GIS applications. We opposed FPI access to sensitive and personal information as a risk to both the federal government and to private citizens.
 

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) Land Surveyors Licensing Board is working Topographic Survey Standards

Because of the amendment to the definition of surveying as it relates to topographic surveying the IDFPR Land Surveyors Licensing Board is drafting standards for topo surveys.  The Licensing Board has met several times and hopes to come up with language to clarify when PLSs must be involved in topo surveys.
 

IPFPR Announces the appoint of a new Design Licensing Manager

Mr. Dave Brim of Springfield has been appointed to the position of Design Licensing Manager of IDFPR.  This position replaces the Design Professions Coordinator held previously by Terry Baird and before that Thelma Barrington.  Brim has worked for IDFPR for the past 16 years in the Records Service Section.  Brim says that he looks forward to working with IPLSA on land surveying issues.
 

Illinois Historical Aerial Photography Digital Archive Keeps Growing

For immediate release: The Illinois Historical Aerial Photography Digital Archive, representing the earliest statewide aerial photography acquired during 1938-1941, has grown with the addition of twenty more counties.  Forty-five counties comprising a total of 15,921 aerial photographs are now accessible through the Illinois Geospatial Data Clearing House (http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/nsdihome/webdocs/ilhap/). The aerial photographs for the latest 20 counties added to the web site, most of which are situated adjacent to the Illinois River, were funded by a grant obtained by the Illinois State Library (ISL) and the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS). The ArcIMS interactive map service web pages have been significantly updated with new layers aiding search strategy, including the USGS 7.5- minute topographic map index, USGS Digital Raster Graphic (DRG) files, and the 1998-2001 Digital Orthophoto Quadrangle (DOQQ) imagery.  Record-level metadata is available for each aerial photograph.  Access and search of the aerial photography is also provided via text-based web pages for each of the 45 counties.  For further information contact: Don Luman at (217) 244-2179 or Arlyn Booth at (217) 558-4140.
 

Waiver of Requirement of Full Payment Certificate for Condominiums, Townhouses, and Cooperative Units

For immediate release from the City of Chicago: As of November 15, 2004, residential units that are townhouses, condominiums, or cooperative apartments that do not have a separate water service or a separate city water assessment for the residential unit will NOT require a certificate of payment from the Department of Water Management in order to receive City of Chicago Transfer Tax Stamps. This waiver is in effect until such time as the municipal code is changed by ordinance to reflect the exemption. For further information contact: Jennifer Margolis at (312) 744-4223.
 

Two Surveying Educators Lost

Dr. Ben Buckner, PLS and Roy Minnick, PLS both passed away recently.  Ben, who was originally from Taylorville, Illinois is a legend in surveying having established two land surveying degree programs, one at Ohio State University and one at East Tennessee State University.  Ben was the author of several land surveying books.  He was a speaker at several IPLSA conferences and was one of Adin Baber’s survey crew members when he re-traced the Lincoln surveys for his book A. Lincoln With Compass and Chain. A scholarship has been set up in honor of Dr. Ben Buckner: The Dr. Ben Buckner Surveying & Mapping Endowment Scholarship Fund, c/o Mr. Jeff Anderson, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614.

Mr. Roy Minnick, PLS was an educator, author, speaker, and book publisher from California.  With the permission and support of his wife Jean, the California Foundation for Land Surveying Education (CFLSE) has created the Roy Minnick Memorial Scholarship.  Donations and questions should be sent to: Paul A. Cuomo, PLS at (714) 508-1123.
 

William E. Hanna, PLS to be memorialized

Since the passing of Bill Hanna over a year and a half ago, William Hanna Surveyors, Barbara Hanna, Steve Milner and Ken Nelson have been working to create a fitting memorial to Bill.  In September the DeKalb Park District named a park in Ken Nelson’s development after Bill Hanna.  The park is located on Ridge Road just east of Normal Road.  It has been landscaped with about 28 trees, several bushes, a walkway, small plaza with a flower garden, benches and a memorial plaque is planned.

Anyone wishing to make a tax deductible monetary donation would be greatly appreciated in helping to honor a man who did so much for his profession and community.  Please send contributions to: DeKalb Park District, c/o Lisa Small, Hanna Park, 1403 Sycamore Road, DeKalb, IL 60115