Spring 2007

ACSM-IPLSA-MSPS CONFERENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EXHIBITION

The ACSM-IPLSA-MSPS Conference and Technology Exhibition is in the history books.  It was a very successful conference with the following attendance numbers:

* 700 of these had an Illinois address and 210 had a Missouri address

Although the conference did not include the camaraderie and food service offered at an IPLSA State Conference, I hope everyone enjoyed the diversity of the presenters and the 87 exhibitors, both local and national. 

IPLSA 50^TH ANNUAL BANQUET

The IPLSA 50^th Annual Banquet was held at the Millennium Hotel on Friday evening, March 9^th with 230 in attendance.  During the banquet 2007 IPLSA officers were sworn in by ACSM/NSPS Executive Director Curt Sumner. 2007 IPLSA officers are as follows:

The following scholarship and awards were presented by Ed Clancy, PLS, Chairman of the IPLSA Scholarship & Awards Committee:

Pat Patterson Surveyor of the Year Award – Ross Koch, PLS, Southwest Chapter

Carter Jenkins Distinguished Service Award – Don Rich, PLS, Sangamon Valley Chapter

Carter Jenkins Distinguished Service Award – Art Wolfinbarger, PLS, East Central Chapter

Life Member Award – Roy R. Frank, Jr., PLS, Little Egyptian Chapter

Life Member Award – Jerry I. Stone, PLS, Sangamon Valley Chapter

Life Member Award – Richard L. Wavering, PLS, East Central Chapter

IPLSA Scholarship winners:

$1,000 Barrington Engineering Scholarship – Paul James Platz, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

$1,000 IPLSA Scholarship – Jeanette Kristin Ruggeri, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

$1,000 IPLSA Scholarship – Kyle Alan Schultze, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

$1,000 IPLSA Scholarship – Karen Elizabeth Mette, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

$1,000 IPLSA Scholarship –Andrew Carter Julian, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

$500 renewable IPLSA 24 Semester Hour Scholarship – Terrance John English, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale at Joliet Junior College

$500 renewable IPLSA 24 Semester Hour Scholarship – Greg Donald Snyder, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale at Joliet Junior College

$500 Community College Scholarship – Daniel James Lock, Morrison Institute of Technology

$500 Community College Scholarship – Tyler Joseph Worthington, Parkland College

Winnfield Eldridge $500 Award – Margaret Keefe – Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

Money for scholarship awards is provide by the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Foundation

2008 IPLSA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Preparations are underway, by the IPLSA Chicago Chapter for the 2008 IPLSA Annual Conference.  Welcome back to Springfield may be the theme.  The conference will be held February 20–23, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Springfield.  IPLSA members are encouraged to contact the IPLSA office with suggestions for presenters and presentations.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SURVEYING (NMoS) UPDATE

The NMoS Foundation, Inc., Board of Trustees authorized President David Lee Ingram and Secretary/Treasurer Bob Church to sign the purchase agreement for the new building in Springfield on March 1, 2007.  A formal announcement will be held at the new facility on April 11.  Under the Prairie Archaeological Museum, Sangamon Archaeological Center, and the Illinois State Historical Society have agreed to occupy part of the building.

Under the Prairie Archaeological Museum features the largest display of frontier-era archaeological artifacts in the midwest.  On exhibit are hundreds of authentic relics of everyday life in the log cabins of the early 1800s, including artifacts from downtown Springfield and several Lincoln-related sites. Under the Prairie makes an excellent complement to a visit to Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site.

Sangamo Archaeological Center is a private organization dedicated to the study of historic archaeological sites and artifacts that fall outside of state-funded salvage programs. The center houses one of the largest collections of pre-Civil War artifact assemblages in the Midwest, and conducts a number of research and educational programs.

Illinois State Historical Society established in 1899, is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering awareness, understanding, research, preservation, and recognition of Illinois history.  The society fulfills its mission through its publications The Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society and Illinois Heritage, an annual Illinois History Symposium, the Historical Markers and Centennial Awards programs, tours, scholarships and teaching awards, and statewide advocacy.

UPCOMING IPLSA SANGAMON VALLEY CHAPTER SEMINAR

A one-day seminar hosted by the Sangamon Valley Chapter is scheduled for Friday, May 4, 2007 in Springfield.  The topic for the seminar is Surveying Safety by Ron Koons of RoSaKo, Inc. of Indiana.  Information is on the conference and seminars page.   A registration form was sent to all IPLSA members.

2007 LEGISLATION

HB0227 – Creates the Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act. (New Act) Authorizes a recorder to receive, index, store, archive, and transmit documents eligible to be recorded in the recorder’s land documents, subject to specified requirements.

HB0279 – Amends the Conveyances Act. Provides that a party to a settlement that will convey legal or equitable title to real estate or any interest in real estate or create any lien on real estate by way of a mortgage may file a notice of settlement with the recorder of deeds of the county in which the real estate is situated. Permits the recorder of deeds to charge a fee for filing a notice of settlement. Provides that a notice of settlement shall not be recorded. Sets forth the required form and contents of a notice of settlement. Provides that, after the filing of a notice of settlement, any person claiming title to, an interest in, or a lien upon the real estate described in the notice through any party in the notice shall be deemed to have acquired the title, interest, or lien with knowledge of the anticipated settlement and shall be subject to the terms, conditions, and provisions of the deed or mortgage between the parties filed within the specified period. Provides that a notice of settlement is effective for 45 days from the date of filing and any lien filed during the 45 days shall attach to the premises described in the notice immediately upon the expiration of the 45 days if the premises have not been conveyed and notwithstanding the filing of a subsequent notice of settlement. Effective 60 days after becoming law.

HB0380 – Amends the Property Tax Code by setting forth procedures for the valuation of property used for wind energy.   Platting requirements.  Upon the competition of construction, the owner of a wind energy conservation system, at his or her expense, shall cause the wind turbine facilities to be platted by an Illinois Registered Land Surveyor.

The plat must include access routes, together with a metes and bounds description of the area surrounding each wind turbine.  The system owner must record the plat and deliver a copy of it to the property owner and to the chief county assessment officer within 60 days after completion of the construction.  Upon receiving a copy of the plat, the chief county assessment officer must issue a separate parcel identification number or numbers for the wind energy conservation system to apportion the value to each taxing district in which the system is physically located.

HB0553 – Amends the Park District Code. Provides that the district shall pre-qualify architectural, engineering and land surveying firms.  Allows the use of lists established by State agencies.

HB0598 – Amends the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Act of 1989. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning displaying a license. (Shell bill).

SB0399 – Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. This is IPLSA’s bill concerning receiving GIS information.