Summer 2008

IPLSA Offers Exam Review Seminars

Surveyor-in-Training Exam Review Seminar will be held August 13–14, Land Surveyor Exam Review Seminar will be held August 15–16, and Jurisdictional Exam Review Seminar will be held August 16.  All classes will be held at the Days Inn, Springfield, IL.  Visit our conference/seminars page for more information and a registration form.

IPLSA / Southern Illinois University / Joliet Junior College

IPLSA in conjunction with Southern Illinois University continues to offer the 24-hours of surveying courses on weekends at Joliet Junior College.  The three semester course is held one weekend per month except December for students with a baccalaureate degree in a Related Science who need the 24-hour surveying course. The course is in its 7th year and is taught by Associate Professor Roy R. Frank, Jr., PLS.  Contact IPLSA for information or visit our conference/seminars page.

IPLSA 2009 Conference Update

You should know by know that the dates for the 2009 IPLSA Annual Conference will be February 11–14, 2009 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel & Conference Center in Springfield. The Winnebago Chapter is the host chapter and they are finalizing the program.

National Museum of Surveying Update

Pictured below is Bob Church and William Snyder the director of the NMoS standing front of the museum in downtown Springfield holding a check in the amount of $141,150. The check is from a Tourism Attraction Development Program Grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The museum also received $118,000 from the City of Springfield TIF Grant Program. Contractors are working on the permanent walls in the lower level and architects are drawing plans for the 1^st floor museum gallery and the second floor office suites for IPLSA and the Illinois Historical Society. The additional space on the 2^nd floor will be used to host seminars and receptions. 

Professional Engineers Act of 1989 Legislation

Background: SB2760 was originally introduced as a new act which creates the Electricians Act. In April it was amended and all the language creating the Electricians Act was removed. New language was introduced and SB2760 became the Professional Engineering Act of 1989, which would satisfy the professional engineer’s requirement for Sunset.
 

In the new language under the definition of Professional Engineering Practice, (page 46 line 16 of the amendment) the words “and topography, not including land boundary” has been proposed.
 

A couple of years ago when we were defining Topographic Survey under Section 1270.56 of the Minimum Standards of Practice, we were asked (strongly requested) by IDFPR to insert the following: A licensed professional engineer knowledgeable in topographical survey may perform a topographical survey specific to his/her design project.  A licensed professional engineer may not, however, offer topographic surveying services independent of his/her specific design project.

We accepted the professional engineer’s recommendation and added the language.

It is the recommendation of IPLSA that the same language that was proposed by the professional engineers for the definition of the Topographic Standards that was adopted by IPLSA and approved by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules be inserted in the language of SB2760.

HB2094 Construction Safety Act of 2008 - Brings Back the Scaffolding Act

HB2094 if passed will bring back what was known as the Scaffolding Act or the Trial Lawyers Full Employment Act. This bill as first proposed, would have made it easier to bring legal action against design professionals participating in construction projects.  The design professions worked together to amend out design professionals by amending the HB2094 with the following language: Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9of this Act, no right of action shall accrue under this act against an Illinois licensed design professional who does not have any responsibility for work-site safety and whose involvement, role, and activity is solely and exclusively limited to architectural, engineering, or land surveying services.  For purposes of this Section, “Illinois licensed design professional” means a person or entity who, at the time the services in question were performed, was registered as an Illinois Professional Design Firm or holds an active license as an architect under the Illinois Architecture Practice Act of 1989, a structural engineer under the Structural Engineering Practice Act of 1989, a professional engineer under the Professional Engineering Practice Act of 1989, or a land surveyor under the Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Act of 1989.

2008 Surveyors Historical Society Rendezvous

This years rendezvous will be held September 11–13, 2008 in Akron, OH. This event is a joint venture with a “Gathering of Potential Surveyors” a University of Akron Student Group.  A 12.0 c.e.u. workshop, entitled “Ohio. Birthplace of the Public Land System”, will include lectures about each of the thirteen survey systems tried in Ohio; a swap meet of surveying memorabilia; and a field trip via canoe to re-monument the most eastern point of the Greenville Treaty Line.  Re-enactors are welcome. Contact www.surveyorshistoricalsociety.com

2008 Last Chance Seminars

A few weeks ago every PLS licensed in Illinois received a notice 2008 Last Chance Seminars. The reason for the mailing was to alert those licensed surveyors who have not obtained the 20 PDHs required for re-licensure by November 30, 2008 deadline. Watch for a separate registration mailing for each of the seminars and watch our conference/seminars page.

November 30, 2008 PLS License Renewal Deadline

Each PLS licensed in Illinois should receive a renewal notice later this year from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. You will only receive a notice if you have not had change of address since the last renewal or if you notified IDFPR of your new address.

IPLSA Little Egyptian Chapter Members Come to the Rescue

Due to the lack of IDOT maintenance funds the grounds around the Cardinal Point on

U.S. Route 51 south of Centralia, IL has not been maintained.  To the rescue were members of the Little Egyptian Chapter.  On Thursday, June 12^th Marvin Jenkins, Ronnie Wilkins, Micah Mulvany, and Joe Niederhofer mowed the grass and cleaned up the area. 

IPLSA Membership Directory Available

Free copies of the directory were handed out at the IPLSA conference and are available for $10.00 to cover postage and handling by contacting the IPLSA office by e-mail at info@iplsa.org

ACSM/NSPS Lobby Day in Washington, D.C.

IPLSA members are encouraged to attend the ACSM/NSPS Lobby Day on Thursday, September 25^th.  Anyone interested should contact Bob Church at for details at iplsa@springnet1.com. 

2009 ACSM Conference

The 2009 ACSM-MARLS-UCLS-WFPS Conference will be held February 19-24, 2009 in Salt Lake City, UT.  For information contact www.wfps.org/files/events.html.

IPLSA Fall Event

IPLSA has decided to host its fall event in conjunction with Surveying with Lincoln at New Salem Event, October 3–5, 2008 at Lincoln’s New Salem Historic Site near Petersburg, IL.  Plans are for IPLSA Committees to meet on Saturday morning. Members are encouraged to bring their families and enjoy the events of the weekend.