February 2006

HAPPY NEW YEAR …… we are off and running in 2006, and I look forward to another year as Executive Director of IPLSA.  I have decided to make 2006 “the year of the member”,  which means we want to be sure that we are doing our best to represent you by providing for your needs as a member of the oldest state professional association representing land surveying. 

What are your needs?  What do you want IPLSA to do for you?  You will be able have input on these and other questions while attending the 49^th IPLSA Annual Conference.

We are working with IPLSA Membership Chair, Tim Burch, PLS to put together a questionnaire that will be in your conference registration packet.  The first 200 attendees who return a completed form will receive a four coin set of un-circulated Jefferson nickels known as the “Westward Journey Nickel Series” as a special gift. The series contains two un-circulated 2004 Jefferson nickels and two un-circulated 2005 Jefferson nickels in a sealed case. Watch for the questionnaire and fill it out because both you and IPLSA will benefit. 

LINCOLN’S 1835 SURVEY DONATED

An original survey prepared in 1835 by Abraham Lincoln for John Kennedy Kincaid was donated recently to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois by the Kincaid family.

Lincoln and Kennedy were both from Kentucky and were in their mid 20’s when they arrived in Central Illinois.  Lincoln settled in New Salem where he was a store clerk and a surveyor.  Kincaid, an abolitionist educated in Greek and Latin, began buying up property and farmland near Athens, Illinois a few miles east of New Salem.

John Kennedy Kincaid purchased land midway between Athens and New Salem and Deputy Sangamon County Surveyor Abe Lincoln helped Kincaid establish the boundaries of his property.  The land was to supply Kincaid timber for his homestead.

Decades after the survey, the Kincaid family had the survey document framed and it was passed down through the generations and proudly displayed in their homes.

Kim Bauer, Lincoln curator, at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, said that at first glance, the document is no different than any other 19^th century piece of bureaucracy – except for the “A. Lincoln” signature down at the bottom of the page in the future president’s handwriting.

Bauer said, “Lincoln had the ability to take a complex subject like land surveying and master it within a six-month period after taking it up.” Lincoln’s first survey was performed in 1934.

“Surveying was one of the first jobs where he had a much wider scope of being able to go out, meet and greet and understand people,” Bauer said

In 1976, Kincaid’s great-grandson, also named John Kennedy Kincaid, and his wife Margaret, took the survey to Springfield and had it appraised. When they were told it was worth about $20,000 that is where its life as a conversation piece ended.  “I took it to the lock box that afternoon,” recalled Margaret Kincaid, whose husband died in 1996.

Kincaid and her family decided to donate the survey to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.  A ceremony was held in the museum’s Treasures Gallery where the survey will be on display along with the Emancipation Proclamation and Gettysburg Address and Lincoln’s original survey plat of the town of Huron, Illinois.

Mrs. Kincaid said the Kincaid family has been discussing how the document might be preserved, and the new museum is “the logical place”.  “It needs to be in a place that is humidly-controlled,” Mrs. Kincaid added “and it is time for the survey to belong to the public”. 

Historians have known about the survey for years, and it has been published in books.  John Kennedy’s’ brother, Archibald, also had property surveyed by Lincoln and copies of the survey have appeared in books but the original survey is missing.

Mrs. Kincaid said her survey, inside its safe-deposit box in a Petersburg bank, has been reappraised since 1976.  She would not tell its worth, except to say that if someone had paid $20,000 for it in 1976, it would have been a very god investment.

49^th ANNUAL IPLSA CONFERENCE

The Heart of Illinois Chapter of IPLSA has worked diligently on this year’s conference and we expect a large turnout.  Most of the presenters are new and so are their topics.  We will be providing the IDFPR mandatory PDHs for those who need them.

As a special event IPLSA is hosting a once in a life time reception and tour of the newly opened Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in downtown Springfield. 

Another new program is the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) Certified Surveying Technician (CST) Program and Examination.  Those passing the exam will receive the Level I Certification.

We have expanded the exhibit area so access to the exhibit booths will be easier and will allow us to set up tables and chairs for attendees to relax and enjoy break times.

LET IPLSA BE YOUR CONTINUING EDUCATION PROVIDER

IPLSA wants to be your continuing education provider. We have started putting together topics, presenters and dates for 2006.  As you know, all PLSs will need to renew their license as of November 30, 2006. Please watch for seminar dates in the Illinois Surveyor and here at this web site. It is our goal to provide all PLSs with informative seminars at the lowest possible price.

ARE YOU GETING WHAT YOU PAID FOR?

Since the amendment to the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Act by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), requiring Professional Land Surveyors to obtain 20 Professional Development Hours per renewal period, many providers and seminars have surfaced. 

Although some providers advertise that their seminars are approved in Illinois you need to know that IDFPR does not pre-approve seminars or their PDHs.  How are you to know that the seminars that you take will be approved?  IPLSA is the only provider that submits its courses to a committee of your peers to insure that the courses meet the standards.  When you see the “IPLSA Seal of Approval” you can be assured that the seminar has been reviewed by Professional Land Surveyors and approved to be offered by IPLSA.  Look for the “IPLSA Seal of Approval” as a guarantee that the seminars you take will be approved.

YEAR END LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

The following information summarizes legislation passed by the Illinois General Assembly in 2005:

HB-381 became Public Act 94-126 – Provides that persons or entities that falsely gain government contracts as a minority, female or disabled firm are guilty of a Class 2 felony, and must pay back an amount equal to 1.5 times the value of the contract.

HB-518 became Public Act 94-532 – Establishes a Quality Based Selection process for procuring construction management services.

HB-900 became Public Act 94-452 - Beginning January 1, 2006, any Professional Land Surveyor or other Design Professional who puts their license in an inactive status with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) may continue to use their professional license designation, followed by the words “Retired”. (i.e. John Jones, PLS, Retired).  The legislation (HB-900) was introduced by the Design Profession Associations and the final language was negotiated with IDFPR so that a new classification would not have to be created.  All “professionals” were included in the final version of the bill. The bill requires that the professional be in “good standing” at the time they retire and that they have no disciplinary action pending.  The bill also clearly states that anyone who does not hold an “active” license is not allowed to practice their profession.

HB-1318 became Public Act 94-290 – Amends the Good Samaritan Act to include liability protection for architects, land surveyors, professional engineers and structural engineers.

HB-3770 became Public Act 94-139 – Ends diversion of road funds accountable to Department of Central Management Services Efficiency Initiatives, saving approximately $21 million.

SB-13 became Public Act 94-672 – Authorizes subcontractors to challenge prime contractors through state officials for failing to make timely payments.

SB-1654 was Amendatory Vetoed - Amends the State Prompt Payment Act, prohibiting agencies from delaying the review of bills unless a defect is identified.

MEMBER FIRMS ANNOUNCE ANNIVERSARIES

Congratulations to Klingner & Associates, PC of Quincy, Illinois on their 100^th year in business and to Oates Associates, Inc. of Collinsville, Illinois on their 25^th year in business.

NEW ACCOUNTING SYSTEM INTRODUCED

IPLSA is now using QuickBooks for accounting.  Utilizing the new system is a result of discussions of the IPLSA Budget Committee.

IPLSA MUSEUM OF SURVEYING GETS DONATION

The family of the late Robert E. Lyon of Wheaton, Illinois has donated several pieces of surveying equipment to the IPLSA Museum of Surveying in Petersburg, Illinois.  The items are from the 1930s and include a K&E transit with an extension tripod, 100’ steel tape, tape mending tool, K&E brass plumb bob, box of 13 Lufkin arrows, canvass field bag, and various other items.  IPLSA wishes to thank Mrs. Margaret R. Lyon, wife of the late Robert E. Lyon for the donation.  The equipment will be placed in its own glass case and depict what a surveyor’s field crew equipment would have looked like in the 1930s.

2007 ACSM/NSPS/IPLSA/MSPS CONFERENCE UPDATE

Work continues on the 2007 Spring American Congress on Surveying and Mapping Conference, which will be held March 8–12, 2007 at the America Center Convention Center in St. Louis, MO.  IPLSA along with the Missouri Society of Professional Surveyors are co-hosting the event.