Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association Contact us at: MChurch245@aol.com



April 2001

IPLSA and the Surveying Profession Looses a Good FriendChurch Photo

IPLSA was notified of the death of Joe D. Webber, PLS of Spring, Texas. Joe was active in the Illinois Registered Land Surveyors Association prior to relocating to Texas. During the 1950's, 60's and 70's he served as Editor of the IRLSA Survey Manual and was the driving force behind the drafting of the Illinois Survey Standards. He was the author of a book entitled Early Public Land Surveys in the Northwest Territory and Procedures for the Retracement of Original Government Surveys in Illinois. This publication is on the list of study materials for those taking the surveyor's examination. Joe was honored by IPLSA at the 44th Annual Conference in 2001 with a Life Membership Award.

Editor’s Note: Joe was one of the first people I met when I started working with IPLSA. He was always concerned with the standards in which surveys are performed and he did extensive research on the history of land surveying.

2001 Conference Report

The IPLSA 44th Annual Conference was a great success thanks to a huge turnout. 647 nametags were given out, which were 70 more than last year. A few features of this conference was the one-day special session for field crew personnel on Saturday morning. We had 67 registered for the session. IPLSA looks forward to expanding this to an all day session. A special thanks goes out to the Southwest Chapter of IPLSA who put together a great program and provided staffing during the conference which helped to make it ran so smoothly.

2002 IPLSA 45th Annual Conference

The IPLSA State Office started last fall working with the Northeast Chapter in putting together the 2002 IPLSA Conference. The dates for the conference February 20 - 23, 2002 at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield. The program is taking shape and a tentative schedule will be published in the Summer issue of the Illinois Surveyor. As I stated before we want to expand the one-day Saturday session for field crew personnel. We would like to hear your ideas on topics that you would like to see presented. Please contact the IPLSA office if you have any suggestions.

2003 IPLSA 46th Annual Conference

2003 marks the 75th Anniversary of IPLSA, which was chartered in 1928. We are working with the East Central Chapter of IPLSA to mark this special event during the conference.

IDPR Licensing Board News

I attended the IDPR Licensing Board meeting in Springfield on Friday, March 30th. The Board covered a variety of issues on their agenda.

Testing Services: Discussion took place on the subject of having the National Council of Engineering & Surveying (NCEES) provide the testing services for the SIT and PLS tests which are now administered by Continental Testing of LaGrange, Illinois, through a contract with IDPR. Any consideration of NCEES or any other testing agency could only be evaluated after the contract with Continental expires. Other State Licensing Boards use NCEES as the testing agency.

Combined Complaint Committee: At a recent Design Professionals Combined Complaint Committee it was reported that 45 cases had been reviewed by the committee and sent to the Prosecutions Section of IDPR. Eight of the cases pertained to land surveying.

24 Hour Course Approval: The Education and Continuing Education Sub-Committee Board members Terry Ruettiger and David Sherrill reviewed the 24 semester hour land surveying course, which is given by Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. They sat in on classes and labs and interviewed students. It was their recommendation to the full Board that a letter be written to Bruce A. DeVantier, Ph.D., P.E. Interim Chair of the Department of Civil Engineering, stating that the site review found the course met the criteria set out by the Board. They also recommended to the Board that the letter suggest SIUC add staff, courses and look into providing a four year surveying degree course. They will also asked SIUC to look into partnering with Community and Junior Colleges around the State so that students could attend these types of colleges and the courses offered would be transferable to a four-year degreed program at SIUC. The sub-committee members will be visiting Purdue University at Calumet, Indiana. The purpose of the visit is to evaluate the surveying courses offered at the university as being qualified for the related science degree requirement to become eligible to take the Surveyor-in-Training exam.

Continuing Education: The Education and Continuing Education Sub-Committee also submitted a re-draft of a proposed continuing education program that would become mandatory by Administrative Rule. The proposed program was a re-draft of a program that was submitted to the Board by IPLSA October 12, 1996. Changes in the IPLSA draft reduced the 24 hours of professional development to 16 required hours over a two-year period. Other changes include a reduction from 50 minutes to 45 minutes of instruction or presentation as the Professional Development Hour (PDH). Another suggestion would be to eliminate any credit for active participation in Professional Land Surveying Associations or Societies. The Board accepted the proposed changes and asked that the proposed program along with IDPR regulation language be put in draft administrative rule form and be submitted back to the Board for discussion at their next meeting scheduled for May 24th. If the program can be adopted by administrative rule this year or next, it would become effective with your 2004 renewal, which means you have to start acquiring the 16 hours starting January 1, 2003.

Questions on the Newly Approved Minimum Standards of Practice

Technical questions, pertaining to the new Minimum Standards of Practice and Standards of Professional Conduct as stated in the Administrative Rules of the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors act of 1989 as amended, should be in writing and sent to Mrs. Thelma Barrington, Design Coordinator, IDPR, 329 West Washington, 3rd Floor, Springfield, Illinois 62786.

Representative Tom Berns Appointed to ILGIC:

In a letter dated March 27, 2001, House Republican Leader Lee A. Daniels informed Representative Tom Berns that he has been appointed to serve as a member of the Illinois Geographic Information Council effectively immediately. IPLSA Executive Director Bob Church serves on the council and looks forward to having Tom on the council.

Legislative news

Representative Skip Saviano of Elmwood Park introduced HB-0889 into the State Legislature. The bill reduces the Statutes of Repose for Professional Land Surveyors. Presently there is no time limit for someone to bring action against a Professional Land Surveyor or negligence or an error. This is known as the Statute of Repose. If a claim is found the person has 4 years in which to file the claim. This is called the Statute of Limitation. The new bill would limit the Statute of Repose to 10 years. This means that no claim can be brought against a Professional Land Surveyor after 10 years of the survey. If a claim is found within the first 10 years a person must file the claim within 4 years. This is a significant accomplishment for Professional Land Surveyors.

Another bill of importance to Professional Land Surveyors is HB-3184. This bill amends the Property Act (Plat Act), and numerous other acts pertaining to property, subdivisions and the Recorders Act. It would create the Uniform Development Standards Advisory Board. The bill was originally sponsored by Representative Ricca Slone (D-92, Peoria Heights) but after it passed out of committee Speaker Michael J. Madigan (D-22, Chicago) became the chief sponsor. Representative Tom Berns found that there were many associations and other organized groups opposed to the bill. With the Speaker of the House supporting the bill it continued through the House. Representative Berns had a conversation with Representative Slone on Thursday, April 5th and eventually all of the language was gutted from the bill. This means that the bill became a "shell bill". Representative Slone wants the bill to continue through the process but she has agreed to discuss the concerns of those in opposition. IPLSA will work closely with Representative Berns to see that any language adopted is in the best interest of the public.

SIT & PLS REVIEW COURSE OFFERED

IPLSA is considering offering a review course for anyone wanting to take the SIT exam or PLS exam. The two-day SIT and two-day PLS course will be held in the Springfield area the month of August 2001. The cost of each two-day course will be $225.00 for IPLSA members and $275.00 for non-members pre-registered by July 15, 2001. Both courses will be presented by Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Assistant Professor Roy R. Frank, Jr., PLS. Anyone interested in applying for the course should contact IPLSA immediately by calling the association office at 217/498-8102 or by E-mail: mchurch245@aol.com

21 SEMESTER HOUR SURVEYING COURSE OFFERED

IPLSA and SIUC will be offering the 21-semester hour surveying course on weekends starting Saturday, June 16, 2001 at Joliet Junior College in Joliet, Illinois. The courses is design to help those with a baccalaureate degree in a related science obtain the hours required to be qualified to sit for the Land Surveyor-in-Training examination. The course is offered on Saturday and Sunday for 2 weekends in the summer, 4 weekends in the fall and 4 weekends in the spring. It takes approximately two and one-half years to complete the course. Assistant Professor Roy R. Frank, Jr., PLS is the instructor. Those interested in taking the course should contact Roy R. Frank at 618/453-7830 or by E-mail: frank@ce.siu.edu

IPLSA/SIUC 21 SEMESTER HOUR SURVEYING COURSE GRADUATES FIRST CLASS

On Saturday, April 28, 2001 several students will be completing the first 21-semester hour course offered by IPLSA and SIUC at Joliet Junior College. IPLSA is grateful for Professor Frank's commitment to those interested in pursuing a land surveyor's license.
Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association
203 South Walnut Street
P.O. Box 588
Rochester, IL 62563
Phone: 217/498-8102
Fax: 217/498-8489