June 2004

 

CHURCH’S COMMENTS 

IDPR LAND SURVEYORS LICENSING BOARD APPROVES REVISIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE RULES OF THE ILLINOIS PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYORS ACT
At the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation Land Surveyors Licensing Board meeting held on April 15, the Board adopted revisions to the PLS Act Administrative Rules. The Proposed Rules will be posted on the IDPR website for your review. Go to www.dpr.state.il.us. Under profession select “Land Surveyor”. In the left column look for “Proposed Rules”.  Comments on the Proposed Rules must be made in writing and sent to Barb Smith, Rules Coordinator, IDPR, 320 West Washington Street, 3^rd Floor, Springfield, IL 62786.  There is a 45-day comment period, which starts when the Proposed Rules are posted by JACAR. 

IPLSA LOOSES FRIEND IN THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE
Senator Vince Demuzio D-Carlinville passed away Tuesday, April 20, after battling colon cancer. Senator Demuzio was a good friend of IPLSA and sponsored many IPLSA bills. He was an IPLSA Honorary Member and was presented with the 2003 IPLSA Legislator of the Year Award. Senator Demuzio’s wife Deanna was sworn in as the Senator of the 49^th District

ACSM/NSPS SPRING 2004 CONFERENCE
The 2004 ACSM-TAPS Spring Conference was held in Nashville, Tennessee on April 16–21.  Illinois NSPS Governor Mike Filipski represented IPLSA at the Great Lake Council and NSPS Board of Governors meetings.  I attended the State Executive Directors Forum, the Board of Governors meeting and the NSPS Board meeting.  During the Board of Governors meeting I presented photo plaques to the 8 states that became Gold Compass Donors to the Lincoln Statue Project.  I also presented that same award to the Surveyors Historical Society and the Museum of Surveying. 

NSPS has been asked to create a display for the Library of Congress about land surveying. The display would be in the library for one year.

LINCOLN STATUE PROJECT WINS AWARD
The Illinois Sate Historical Society awarded the Lincoln Statue Project with the top award in the special projects category at its 105^th Annual Meeting held Saturday, April 24, in Elgin.  President Shawn VanKampen and I attended the awards lunch.

IPLSA ETHICS & PRACTICE COMMITTEE MEETING
The IPLSA Ethics and Practice Committee met on Saturday, May 1, to review several cases.  The committee voted to hold formal hearings on three cases. 

IPLSA SPRING 2004 SEMINAR
The IPLSA Spring 2004 Seminar was held Thursday, May 6, in Wheaton with 97 in attendance and repeated on Friday, May 7, in Springfield with 33 in attendance.  Wendy Lathrop was the presenter.

ASCM/NSPS LOBBY DAY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
I joined 9 others in representing the land surveying profession on May 13, in lobbying members of both the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. ACSM/NSPS is a proponent of all of the legislation.  The following legislation was discussed:

1. Senate Bill S. 1230 – The purpose of the bill is to provide additional responsibilities for the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Homeland Security regarding geospatial information.
    

2. ACSM Proposed Legislation to Give Notice to Homebuyers Regarding a Survey – ACSM met last year with the assistant general counsel for HUD that represents the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). The purpose of the meeting was the need for a notice to homebuyers regarding a survey.  They seemed to be very attentive to our concerns and asked ACSM to draft language which could be used as part of a HUD booklet for homebuyers and a stand alone notice sheet.  Unfortunately, although ACSM drafted the language and gave it to RESPA, they have taken no action in implementing the language. As a result of their inaction, ACSM drafted legislation, which would amend RESPA in a way to accomplish the goal of providing homebuyers with notice regarding the survey.
    

3. Senate Bill S. 346 – Federal Prison Industries (FPI) has developed the capability to provide scanning and digitalized services to federal agencies.  According to its own information, it is broadening its prime contractor role in the area of digitalized maps for GIS applications and other mapping related actives.  Allowing FPI access to sensitive and personal information and documents associated with surveying and mapping federal and private projects is a security risk to both the federal government and private citizens.
    

4. Senate Bill S. 545 – Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003 – Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to revise provisions relating to access and choice for small business employers with respect to medical care for their employees. Establishes rules governing association health plans including professional associations.
    

5. Senate Bill S. 2390 – Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a Geospatial Management Office within the Department of Homeland Security.
    

6. House Resolution H.R. 2548 – Amends the Federal and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to direct the Administrator of General Services to: (1) establish, maintain, and apply current asset management principals to real and personal property (2) establish performance measures to determine Federal real property management effectiveness; and (3) establish and maintain a single database of all Federal real property interests. Requires each Federal landholding agency to appoint a Senior Real Property Office to monitor and administer real property assets.
    

7. House Resolution H.R. 3367 – The purpose of the bill is to provide additional responsibilities for the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Homeland Security relating to geospatial information.
    

8. House Resolution H.R. 4010 – Amends the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 to extend deadlines for development of a 5-year strategic plan for the geologic mapping program and appointment of the advisory committee. It directs mapping priorities based on needs.  Authorizes appropriations for FY 2006 through 2010 and increases the percentages allocated for the state and educational components.
    

9. House Appropriations and Senate Appropriations Committee, Funding for the USGS.  We asked that Senators and Representatives support an increase of 6.5% in the budget to help USGS continue providing critical information to decision makers.

The group split up during the day and met with the following Senators, Representatives or their staffs. My group met with Senator Richard Durbin, Senator Peter Fitzgerald, Senator John Warner, Senator Kit Bond, Senator Daniel Akaka, and Congressman Denny Hastert.

IPLSA REPRESENTED AT LEWIS & CLARK EVENT
Sunday, May 16, at 12:45pm, IPLSA President Shawn VanKampen, participated in the unveiling of a Lewis and Clark commemorative marker at the Lewis and Clark Historic Site near Hartford, Illinois.  Other IPLSA members included in the unveiling were Duane Weiss, Lyle Krueger, Dr. Chris Pearson and Bob Church.

UPCOMING SIT/PLS/JURISDICTIONAL REFREASER COURSE
IPLSA will be hosting the SIT Refresher Course August 4-5, PLS Refresher Course August 6-7, and Jurisdictional Refresher Course August 8, at the Days Inn, in Springfield. Watch for registration information in the mail and on the IPLSA website.

SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS & PAC DONATIONS
The Northeast Chapter donated $3,000 for to Triton College in River Grove and $3,000 to the College of Lake County in Grays Lake for scholarships.  The chapter also donated $2,500 to the IPLSA PAC fund.

CENTER OF POPULATION MONUMENT FOR ILLINOIS UNVEILING
The Northeast Chapter has approved a final design for a plaque to be set in Mazon, to designate the Center of Population of Illinois based on the 2000 census.  The unveiling is scheduled for Saturday, July 10. Watch the web for details.

NSPS TRIG-STAR ILLINOIS WINNER
The East Central Chapter was the only chapter to host the Trig-Star Program this year.  Exams were presented at 5 high schools with a total of 83 students participating.  Luiz F. Mendes of Urbana High School was declared the Illinois State Trig-Star winner with 100 points in 58 minutes and 4 seconds.  Luiz will be presented a $100 check by the East Central Chapter, a $250 check and a certificate from IPLSA.

RAILROADS IN ILLINOIS
I sent a letter to John Schalbach, Chief of the IDOT Bureau of Railroads on April 12, requesting the names and addresses of railroads currently operating in Illinois.  I also requested a list of railroads up for abandonment and any construction drawings or right-of-way information that IDOT may have on railroads.  I received a reply on April 16, with the names and addresses on the railroads currently operating in Illinois. I also received a section out of the Illinois Rail Improvement Program that details different categories in which rail lines are placed prior to abandonment.  The letter concluded by stating that IDOT no longer has old railroad construction plans or right-of-way survey drawings. The list of railroads and contact information will be posted at this website soon.

RAILROAD VALUATION MAP INFORMATION
Information on Railroad Valuation Maps can be obtained for a fee by contacting:
National Archives and Record Administration
8601 Adelphi
College Park, MD 20740-6001

ICC Valuation Maps
Need “Bundle” Number      
Valuation Section
Phone: 309/713-6800

Cartographic Section
Phone: 309/713-7030
 

2005 IPLSA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The State Office is working with the Little Egyptian Chapter on the 2005 Annual Conference. Speakers confirmed are Wendy Lathrop, David Philippe, Milton Denny, Dr. Gerald Speth, Tony Gregory and David Doyle.

ACSM/NSPS – IPLSA – MSPS 2007 SPRING CONFERENCE
IPLSA has been approached to co-sponsor along with the Missouri Society of Professional Surveyors, the 2007 ACSM Spring Conference in St. Louis, MO.  The dates of the conference would be March 22-29, 2007.  If we were to be a co-sponsor we would not have our conference in February 2007 and would have our annual meeting and banquet during the ACSM Conference.  IPLSA would receive compensation from the net profit based on how many IPLSA members attend the ACSM Conference.  I have figured out how to include the state employees who cannot be reimbursed for out of state travel.
NOTE: This would be great for IPLSA only if we can get a commitment from IPLSA members to attend.

CURRENT LEGISLATIVE ISSUES

SB 2267 – Technical changes to Professional Engineers Act – IPLSA no position – DEAD

SB 2289 – Amends PE Act – Provides nothing in the Act shall be construed to prohibit any PE or PE company from lawfully obtaining work, even if such work had previously been let to or performed by a competitor. IPLSA Opposed – DEAD

SB 2351 – Creates the Riparian Rights Act and establishes rights to the access and use of water and bottomland associated with the ownership of the bank or shore of an inland lake or stream – IPLSA no position – DEAD

SB 2435 – Amends PE Act – Requires each PE and/or PE employee to clearly have their vehicle to be clearly  identified whenever they are on a project site. –  IPLSA Opposed. DEAD  

SB 2645 – Amends the Good Samaritan Act by including PS, Architects and PLS’s – IPLSA Proponent – DEAD

HB 4132 – Amends the Conveyances Act by providing counties that are authorized by law to exercise land control through a building/improvement permit process may deny the issuance of a building permit for building or other improvement on a parcel of land  subdivided contrary to the provisions of the Act. – IPLSA took no action – Passed

HB 5892 – Amends the IDPR Law of Civil Administrative Code concerning design professionals dedicated employees within IDPR with changes to those provisions, including the name of those employees to design professionals designated employees, changing the titles given to specific design professional designated employees, removing the limitation on the duties of the employees to the administration of the design profession Acts. – IPLSA Opposed – Sent Conference Committee.

2004 is the second and last session of the 93^rd Illinois General Assembly.  All bills introduced in this session must have final action by the end of the year or they will be dead.