August, 2002

MEMBERSHIP: We have an increase in membership for this year over the 2001 membership level.  This can be attributed to the increased cost of registration for non-members to attend the annual conference. A meeting of the committee was scheduled for June 15^th but was postponed due to lack of participation. I put together a membership report, which included the number of people who are currently licensed in Illinois by IDPR and how IPLSA members we currently have.  I have contacted other state associations to find out what the impact of the proposed continuing education program might have on IPLSA membership.  So far from the state’s reporting it indicates a substantial increase in membership when CE program went into effect.

ASCM/NSPS: In response to its membership, ACSM is reorganizing (see The New ACSM enclosed).

NSPS TRIG-STAR PROGRAM : The IPLSF foundation funded a $250 award that was presented to Mark Egli, a student at Champaign Central High School in Champaign, Illinois who is the State Trig-Star winner. Nine high schools participated in this year’s Trig-Star program. David Phillippe and I administered the NSPS TRIG-STAR National Test to Mr. Egli on June 7^th.  We wish Mark good luck.

PUBLICATIONS, SURVEY MANUAL & WEB PAGE:  We have a new web provider, and we have a new webmaster who updates our website as soon as we send anything to him.  Please let us know what other information you would like to see on this site.

EDUCATION, TRAINING & LICENSING/EXAM:  The committee met on Saturday June 15^th at 10:00am in the IPLSA office in Rochester.  The committee reviewed the IPLSA Voluntary CE applications and all but 2 were approved.  See list in this newsletter of those approved.  This will be the last year for the IPLSA Voluntary Program because of the IDPR Mandatory Program that is expected to be approved.  The committee continues to identify colleges and universities that offer land surveying courses.  The committee will be drafting guidelines for reviewing seminar presentations and setting up guidelines for scheduling IPLSA seminars.

SCHOLARSHIP, ELDRIDGE AWARD: The committee made some recommendations on the IPLSA scholarships guidelines. (Ask your chapter delegate for details). The Eldridge Award and Heffernan Article of the Year Award are due by November 15^th.  

            Heart of Illinois Scholarship Awards: Heart of Illinois Chapter President Dan Evans, PLS and HI Chapter member Andrew Canopy, PLS  met with members of the IPLSA Executive Committee and the Chairman of the IPLSF foundation to discuss the procedures for awarding the William M. Heffernan, PLS and John H. McLendon, III, PLS Scholarships. An agreement was drafted and will be presented at the September Board of Directions meeting.  Watch future newsletters for details.

LEGISLATION: There was some last minute legislation that would have adversely affected land surveyors and all of the Design Professionals.  HB5596 was amended late is the session and would have removed the protection now available to the design professionals from injured construction worker claims and would have an unintended consequence of providing a disincentive for design professionals to visit construction sites. IPLSA member and Illinois State Representative Tom Berns, PLS came to your rescue and was able to get the HB5596 tabled for know.  It may come up in the Veto Session later this fall after the election.

LAND SURVEYORS ACT REVIEW:  This committee met May 4^th in Bloomington to review the existing PLS Act.  Members of the committee were asked to discuss the current definitions of land surveying with their respective chapters. We need to be sure that the definitions in the PLS Act include what we believe PLS’s should be responsible for. The next meeting is scheduled for July 20^th in Bloomington.

ETHICS & PRACTICE:  The committee met Saturday June 22^nd in Rochester with all but one chapter represented. The committee members had been sent two complaint cases to review prior to the meeting.  At the meeting the committee voted to recommend the following action to the IPLSA Executive Committee: First complaint will be sent on to IDPR with no recommendation because the person being complained about is not a member of IPLSA.  Second complaint was against an IPLSA member and was tabled pending out come of action by the licensing authority.  Other items discussed: Plats of Correction, who can prepare Annexation Plats, Survey Brokers and IDOT spilt contracts where a contract for field is awarded to a firm and another firm is awarded a contract to prepare and sign the plats.  In some instances the field work is done by IDOT district crews and then a firm is awarded a contract to take the field information and prepare and sign the plats.  

CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS: There were several changes to the IPLSA by-laws that were passed at the April Official Board of Directions meeting.  The changes ranged from combining committees to changes in the scholarship application. The changes will be forwarded to the committee for incorporation into the IPLSA by-laws.  Any constitutional changes will have to be voted on by ballot by the full membership.

PLANNING AND GOALS: The committee had several suggested changes in committee structure, which were approved at the Official Board of Directions meeting. 

BUDGET, FINANCE & AUDIT CONFERENCE PROFITS: The committee met in Rochester on Saturday May 18^th and discussed a 2003 budget.  I handed out an explanation of the income and expense line items. The committee asked and received answers to their questions. A finalized draft of the 2003 budget has been sent out to the committee. The committee will take it back to their respective chapters for discussion.

IPLSA BENEFIT ASSOCIATION:  Company membership continues to grow, especially with the addition of the AFLAC Insurance plans now being offered.

EXAM BOARD:  The IDPR Licensing Board met in Chicago on Thursday May 16^th. They approved some of the suggested changes to the Continuing Education program.  IDPR will submit the amended program to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JACAR) for adoption. JACAR should approve the program at their July meeting. When the program is approved IDPR will notify all PLS’s.  The notification will be included in your license renewal notice, which you should receive this fall. 

FOR THE RECORD:EDITOR’S COMMENTS

• I must report that I was very disappointed in some parts of the meeting.  I had been instructed by the IPLSA Board at the April 27^th meeting to write a letter to IDPR questioning allegations of happenings that occurred at the April exam. The allegations were about some of the questions asked on the exam and the deplorable conditions of the exam room and activities at the hotel the night before the exam was given.  I prepared and sent the letter to the members of the Licensing Board stating our concerns.  My letter was not read into the record and the Licensing Board members did not question IDPR about the allegations.
• Another item that I included in my letter was questioning what topics are covered in the questions on the SIT exam. The SIT exam is a national exam, which comes from NCEES and the questions come from a bank of questions developed by surveyors from all parts of the US.  I questioned the fact that surveyors are allowed to do drainage and other tasks that we in Illinois are not allowed to perform.  How can the Licensing Board be sure that the exam given in Illinois doesn’t have questions that are not relevant for Illinois surveyors? 
• None of these issues were taken up by the Licensing Board.
• On another matter I was told that the Licensing Board will accept any continuing education program that is approved by any other state.  This means that the Illinois Exam Committee will approve the mandatory courses required by Indiana for surveyors licensed in Indiana.  These include Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct, Indiana Competent Practice of Land Surveying and Indiana Land Surveyor’s Registration Act.  I don’t think this is right. The Licensing Board will not be pre-approving programs so this means an attendee will not know if the program will be approved until after he/she has taken it and submitted it at the time of renewal.  The Licensing Board seems to be more concerned on how I am going to keep track of who attends what session than the topic itself.

IPLSA PAC: We continue to need money to support our legislative activities.  We are fortunate to have IPLSA member Tom Berns as a State Representative.  Tom has “saved the day” on several occasions this year. We need to support Tom and the other friends in the legislature that we have cultivated over the years.

2003 ANNUAL CONFERENCE: I have met with the East Central Chapter on several occasions and we have a put together a good program for the 2003 conference.

2004 ANNUAL CONFERENCE: I met with the National Trail Chapter on May 23^rd.

MORE ABOUT THE PROPOSED CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM:  The 20 professional development hours can only be obtained during the 24 months proceeding the November 30^th renewal date of the even numbered year.  The first time that you will have to have the 20 hours is for the 2004 renewal date.  You will be able to start obtaining the 20 hours after November 30, 2002.

A newly licensed PLS will not have to comply with the CE requirements the first time their renewal is due.

With your renewal notice for your 2004 renewal you will receive a form asking you to sign that you have or have not completed the 20 hours.  You will return the signed form with your renewal payment.  10% of the renewals returned will be audited along with all of the Licensing Board members.  If you are audited you will have to present documentation that you have completed the 20 hours. You do not have to submit any documentation unless you are audited.

During an audit the Licensing Board will determine if hours from another jurisdiction are substantially equivalent and can be counted toward your 20 hours.  If you are found to be deficient in your 20 hours you could be given an extension.

As I stated earlier courses will not be pre-approved by the Licensing Board.  You will not know until an audit that a course is not being approved.  If this happens the Licensing Board could give you an extension. 

IDPR does not “license” course providers for the Land Surveying Continuing Education Program.  They do license course providers for some of the other professions that they regulate.  Be careful if a course provider states that they are a “licensed” course provider.

INTERESTING NOTE: You may remember that when the state found itself in financial difficulties several years ago they raided the Design Professions Fund of $500,000.  It was never repaid.  Today I checked with the Financial Officer of IDPR to see if the legislature had taken any money out of the current Design Professions Dedicated Fund to help balance the budget.  So far they have not taken any of the money. 

THE FARM BILL 2002 AND PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYORS:

Overview: One provision in the 2002 Farm Bill includes the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), which provides work for Illinois Professional Land Surveyors.  The WRP is a voluntary program that provides an opportunity for landowners to receive financial incentives to enhance wetlands in exchange for retiring marginal land from agriculture.

How WRP Works: Landowners may file an application for a conservation easement or a cost-share restoration agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to restore and protect wetlands. Participants voluntarily limit future use of the land, but retain private ownership. 

The program offers three enrollment options:

Permanent Easement: This is a conservation easement in perpetuity.  Easement payments for this option equal the lowest of amounts.

Year Easement:  Easement payments through this option are 75 percent of what would be paid for a permanent easement.

How Are Professional Land Surveyors Involved?: For both the permanent and 30-year easements, USDA pays all costs associated with the boundary survey, recording fees, appraisal fees, charges for abstracts and title insurance.

3^rd Option: This option does not place an easement on the property and no survey is required.

Payment of Surveying Costs: The landowner pays the cost of the survey and is reimbursed by the USDA.

For more information contact your local USDA Service Center, listed in the telephone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture or www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2002