Role of the County Surveyor, Land Records and Interface with Zoning Department

1. Role of the County Surveyor, Land Records and Interface with Zoning Department Bryan Meyer – La Crosse County Surveyor WCCA Presentation March 30, 2012 Wisconsin County Surveyor’s Association

2. Name that National Monument

3. National Surveyor’s Monument

4. The Origin of the County Surveyor in Wisconsin One of the original elected County officials. Today each County may: • Elect • Appoint • Leave Vacant

5. CURRENT STATUS • 32 FULL TIME • 29 PART TIME • 11 NONE

6. FIRST AND FOREMOST THE primary focus of the County Surveyor is the Re-establishment of the Public Lands Survey System (PLSS)

7. The PLSS was championed by Thomas Jefferson

8. Corners established by the PLSS

10. Did you know?

11. PLSS HUMOR Captured a specimen in Section 37 in a Township near Rhinelander

12. The original corners of the PLSS Wood posts (most cases) Bearing trees

13. The current status of Section and Quarter corner remonumentation in La Crosse County 98% Complete Nearly 30 years

14. Maintenance The condition of the corner monument Check the condition of the ties

15. La Crosse County Maintenance Goal 5%

16. The Second primary focus: Survey Records

17. Survey records in La Crosse County: • Most were lost prior to 1973 • Building a nice collection • Making them available via • the internet.

18. The third focus for a County Surveyor: Certified Survey Map and Subdivision Plat Review For Compliance With State Statute and Administrative Code • Chapter 236 governs the division of land in Wisconsin • Chapter 236.34 of the Wisconsin Statutes governs Certified Survey Maps • Chapter AE 7 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code applies to all surveys performed in the State of Wisconsin (Minimum Standards).

19. Review of Certified Survey Maps and Subdivision Plats • County Ordinance • Township Ordinance • Village Ordinance • Extra-territorial

20. Work for other County Departments Highway Department Land Conservation Department Parks and Property Solid Waste District Attorney Corporation Counsel Land Information Real Property Lister Planning Department Zoning Department

21. County Surveyors answer a LOT of questions! • Attorneys • Realtors • Title Companies • Local Units of Government • Other County Agencies • Land owners • Assessors/Appraisers • Foresters • Zoning

22. Those questions relate to land surveying and land ownership issues: • Where is my property line? • What is adverse possession? • Isn’t the fence the property line? • Can I get coordinates for my property • corners? • Has my property been surveyed? • Do you need to go to school for this? • Can I get a copy of a map of my property? • Can you take my picture? • Isn’t the power pole/utility box at the corner? • What’s the difference between a CSM and a Plat of survey?

23. The County Surveyor and Land Records

24. The County Surveyor and Land Records Another vital aspect of the County Surveyor is to acquire accurate coordinate values on the Section and Quarter corners for more accurate GIS parcel mapping.

26. Interface with the Zoning Department

27. in·ter·face    /n. ˈɪntərˌfeɪs; v. ˈɪntərˌfeɪs, ˌɪntərˈfeɪs/ Show Spelled [n. in-ter-feys; v. in-ter-feys, in-ter-feys] Show IPA noun, verb, -faced, -fac·ing. Noun 1. a surface regarded as the common boundary of two bodies, spaces, or phases. 2. the facts, problems, considerations, theories, practices, etc., shared by two or more disciplines, procedures, or fields of study: the interface between chemistry and physics. 3. a common boundary or interconnection between systems, equipment, concepts, or human beings. 4. communication or interaction: Interface between county departments has never been better. In other words, teamwork. 5. a thing or circumstance that enables separate and sometimes incompatible elements to coordinate effectively: The organization serves as an interface between the state government and the public.

31. County Government requires Teamwork:

32. Teamwork Teamwork requires strong, consistent, reliable, communication among related County Departments.

33. Teamwork means no turf wars That means each department does their job, not the job of another department. We all work together to serve the needs of the taxpayer.

35. Attitude toward: • Customers • Co-workers • Other units • of government

36. Teamwork means owning up to mistakes

37. When a Certified Survey Map (CSM) or Subdivision comes in for review, it gets communicated to the following: The Zoning Department The County Highway Department (if it lies along a County Highway) The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (if along a State or Federal Highway) The Township, Village, or City in which the CSM falls Appropriate Cities (if extra-territorial)

38. So two Amish gentlemen go to the zoning office…

39. Health Department • Medical Examiner • DNR • Sherriff’s Department • County Surveyor • Corporation Counsel • State DHS

40. Chapter 157 of the Wisconsin Statutes

41. EXAMPLE #2 The road got moved; but the title to the old road didn’t

44. Zoning Department Land Information Department Corporation Counsel Highway Commissioner County Surveyor

46. www.sco.wisc.edu/wcsa

47. Questions? If you have survey or land ownership questions, please contact: Bryan Meyer 400 4th Street North La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601 608-785-9626 meyer.bryan@co.la-crosse.wi.us