IN THIS ISSUE...
- A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
- BOARD OF DIRECTORS HIGHLIGHTS
- CLSA LOSES FRIEND, VANCE BRESHEARS, PLS 5842
- SURVEYOR SAYS! THE NSPS PODCAST
- 2022 CLSA GEOMATICS CONFERENCE
- NGS NEWS -- GET OUTSIDE, HAVE FUN, AND DO SOME SCIENCE!
- BPELSG MEETING -- AUGUST 2022
- IN THE NEWS
|
|
A large part of the professional service that land surveyors provide is education of landowners. By that, I mean the explanation of property lines and the relationship of public and private easements in the course of conducting field work, corresponding with clients or, in the case of public sector surveyors, customers with questions about these issues.
We occupy a level of expertise in these matters that is at the intersection of boundary law and its establishment on the ground – where it matters most to property owners. There are distinctions between public easements – which are held in trust by the local agency – and private easements in favor of a designated grantee and successors.
The other difference is in specific purpose. Private easements are for limited uses as stated in the grant. There is also a whole field of prescriptive rights which may have ripened through unopposed use over time. While these may not be enlarged in purpose, they exist and can be perfected through civil action.
As surveyors, our function does not end with the mere staking of property corners. While these ancillary topics are not usually contained within our examination for licensure, they are real world problems for landowners, and our continuing education needs to include them in order for us to provide the best service.
Warren D. Smith, LS
President, CLSA
|
|
|
2022 publications are now in stock and shipping from the CLSA Store.
2022 PE Act and PLS Act with Board Rules
2022 Complete Package with DVD
2022 Subdivision Map Act & Index
|
ARTICLE & PHOTO SUBMISSIONS FOR CALIFORNIA SURVEYOR MAGAZINE |
Do you have a photo from your field work that would make a great magazine cover? Do you have an idea for an article or have you written an article that you'd like us to consider including in the next issue? Please send your submissions and ideas to California Surveyor Editor, Joseph Waltz. |
NSPS - STOLEN EQUIPMENT REGISTRY
Reminder - NSPS provides a registry of stolen equipment.
|
Offers a $.07 per page discount and will automatically donate $.10 per page to CLSA when members download courthouse documents through this website. These instruments include Deeds, Easements, Rights-of-Way, Releases, Liens, etc. |
|
BOARD OF DIRECTORS HIGHLIGHTS |
The Board met on July 30th – partly in Oakland, and partly via ZOOM. About 15 were in attendance at the Holiday Inn, and 30 by Zoom.
A report on the Executive Committee’s meeting on July 20th was given which related to authorizing our Executive Director to liquidate funds in maturing Certificates of Deposit and seek better rates for reinvestment. Also was direction to adjust balances in our checking accounts when the $250,000 limit for FDIC coverage is exceeded.
A White Paper on the preparation and review of Site Plans by Land Surveyors was given to liaisons to CEAC and LCSO for distribution to local Building Officials.
An invitation from the Western Federation of Professional Surveyors to participate in a conference in 2024 in Las Vegas was received, and direction given to our Executive Director to begin talks toward preparing a Memorandum of Understanding to do so.
The results of the annual Data Collection Survey are in, and will be compiled by a select committee and reported in a webinar.
|
CLSA LOSES FRIEND, VANCE BRESHEARS, PLS 5842 |
Vance Franklin BRESHEARS, age 85, of El Cajon, California passed away on Friday, July 22, 2022. |
SURVEYOR SAYS! THE NSPS PODCAST |
It is often said that surveyors don’t know how to retire and that they go on to do bigger and better things. This week’s episode of “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast proves exactly that as we catch up with Steve Martin, a recently retired surveyor formerly with the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD). He is a long serving CLSA member (2011 Member of the Year recipient) and dedicated steward to the “GPS on Benchmarks” initiative through NGS (for more information, listen to Episode 111 w/ Galen Scott). Steve recently chatted with Tim Burch about his efforts to recover and submit data for the initiative, thoughts on mentoring, and the future of the profession. Check out Steve’s efforts through his posts on LinkedIn and let him know that his work is appreciated! Thanks for listening to “Surveyor Says!” The NSPS Podcast and subscribe wherever you listen to your audio selections.
For more information about “GPS on Benchmarks,” CLICK HERE. |
|
|
CAL POLY POMONA CLSA STUDENT CHAPTER 2022 GEOMATICS CONFERENCE
The California Land Surveyors Association (CLSA) Cal Poly Pomona (CPP) Student Chapter would like to invite you to join the 2022 CPP Geomatics Conference on September 22, 2022, from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. After 2 years of virtual, we are eager to finally see everyone in person and get back to the new normal.
Our conference aims to publicize the CPP Civil Engineering, Geospatial Engineering program, and Land Surveying profession; also provide an avenue of continuing education for professionals. Early bird registration will be priced at $200 and regular registration will be priced at $250. More information about ticket pricing can be found HERE. The conference revenue will be used for a student club meeting, conference travels, and other club-related activities.
This conference would benefit our profession and provide a platform for communication. Registration for the conference will open soon, please look out for the preliminary program in the near future. We would love to have you join us for this conference so please contact us at clsa@cpp.edu if you have any questions.
|
|
|
NGS NEWS -- GET OUTSIDE, HAVE FUN, AND DO SOME SCIENCE!
Up for a treasure hunt? Looking for something fun to do outside? With Bench Mark Hunting you can do both, and maybe even contribute some new information to the Nation’s oldest civilian science agency!
|
|
BPELSG MEETING -- AUGUST 2022
The materials for the August 22-23, 2022 meeting of the Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists are now available on the Board's website. Please click on or copy and paste the following URL address into your browser for further information.
|
|
|
Dan Frink, PLS with the California State Lands Commission, Places 3rd in Men’s 40-44 Age Group in July 24th 2022, Donner Lake Half Ironman
Frink signed up for the 2021 Donner Lake Half Ironman only to have it canceled due to road construction. Last month he got to complete this beast of a race, consisting of a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run. Times for each segment are as follows: Swim: 38 minutes; Bike: 3 hours 16 minutes: Run 2 hours 5 minutes with an overall per mile run pace of 8 minutes 44 seconds, with the last mile 9 minutes 16 seconds. Dan said he “couldn't have done it without the support of my family. Especially Megan.”
|
|
U.S. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY CREATED MARVIN MARKER ABOUT 1960
About 1960, the USC&GS created a cartoon character to help preserve survey marks through public awareness. This early federal recognition of the importance of public outreach in monument preservation apparently lost continuity with the 1970 changeover from USC&GS to NOS.
|
|
COPY AND PASTE BLUNDER MAKES A MESS
A Sparks homebuyer literally got more than she bargained for, ending up with a swath of house lots in a Toll Brothers subdivision — plus two common spaces — while buying a single-family home.
Washoe County Assessor data showed that the buyer was originally purchasing a single-family home that was valued at $594,481. Additional records obtained from the assessor as well as the Washoe County Recorder’s Office, however, also show that the buyer gained not just the property she was buying but also 84 extra house lots in Toll Brothers’ Stonebrook development in Spanish Springs just northeast of Reno. The properties include several home sites that have already been built on and sold. At least 64 of the lots were put under the buyer’s name.
The transaction was flagged by the assessor’s office, which says it quickly notified the title company involved about the issue. The culprit? Apparently, all it takes is four keystrokes to accidentally give someone the title to properties worth millions of dollars.
“It appears a legal description from another Toll Brothers transfer may have copied and pasted when preparing (the homebuyer’s) deed for recordation,” said Cori Burke, chief deputy assessor for Washoe County.
“Because it was pretty clear a mistake was made, our assessment services division reached out to (the title company) right away so they could begin working on correcting the chain of title for the 86 properties transferred in error.”
The Washoe County Assessor’s Office updates ownership information for such transactions based on the legal description provided in the recording as opposed to the parcel number, according to Burke. In this case, the legal description in the transaction that was officially recorded on July 25 specifically stated that it encompasses “lots 1 through 85 … and Common Areas A and B.”
|
|
UNIVERSITY OF REDLANDS IS HIRING: SPATIAL INSTRUCTION MANAGER
The Spatial Instruction Manager identifies appropriate technological and pedagogical strategies for conducting spatial instruction at the University and serves as a liaison with key partners in furthering the goals of the Center. Coordinates with the Spatial Resources Manager to identify, acquire, and use appropriate data and resources for projects and curriculum development and provide support in the areas of geodatabase design and implementation, cartographic design and development, and product quality assurance/control.
Reporting to the Director of Spatial Studies, this position provides leadership and support to students and faculty on the use of spatial technologies and data for instruction, learning, and research. This position may require traveling (domestic and international) and working beyond the normal workday including working some evenings and weekends as needed.
|
|
THE HFW COMPANIES AND 4WARD LAND SURVEYING CREATE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
The HFW Companies, a fast-growing professional services firm with a national focus on the architecture and engineering (AE) industry, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with 4Ward Land Surveying, a professional land surveying company providing services for commercial, residential, and public works projects throughout Texas.
The new partnership allows 4Ward to accelerate its strategic growth plan and expand its geographic reach beyond Texas with additional services, locations, and people, according to Jason Ward, RPLS, president of 4Ward.
“4Ward is experiencing incredible growth,” said Ward. “Our partnership with HFW gives us the boost we need to achieve our plan faster and with greater opportunity for our hard-working team. We are excited to join forces with HFW and its architecture and engineering brands network.”
|
|
FLORIDA MAN ARRESTED IN THEFT OF VEHICLE & $15,000 OF SURVEYING EQUIPMENT
A surveyor said he parked the vehicle at the CVS while he was across the street surveying a roadway. He later found the red Ford Escape, carrying the surveying equipment, had vanished.
It was recovered in Ocala in “good condition” with the keys in the ignition. The affidavit said the vehicle had a “hit” off a license plate reader in Orlando shortly after it was taken from the CVS Pharmacy in Tavares.
The CVS surveillance equipment captured images of the suspected thief. Those images helped lead to the arrest of Brown, who has a criminal record which includes a 2021 arrest in which he stole beer from a Wawa in Lady Lake.
Brown was booked without bond at the Lake County Jail due to a probation violation.
|
|
REMEASURING 'ZERO:' GREAT LAKES DATUM SURVEY IN MOTION
NOAA Cartographer John May recently came to Traverse City and Northport to take a set of measurements, each one on an established marker, he said. His equipment — a global positioning satellite antenna and high-precision receiver — sat for up to 48 hours at each location, both of which had a solid record of lake level data taken nearby.
He and several other technicians are visiting more than 350 survey monuments all along the U.S. and Canadian shore, plus connecting channels and the St. Lawrence Seaway — during one interview, he stood on the breakwall in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, near the dock for the S.S. Badger.
|
|
13 COMPLAINTS AGAINST SURVEYORS
Consumer Council of Fiji has received 13 complaints against surveyors with a monetary value of $36,000 within the past six months.
Chief executive officer Seema Shandil said complaints revealed that certain land surveyors took thousands of dollars with the promise of service of land survey and preparation of documents for title registrations.
“A common excuse provided by land surveyors is that the documentations are completed, but is awaiting approval from relevant authorities such as Department of Town and Country Planning,” she said.
“However, when consumers enquire with such authorities, they are informed that the applications were incomplete from the surveyor’s side or in some instances, the documentations were approved months ago, but the surveyor failed to inform the consumer.”
She said investigations revealed that consumers ended up paying large sums to individuals who were not registered surveyors with continuous false promises for the past three years.
“This particular case showcases the importance of doing proper due diligence and research before engaging service providers such as surveyors,” Ms Shandil said.
“We are strongly advising consumers to only deal with registered surveyors and if they are unsure; consumers can directly contact the council and we will verify this information for them.”
Ms Shandil said land surveyors were obliged to honour their contracts and promises with their customers and failure to do so would amount to unethical business conduct which would not be condoned by the council.
|
|
LIBERIA LAND AUTHORITY ARRESTS FAKE LAND SURVEYOR
The Liberia Land Authority (LLA) has arrested two men who were impersonating as registered and licensed land surveyors. Those arrested are Jaa-Tuma K. Arma and Mr. Michael K. Otto. They were arrested on August 10 for their alleged involvement in the conduct of a re-survey on four acres of land situated in Kpakprokor Town, Lower Margibi County in favor of a man identified as Daniel K. Winfred Bradford.
They had illegally published a survey notice on August 3, 2022, bearing the letterhead of the Liberia Land Authority (LLA) under a false pretence, which said the survey was scheduled to commence on the 10th of August 2022 at the precise hour of 9:30 AM.
“The LLA is warning all those involved with the said clandestine and unlawful practice should desist as the LLA will not relent to ensure that they face the full weight of law in compliance with the ACT AGAINST CRIMINAL CONVEYANCE OF LAND OF 2014.”
|
|
Thank You CLSA Sustaining Members |
|
|
|
|
|
|
