Surveyor

36 Pages·2008·6.63 MB·English

Volume 32 Number 4 Winter 2008
  Land SurveyorS’ aSSociation of WaShington  •  Washington State Section of american congreSS on Surveying & mapping
S
EvErgrEEn StatE
NORTHWEST
NORTHEAST
urveyor NORTH
SNOHOMISH CENTRAL
NORTH OLYMPIC
NORTH
SPOUUGNEDT INLAND EMPIRE
SOUTH
PUGET
SO UTHW EST SOUND
CASCADE
COLUMBIA SOUTH
LOWER COLUMBIA CENTRAL
In
this
issue:
2009 Conference
Spring Seminar
More Fees??
kukrank_Mar08_wa_ad.ai 138.00 lpi 45.00° 3/25/2008 2:59:02 PM
Process Black
Table of
Contents
Land Surveyors’ Association of Washington (LSAW)
From the President.........................................Ben.Petersen Secretary-Treasurer.......................Bryan.Thorp.
President ...........................3 President.Elect...............................Scott.Thomas Past.President.........................................Jim.Main
Vice.President.......Michael.(Mick).Sprouffske,.Jr. Executive.Director........................Anne.Koenen
Survey Recording Address.all.correspondence.for.LSAW.to:.
Across the USA ......4–5 Land Surveyors’ Association of Washington.
424.205th.N.E..•.Sammamish,.WA.98074-6942.
Phone:.[phone].Fax:.[phone].e-mail:[email protected].
From the
Homepage:.http://www.lsaw.org
Editor ..................................6
Address.all.material.for.magazine.to:.
Highlights of Editor/Publisher:.Aaron.B..Blaisdell.
the LSAW Evergreen State Surveyor.
PO.Box.110700.•.Tacoma,.WA.98411.
Board of
Phone:.[phone]. Fax:.[phone].. e-mail:[email protected]
Trustees Meeting
Nov. 8, 2008 ............7–11 Opinions expressed by individual writers are not necessarily endorsed by the officers or board of LSAW, the officers or board
of.WSS/ACSM,.or.the.editor.of.this.publication..Articles.may.be.reprinted.with.due.credit.given.to.the.author.unless.otherwise.
indicated.at.the.beginning.of.the.article.
What Happens
When A Business We.request.all.ads.and.material.(graphics,.fonts,.etc.).be.furnished.on.a.CD.or.emailed.in.a..doc,..pdf,..eps.or..tiff.format..We.readily.
process.materials.created.in.Adobe.Pagemaker,.Illustrator,.Freehand,.Photoshop,.Microsoft.Publisher,.Microsoft.Word.
Owner Is
Deployed Advertising Policy
To War?..................12–13 The.magazine.is.published.quarterly.by.LSAW.and.accepts.advertising..Ads.should.be.page-ready.copy.for.photo-offset.printing..
The.rates.are.as.follows:
2009 Annual Size Yearly Single Issue
Conference ..................14 Full.Page.......................$466.Gray.Scale,.$885.Full.Color. $148.Gray.Scale,.$250.Full.Color
Half.Page......................$326.Gray.Scale,.$620.Full.Color. $104.Gray.Scale,.$175.Full.Color
Quarter.Page..............$163.Gray.Scale,.$310.Full.Color. $52.Gray.Scale,.$88.Full.Color
Why Add
Deadlines.for.material.and.advertising.are.one.week.after.each.Board.of.Trustees.(BOT).meeting.(see.the.calendar.on.back.cover.
More Iron for.those.dates)..Running.an.ad.does.not.imply.endorsement.of.the.advertiser.by.LSAW.or.ACSM..The.editor.reserves.the.right.
To The Fire? .........18–20 to not accept ads or other material which may be in poor taste or conflict with the policies of LSAW. Courtesy copies are traded
with.other.state.and.provincial.organizations.
Join The LSAW
  LSAW ChApterS & 2008 preSidentS
Auxiliary For
Fun In Tacoma .............24 Cascade Columbia. North Puget Sound.
Richard.L.Wehr.......................................................(509).575-6990 Seth.D.O’Hare........................................................(425).483-5355
Inland Empire. Northwest
Surveying
Jon.A.Gordon..........................................................(509).893-2617 Adam.J.Nelson..........................................................360.671.7387
Education In Lower Columbia. South Central.
The Northwest Howard.S.Richardson...........................................(360).695-1385 Peter.H.Kowatsch..................................................(509).374-4248
2008 ........................25–29 North Central. Snohomish.
Shawn.P.Fitzpatrick................................................(509).782-2441 Phillip.T.Abenroth...................................................(425).869-9448
Northeast South Puget Sound.
And Much More… John.M..Shackelford...................................................509.925.0941 Daniel.R.Price.........................................................(253).875-8075
North Olympic. Southwest
Brad.R.Lymangrover..............................................(360).417-0501 Steven.B.Ivey..............................................................360.918.5312
ABOUT THE COVER:
LSAW AUXILIARY
Museum of Glass cour-
tesy of the Tacoma Regional President,.Delores.Demeyer.....................................360-410-1973 Treasurer,.Maxine.Cray...............................................360-675-1196
Vice.President,.Lucille.McGinnis...............................360-871-3000 Scholarships,.Vicky.Thalacker.....................................360-378-4578
Convention and Visitors
Secretary,.Donna.Garland..........................................253-638-6252
Bureau.
Washington State Section, American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (WSS/ACSM)
Chairman:..............................................................................Tim.Leach Treasurer:..........................................................................Tamara.King
Layout and graphics in this Vice.Chairman..............................................................................Open Past.Chair......................................................................Gary.Gervelis
publication are largely from Secretary:...............................................................................James.Ray
Kellie Ham Type&Graphics,
253-843-9436. Printed by Address.all.correspondence.for.ASCM.to:
Doyle Printing, 253-531-7087. WSS/ACSM.
P.O..Box.3812.•.Bellevue,.WA.98009-3812.•.www.wss-acsm.org
Winter 2008 Evergreen State Surveyor 
2 Evergreen State Surveyor Winter 2008
From thE PrESidEnt
By.Ben.Petersen,.President
How’s business? OK, sorry I asked. mains strong. We have seen great successes in
our Outreach program and our membership
With Thanksgiving come and gone, numbers look stable. We continue to have
and with just a few months to go in well-attended seminars, conferences, refresher
my presidential year, I thought it would be courses and chapter meetings. Associates con-
good time to count my blessings. I still have tinue to flock into LSAW. This bodes well for
a roof over my head, food in the cupboard, now and the future. We must be doing some-
clothes on my back and a business. OK, so the thing right. Let’s keep it up.
business part is kind of iffy and now that my
retirement has evaporated I’ll have to keep I also wanted to encourage everyone to attend
working until I’m 90. But, hey I’ll just postpone our upcoming 2009 Annual conference, March
the yacht maintenance and cut back on those 4-7, 2009 at the Hotel Murano in Tacoma.
Neiman Marcus shopping sprees. Looks like We’ve tried this year to include more business
Chia Pets for everyone on my holiday gift list workshops and provide some long-requested
this year…again. presentations pertaining to railroads and
condominiums. I will be a great opportunity
I don’t need to tell you, but I will, that we are to expand your knowledge base, network, get
facing some interesting and rough economic your CEU credits, see and try out the latest
times. I know there are more than a few sur- technology, meet new and old friends, compare
vey firms struggling out there. I haven’t seen notes, get your mind off the economy, and, if
any bread lines yet. Having lived through all needed, find a job. The conference preliminary
of the downturns in the 70’s, ‘80’s and ‘90’s, I schedule and registration form is posted to our
know this too will pass. In the meantime, we association website. Don’t forget to book your
will do what we have always done - retrench, lodging at the conference. See you there.
rethink and recover.
Happy Holiday’s to everyone. I hope the New
On a more positive note our association re- Year finds you well and prosperous.
The LSAW Legacy Project
-Capturing the History of
Surveying in Washington State
Your LSAW is exploring the publication of a Who’s Who
/ History of Surveying In Washington State. Active sur-
veyors will be provided the opportunity to submit their
biographies and photos, and become part of the unique
legacy of surveying in the Evergreen State. Most im-
portantly however we need to track down biographies,
obituaries, photos, documents and other information
pertaining to past surveyors. We are just in the “let’s-see-
what’s-out-there” stage of the project but if you have any
leads on families, widows and friends of past surveyors
and survey firms, please let us know.
Did you help survey a Washington landmark ? Or work
for some of the great survey firms of the past? Do you
have some personal memories or unique survey ex-
periences to share? Help us capture history. You don’t
need to be Hemingway, just brief bulleted memories
will do.
E-mail [email protected] or call [phone]
or fax to [phone] and let us know you have some-
thing to share. Be part of history.
Winter 2008 Evergreen State Surveyor 
SurvEy rEcording AcroSS thE uSA
We asked State survey associations and place. In at least 2 states the filed survey map
State Boards across the country if the is subject to review, and we assume rejection,
recording of boundary surveys was re- by the county surveyor. Map size requirements
quired in their state. Many simply did not respond vary from letter size to 24” X 36”. Many states
and quite a few simply provided us with a link did have laws mandating what is required on
to their State laws. The message in some cases a boundary survey map even if you’re not re-
seemed to be “Look it up yourself”. Some states quired to publicly file it.
were confused by the question. Part of the prob-
lem is semantics. Apparently many surveyors We even explored several surveying chat rooms,
refer to any survey map as a “plat” map, our term where when the question of “Does your state
for a recorded subdivision. Many thought we were require the recording of boundary surveys?” was
asking if recorded subdivisions were required to asked, the response was as resounding “Hell no”.
be recorded, duh! and responded “Of course” or Interestingly, several respondents considered it
“It depends”. Nonetheless we got what we could. an invasion of privacy. Many didn’t like having
We would have liked to have more and maybe to conform to a standard or be responsible for
we’ll get a chance to explore this further. the survey results or considered the record-
ing fees to be just another revenue source for
We found that at least a dozen states, almost all public agencies. Here’s what one respondent
in the Western United States, make it mandatory wrote: “Recording an opinion has no binding
to file a record of survey map when a boundary legal effect. The only person or entity qualified
survey is performed. Several states don’t require to “check” my retracement survey opinion for
public recording but do mandate that a map be other than north arrow type stuff is a court of
prepared and provided to the client. Recording law. A requirement to record this professional
is optional in some states and in some states is opinion may well be unconstitutional.” Wow!
only required if a new parcel is created.
We hope to refine our chart sometime in the
In states with mandatory recording the time future. If you can help enlighten us regarding
period to file the survey map varies from 30 days some of the “holes” in our chart, please do. In the
to a year and the recording fees are all over the meantime it’s “caveat emptor” (look it up). .
 Evergreen State Surveyor Winter 2008
Winter 2008 Evergreen State Surveyor 
From thE Editor
By.Aaron.Blaisdell,.PLS,.Editor
The holidays are finally here. Speaking upper hand. If I allow a client to pay when
for most professionals, I can’t wait for he wants, without consequences, shame on
this year to be over. It is very astonishing me. If you ask many business owners out in
to see an overwhelming shift in employment; the industry, I’d bet that they would say the
especially within the past few months. Some of same thing. They would say that my business
the highest regarded professionals have been will eventually fail. From the big picture point
forced to find other work. It seems that it’s not of view, we sometimes need to make special
looking any brighter for the next few months. exceptions. I believe that if the roles were
reversed, I would want additional time to pay
During these very difficult times, work and my bills. I once heard that many of the long
paying clients become sparse. They (clients) time vendors; Tom George, Warren Ferguson,
all have bills to pay and families to feed. We etc. made special exceptions when they were
have all had clients come through the door or loaning out equipment. They knew that they
call on the phone to say that they can’t pay would eventually get paid. They understood
for the survey that was just completed. For- that starting and running a business was very
tunately, sometimes we receive full payment hard during a bad economy.
prior to recording the survey; however, many
times we don’t. Some clients will use us as a Hopefully, your business has made special
quasi-bank in order to get the project complet- exceptions for certain clients during these
ed and eventually sell the lots. After they sell rough times. The clients that acknowledge
the lots or houses, they eventually pay. What your willingness to help will remain your best
happens when you aren’t paid even though it clients and pay well.
took longer to drive out to the site than it did
to draft and record the survey? What happens I would like to introduce you to the 2008
when it’s one of your best clients whom never Winter Issue of the Evergreen State Surveyor.
had been late in the past? There are articles that discuss major issues that
we need to be aware of and think about.
Looking at the individual case, I can easily say
that it’s my own fault if I let the client get the Enjoy and Have a Merry Christmas!
to thE Editor
Dear Editor (Mr. Blaisdell), the above, the lower interest rate raises asset prices. This is the
boom phase.
I felt I needed to write in to help you out. It seems you couldn’t
make heads or tails of how the economy tanked as it has in Finally, the interest rate returns to its natural market level; low-
the past year or so. ering the interest rate takes resources, and resources eventually
run out. So asset prices go back down. This is the bust phase.
First, a comment on your methodology. If you collected statis-
tics and names connected to the economic situation, and stared In this way, the Austrian business cycle theory explains the
at it looking for something to jump out at you, I’m afraid you housing (and, to a lesser extent, construction) crash, and its
really didn’t stand a chance. Our brains are quite good at pat- effects on the surveying profession.
tern recognition, but “The Economy” simply is not something
they’re equipped to run that analysis on. Naturally, this truncated version of the theory leaves open lots
of questions (e.g., Why housing and construction?), but hope-
A better method is to have a theory, and then, look for numbers. fully it will help keep your head from spinning too much while
And the best theory that I’m aware of is the Austrian business you’re analyzing the hard times. If you want a better explanation
cycle theory. anyway, I’d recommend the Ludwig von Mises Institute (mises.
org). They have all kinds of articles, essays, and even books on
I’ll try to sum it up real quick here. First, there is a market in- this subject (among others) available for free online.
terest rate. It helps to determine the price of assets; the lower
the interest rate, the higher the asset prices. Of course, I’m willing to tell you what I can about it, although
I’m only a hobbyist-student thereof.
Then, someone (in our case, the Federal Reserve) tries to
lower the interest rate below the market rate. In accord with Sincerely, Brian Wilton
 Evergreen State Surveyor Winter 2008
highlightS oF thE lSAW BoArd oF
truStEES mEEting novEmBEr 8, 2008
Respectfully.submitted.by.Anne.Koenen,.Executive.Director—LSAW
Call to Order: At 10:02 Pres. Petersen called they register with CST. The CST exams
the meeting to order. are available online 24/7 on the NSPS
website.. They will also be offered at
Roll Call: By call of the roll it was determined our 2009 Conference and in conjunction
that a quorum existed. (See records at state with the LS Refresher Course in Lacey
headquarters for names of trustees present.) this winter. A link to the exam applica-
tion will be posted to the LSAW website
Approval of Minutes: By MO 08-29 it was and interested parties may contact Ron
MSP to approve the draft minutes of the last Torrence [email protected].
meeting as published. wa.us 425/388-6651 with questions.
President’s Report: In packet. c. Monument Preservation: Report in
packet. Mick
OLD BUSINESS
Sprouffske pointed out that the Whatcom
a. Pac NW Survey Educators Forum Co area has a local Monument Preser-
Presentation: Postponed to after vation Committee which includes rep-
lunch.(recorded here for agenda-or- resentatives from the City Bellingham,
der sake.) Martin Paquette, Renton WSDOT, Whatcom County Public Works,
Technical College, gave a power point Port of Bellingham and three private sur-
presentation and spoke for the group veyors. This is an outstanding concept
of educators from Washington and Or- which Mick believes ought to spread
egon who met concurrently in the a.m. statewide.
Between the 4-year colleges, Oregon
Institute of Technology and the British d. Update Definition: By Motion 08-30
Columbia Institute of Technology, there it was Moved and Seconded that LSAW
are approximately 168 students and 50 present language concerning the Update
graduates per year. Amongst the 2-year to the Definition of Surveying to the
colleges, South Puget Sound CC, Clark 2009 Legislature. Discussion ensued.
College, Renton Tech, Bellingham CC Lower Columbia chapter presented a
and Bates, there are a combined total of letter from one of their members on this
103 students with 54 graduates per year. subject. The letter was referred to the
In Washington, Oak Harbor and Bon- committee. After discussion the motion
ney Lake High schools offer programs was tabled until after lunch. [Afternoon
(Total Station and CAD lab; and Geopo- action on this item recorded here for
sitioning respectively.) The schools are agenda-order sake] After lunch Motion
working to coordinate recruitment and 08-30 was taken up from the table and
transferability of credits. was passed. [Voting No: Jon Gordon,
Jerry Franklin and Don Leischner]
b. Combining NSPS CST/LSAW Career
Development: Our Career Dev pro- NEW BUSINESS
gram has been dormant for a number
of years. Pres. Petersen reported that a. Approve Free Seminar Report: By
LSAW was approached by NSPS asking MO 08-31 t was MSP to approve the free
for our support of their Certified Survey seminar report as submitted in the meet-
Technician (CST) program. Our nego- ing packet.
tiations have produced an agreement
that individuals previously certified in b. Vote 2009 Exec Officers: 2009 Officers
the LSAW Career Development will be elected are: Scott Thomas, President
grandfathered into the CST program Mick Sprouffske, Jr. Pres. Elect. Bryan
level for level. LSAW SCD Level 1 will Thorp, Vice President John Thomas,
qualify as CST Level 1. LSAW SCD Level Secty/Treasurer Ben Petersen will be
2 will qualify as CST Level 2 LSAW SCD Past President
Level 3 & 4 will qualify as CST Level
3 [CST program has only 3 levels] To c. Vote SOY and AOY: Honorees were
test at the next CST level, those who elected and will be feted at the 2009
previously passed LSAW SCD exams Conference.
will need to provide the CST Board
with a copy of said certification when
(Continued.on.page.8)
Winter 2008 Evergreen State Surveyor 
Board d. Approve State HQ 2009 Calendar j. OHWM Guidance Document: Report
Year Budget: By MO 08- 32 it was MSP in packet. Aaron Blaisdell gave some
Highlights to approve the budget as presented. background and the issue was discussed.
As soon as Aaron can get a copy of the
(continued) e. Approve the State Conference 2009 Guideline document, he will send it
Budget. By MO 08-33 it was MSP to ap- to Anne for dissemination and Board
prove the budget as presented subject consideration. After breaking for lunch
to correction of bad formula in cell E31. and reconvening, the Board addressed
(Since rectified.) Item 5.d. (reported above.)
f. Volunteer hosts: 2009 Meetings Conf ExComm Comm Vote: By MO 08-34 it was
Mar 4-7 Tacoma Spring Seminar & BOT MSP to approve ExComm action X2008-05.
May 22-23 N.O. Chp Aug BOT Aug 15
SW Chp Free Seminar Sep 25 NC Chp Exec. Report: In packet. Email Retention: By
Fall Seminar & BOT Nov 5-7 Sno Chp Motion 08- 35 MSP the LSAW Board of Trustees
2010 Meeting Hosts Conference Yakima charges the Executive Director to retain asso-
Spring Seminar & BOT IE Chapter Aug ciation emails only for as long as s/he deems
BOT LC Chapter Free Seminar NPS Chap- them to be of value to the association. State HQ
ter Fall Seminar & BOT SC Chapter Third Quarter Budget Report: After review, by
MO 08-36, it was MSP to approve the report as
g. WA BOR Study – Licensing Require- submitted with meeting packet.
ments for new technologies: Pres Pe-
tersen submitted his remarks via a report State Conference Third Quarter Budget
in the meeting packet. Trustees are di- Report: After review, by MO 08-37, it was
rected to send their relevant remarks to MPS to approve the report as submitted with
Anne by Nov 30th. Anne will forward all meeting packet.
comments to President Petersen, Board
of Registration Liaison, Jim Wengler, and Correspondence: We received a thank-you note
Special Projects Chair, Ken Swindaman. from the 2008 David Thompson Bicentennials
Ben, Jim and Ken with author a letter Kootenai Encampment for our sponsorship.
under President Petersen’s signature
which they will send to the Board of Chapter reports: As written in packet from
Registration by December 15, 2008. LC, NO, NW, SNO, SPS and SW chapters.
h. LSAW Regional and National Rep- Committee reports:
resentatives – Voting Privileges: Pres
Petersen announced that he intends to a. GPS: In packet.
offer bylaws changes (to be voted on at
our March Board meeting) which will b. Student Outreach: In packet. Vic also
give voting privileges at Board of Trust- noted that invitations to school career
ees meetings to LSAW’s NSPS and WFPS fairs are snowballing. He attended a con-
representatives. He’ll send notice with struction career fair in Enumclaw, (1,000
the actual verbiage at least 4 weeks prior kids attended) and another in Puyallup
to that meeting. for Pierce County students, which was
even larger. SPS and SW Chapters took the
i. NSPS Affiliate of the Year and Jour- lead on the Puyallup event. These events
nalism Awards. LSAW is applying for
these honors. (Continued.on.page.9)
(cid:31) Fulfil your business aims with timely, (cid:31) Streamline document & file control. (cid:31) Track all client instructions, deliverables,
accurate & relevant management reports. (cid:31) Link to your accounting system. communications and complaints.
(cid:31) Accurately cost jobs. (cid:31) Capture all billable and non-billable time, (cid:31) Measure project, employee, client and
(cid:31) Manage sales leads and quotations. both in the office and on-site. service profitability.
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8 Evergreen State Surveyor Winter 2008