PLSS Remonumentation and Parcel Mapping in Polk County 1996-Present

Polk County by the numbers Polk County covers an area of 956 square miles and has a population of 43, civil townships Approximately 3,100 PLSS corners were set in the Original Government Survey 70 geodetic control stations were Blue Booked in 1997 as part of the Polk County UDN Total of 45,000 parcels as per the 2015 tax roll

Where we were in % of the PLSS corners had been remonumented with restoration sheets filed A small number of PLSS corners had been tied to the Polk UDN for a pilot parcel mapping project A few sections were parcel mapped around a pilot project area in an Autocad enviroment Organizing a newly formed Land Information Dept. Transition being made from a part time county surveyor to full time position

Where we are now 98% of the PLSS corners have been remonumented with restoration sheets filed 98% of the PLSS corners with restoration sheets filed have “survey grade” coordinate values 100% of the PLSS corners with “survey grade” coordinate values have been integrated into the county parcel map Approximately 94% of the 45,000 parcels in Polk County have been mapped

Basic Principle for Parcel Mapping Development in Polk County Since 1996 No parcel maps will be developed until all the PLSS corners needed to perform a proper section breakdown, as per statute, have been remonumented and have “survey grade” coordinate values.

Methodology PLSS corners needed to properly breakdown the section being parcel mapped are remonumented with a tie sheet filed as outlined in Wisconsin Administrative code A-E 7.08 The PLSS corners are mapped using GPS and conventional technology. Raw observational measurement data is analyzed in a 3D least squares adjustment to insure quality and archive raw measurements.

Methodology Research is performed for existing surveys that may have monumentation that will improve the accuracy of the map, i.e. block corners, old plat irons, forty corners monumented center of sections. Additional monumentation other than the PLSS is mapped and analyzed. Proper section breakdown is performed based on “survey grade” county coordinate values Master audit report is printed of the parcels in the section to be parcel mapped Deeds are then pulled and parcel mapping development begins

Past and current Challenges Money…survey equipment, office equipment, software, staff and all the other stuff my boss worries about. Getting a few of the townships on board was difficult Thanks Sara! In house or contract out decisions Constant education of the elected officials that the methodology we have adopted is best Transition from Autocad to ESRI geodatabase Daily maintenance of the map we created. Accurate acreages along the lakes

The Future Finish PLSS remonumentation Finish mapping remaining parcels Maintain the parcel layer on a daily basis Using recently acquired LIDAR data, DNR data and our own observations to refine the hydro layer to the ordinary high water mark. Update riparian acreages using the new hydro (OHWM based) layer Formulate PLSS maintenance program.

OPINION Not nearly enough money has been allotted for PLSS restoration and mapping under the 2016 WLIP Land Information Plan draft. Going forward, no more WLIP funds should be spent on parcel mapping that is not based on accurately mapped PLSS corners, lets not keep a bad thing going. Counties are not “done”, even though reported as “done”, until the parcels are based on a remonumented and accurately mapped PLSS. Sticking to the foundational elements and the order in which they are listed is a good thing.