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

Name that National Monument

National Surveyor’s Monument

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

CURRENT STATUS 32 FULL TIME 29 PART TIME 11 NONE

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

The PLSS was championed by Thomas Jefferson

Corners established by the PLSS

Did you know?

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

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

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

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

La Crosse County Maintenance Goal 5%

The Second primary focus: Survey Records

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

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 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).

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

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

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

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?

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. The County Surveyor and Land Records

Interface with the Zoning Department

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.

County Government requires Teamwork:

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

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.

Attitude toward: Customers Co-workers Other units of government

Teamwork means owning up to mistakes

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)

So two Amish gentlemen go to the zoning office…

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

Chapter 157 of the Wisconsin Statutes

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

Zoning Department Land Information Department Corporation Counsel Highway Commissioner County Surveyor

Questions? Bryan Meyer th Street North La Crosse, Wisconsin If you have survey or land ownership questions, please contact: