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ACSM/NSPS

Division: Liaison                                                                 Division Officer: Coleen Johnson

Committee: ACSM/NSPS                                                  Comm. Chairman: Patrick Smith

I attended the ACSM/NSPS Conference and Technology Exhibition, being held in conjunction with CLSA, NALS & WFPS, March 18-23 in Las Vegas.

The two main items to bring back from this meeting are the availability of the Speakers Kit for Surveying jointly produced by ACSM/NSPS/NCEES and the continuing exposure garnered by participation in the Trig-Star program.

At this meeting Jerry Goodson was be installed a President of NSPS and Gary Jeffress was installed as President of GLIS (Geographic Land Information Society).  A great honor for Jerry, Gary and TSPS and more evidence of their continued dedication to the surveying profession.  Along with Lynn Savory as NSPS Area 8 Director and me as NSPS Governor, Texas remains well represented and influential with happenings at the national level.

At the TSPS 2004 Annual Business Meeting, three motions relative to ACSM/NSPS were presented and passed:

1) that the 2004-2005 TSPS Officers & Board of Directors investigate offering to its members, by the time of the 2006 membership renewal notices, a jointly billed discounted NSPS membership dues structure arrangement similar to that of many other state surveying societies and to participate in the announced membership contest

2) that the Board of Directors investigate membership in one or more of the regional organizations of state surveying societies, including but not limited to the Area ¾ Governors and the Western Federation of Surveying Societies (WestFed)

3) that the Board of Directors consider perpetually inviting, with funding provided, at least two authorized representatives of NSPS to each and every Annual Meeting

Respectfully Submitted

Patrick A. Smith, RPLS
 

General Land Office

DIVISION:  Liaison       DIV #:  3   DIVISION OFFICER: Coleen Johnson

COMMITTEE: GLO Liaison 3.5  CHAIRMAN REPORTING: Henry Mayo
 

No action by the committee since last report.

Standing by, if needed.

HPM
 

Oil and Gas
Division:   Liaison Division              Div. #:  3            Division Officer:  Coleen Johnson

Committee:  Oil and Gas Liaison                           Chairman Reporting:  Jon E. Hodde

One of the task appointed to this committee includes monitoring developments for drilling, to include requirements of Cities, Counties and the R.R.C.  Our company recently completed a Unit Survey of a proposed Horizontal Well situated partly in the City of Brenham and within its ETJ. The City and the County did not require any special permits or council action. However, being near the Brenham Airport, the FAA requires a permit/form be filed with their office to include such information as Lat./Long. of the well, ground elevation at the well, distance and direction from the nearest point on the runway, total proposed height of the drilling rig, duration, etc. 

If anyone knows of anything that needs attention or needs to be addressed by this committee, please let me know.

Committee Charge:

Continue to represent the objectives of TSPS before the Oil & Gas Industry as well as the Texas Railroad commission. Keep TSPS Executive committee and Board of directors informed of any actions required by TSPS.  Coordinate with other TSPS committees, as required by issues of concern.

Task:

·        Visit with TxRRC regarding their GIS Department;

·        Monitor Developments for drilling other than RRC, i.e. Cities & Counties;

Real Estate
Division:   Liaison Division              Div. #:  3            Division Officer:  Coleen Johnson

Committee:  Real Estate Liaison (3.6)                    Chairman Reporting:   Jon E. Hodde

 
A draft document titled “General Information and Notice to a Buyer” produced by the TAR is under review.  There is no mention of or language about surveys in the document.  The document was discovered by surveyor Darin Harwell, which responded by email to Ron Walker, Director of Legal Affairs, TAR.  He presented a good explanation of the necessity of surveys in real estate transactions as well as the need for the survey language in the proposed document.  Pat Smith also corresponded with Ron Walker and gave his opinions.  Thanks to Darin and Pat for bringing this to our attention and their expedient response.  I think this a good example of the importance of TSPS membership and working together for the benefit of all.  With all surveyors keeping a watchful eye on the ever-changing conditions that affect our profession, we have a much better chance of addressing issues such as these before it is too late.    

• Consider expanding this committee to have five Co-Chairs to correspond to the five TSPS chapter areas...See link with TLTA Liaison and five co-chairs;

• Prepare outline for TSPS Speakers at Real Estate meetings;

• Invitation for Real Estate Liaison to have exhibit at TSPS convention;

• Deliver a report at each quarterly board meeting responding to committee charges and task. Discussing actions, no action, problems, contacts made, input or concerns from other organization;

• Through out the year develop a short report to be presented and included in the annual business meeting concerning the objects and concerns of this organization;

TxDOT
DIVISION: Liaison                    Division  #3     Division Officer  Coleen Johnson
COMMITTEE:  TxDOT               Chairperson Reporting   John F. Pierce

TSPS Strategic Planning Goals from August 12 & 13, 2004

1.                  Get a requirement for all technicians on TxDOT projects to be certified.

2.                  Get a RPLS on staff in each TxDOT District.

3.                  Get a requirement for TSPS standards on all work order.

The Texas Department of Transportation’s Standing Committee On Surveying (SCOS) meet on February 17, 2005. Plans for the March 29 and 30, 2005 TxDOT Surveyors Conference were finalized with confirmed speakers.  The TxDOT Information Systems Divisions’ booth were discussed and finalized. There was some discussion of TxDOT requiring all of their technicians to become Certified Survey Techs through NSPS.  If that happens, it stands to reason that consultants will then be required to use CST’s on TxDOT projects. Darryl Zercher of the San Antonio District attended his first SCOS meeting as the incoming new member.

The 2005 TxDOT Surveyors Conference was held at the Omni Southpoint on March 29 and 30, 2005.  There were approximately 110 attendees.  There were many very interest presentations including one of the better ones by TSPS Past Presented Maxey Sheppard on Corridor Retracement.  Other topics covered included Strips and Gore Doctrine, The Natural Resources Code and the Surveying of State Lands, TxDOT use of Railroad Right-of-Way, Texas Height Modernization, Wide Area Real Time Kinematic GPS Project, GIS Applications with LRCA by TSPS member Fred Crawford, and Conflicts in Deed Descriptions.

SCOS meet on May 12, 2005 for the purpose to review the comments from the attendees of the March conference. There were some interesting comments.
 

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