Minutes of Meeting
Missouri State Land Survey Authority
December 1 & 2, 1970
Authority Members assemble at the Carney Motel in Rolla, Missouri the evening of December 1, 1970 for a discussion of possible legislative action advisable to present to the next General Assembly. Meeting with the Authority were members of the Legislative Committee of MARLS.
The Session on December 2 was called to order by Chairman Kennedy at 8:30, with all members and Mr. Jacobs, planning coordinator, present. Meeting with the Authority were Messrs Myers, Kaller, and Reed, members of the Legislative Committee of MARLS. Mr. Myers stated that their committee and the members of MARLS desire to foster close cooperation with the Authority in an advisory and "sounding board" capacity.
Myers stated that he was in contact with NOAA in regard to surveying standards and control. Two questions regarding the existing Missouri coordinate statute were offered:
1. What agency is authorized to change the control standards for first and second order surveys?
2. Are not the USC & GS standards too extreme to use as control standards for the Missouri Coordinate System?
It was recommemded by the Committee that there should be no immediate change of the present statute.
Representatives of MARLS and the Authority had met with the recorders and explained the formation and aims of the Authority and the recording fee. It was reported that there was a general feeling that progress was made in explaining the purpose and the need of the Authority.
Myers submitted some general suggestions of MARLS regarding the critical path and item descriptions of proposed programs for the Authority and a chart of suggested internal structure of the Authority.
It was suggested by Reed that the State Land Surveyor be employed as soon as practical in order that he would be present in the early plan formulation of long range planning activities.
Mr. Jacobs informed the MARLS Committee Members of the Authority's emergency appropriation request and the request for FY 1972 appropriations.
Following a general discussion of incompetent surveying practices and conflict of statutes, Myers suggested that a MARLS committee work with an attorney to investigate statute revision after compiling a state-wide inventory of surveying and recording methods, procedures, etc.
A general discussion was held concerning actual projects the Authority should initiate within the next two years: Reestablishment of section corners, monumentation, and the problem of coordination of urban coordinate datums. These comments led to viewing the legal aspect once again. Should some statutes that are so critical and of an emergency nature be revised in the near future, or should a complete revision of all pertinent statutes be planned for revision at a later date?
Chairman Kennedy stated that, in his opinion, two problems exist that need early action:
1. Revision of the C & GS standards for Missouri Coordinate System, and
2. Revision and/or statement of survey accuracies
The Authority agreed;
1. That a committee of MARLS should investigate the existing statutes and make recommendations for revision, and
2. The Authority would investigate the possibility for financial assistance to the MARLS committee for said investigation.
Subsequent to excusing the MARLS Committee Members, the Authority discussed with Mr. Jacobs the future housing and space problem and concurred that we shall continue to work on all possibilities.
Chairman Kennedy called for corrections or additions to the minutes of the meeting of October 23 that had been distributed to the members. Several corrections were suggested, following which Mr. Eckhardt moved, and Mr. Barr seconded, that the minutes be approved as corrected. The motion carried.
The problem of the Nebraska vs. Missouri boundary dispute was discussed, with consideration as to whether the Authority should be the proper State agency for actually resurveying, or supervising resurveying, of any areas that may be required or desired by the State of Missouri, and with consideration as to whether the Authority at this time is in a position to undertake any such work. It was the consensus that it would be appropriate at this time to begin exploratory talks with the Attorney General.
Mr. Jacobs presented the monthly financial report and explained results to date of acquisition of data from surveyors relative to the "good corner project."
The House Subcommittee investigation capital improvement requests of the House Appropriation Committee, consisting of Representative Garrett, Heflin, and Betz, accompanied by Representative Smallwood, conferred with the Authority regarding the Authority's request for a building. The Authority agreed to include in the request monies for land acuisition in addition to requested building request.
The Authority met in executive session to discuss desired qualifications for the position of State Land Surveyor.
Meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.
{signed} William C. Hayes
Temporary Secretary
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Transcribed by Steven E. Weible
