March 8, 1973 Missouri State Land Survey Authority Meeting Minutes

MINUTES OF MEETING

STATE LAND SURVEY AUTHORITY

March 8, 1973

     The meeting of the State Land Survey Authority was called to order at 9:00 a.m., March 8, 1973 by Acting Chairman Willard Eckhardt, at the Land Survey Authority Building, Rolla, Missouri. Also present were James Anderson, Richard Barr, Larry Fellows and Robert Myers.

     The minutes of the February 8 meeting were reviewed and minor changes suggested. Minutes approved.

     The trial balance sheet for February was received and noted.

     Fourth quarter budget request proposals were approved as follows:

          Personal Services              $16,724.28
          Equipment Purchase & Repair        812.00
          Operations                      17,678.00

     The following items were approved for expenditure:

          Printing and binding               750.00
          Purchase of trees - UMR            800.00
          St. Louis Coordinate System        500.00
          UMR Microfilm                      320.00

     Mr. Myers called attention to the fact that the remaining funds allotted for per diem for Authority members was limited in the fourth quarter. A review was made of planned Authority meetings and the attendance of other meetings by SLSA staff members and board members during the remainder of FY 72-73. Authority members agreed that the planned 2-day meeting in May should still be scheduled, but only one day per diem be paid each member for attendance. Authority members requested that Mr. Myers draft some guidelines pertaining to attendance and expenses of staff and board members incurred as a result of meeting with out of state survey organizations. The guidelines will be presented to the Authority for action at the next meeting.

     Mr. Myers reported as follows on current legislation:

     a) Supplemental Appropriation (H.B. 16) - In Senate committee.

     b) 1973-74 Budget Request (H.B. 4) - Still in House committee.

     c) Reorganization Bill (H.B. 419 & S.B. 77) - Messrs. Barr, Eckhardt and Myers appeared at a hearing on H.B. 419, February 20th at Jefferson City. A brief paper prepared by Mr. Eckhardt was presented to the committee recommending changes as agreed by the Authority. S.B. 77 has been modified and is still in committee.

     d) State Coordinate Bill (H.B. 138) - Has been perfected by the House.

     Mr. Myers reported he had talked with Mr. Robert James, Mr. Wm. Moon and Mr. Mark Edelman at Jefferson City regarding the SLSA Capital Improvement request and the elimination of funding for the vault from the request. Mr. Myers asked Mr. James to meet with the Authority in the near future for the purpose of acquainting Mr. James with the present SLSA facility and to assist in planning for the vault and facility expansion as needed. Mr. Myers recommended that a concrete plan, either for a new site or expansion at the present site, should be prepared by the SLSA prior to the meeting with Mr. James. Mr. Arthur Jacobs, Chief, Administrative Services, presented a preliminary study he had prepared and cost projections for expansion in the present SLSA building and also for a new structure on a site that would possibly be available from the University of Missouri-Rolla. Advantages and disadvantages of the two plans were examined in detail. A definite decision was delayed until the next Authority meeting. However the consensus of the Authority members was that Mr. Myers should work up a more detailed plan on utilization of the present SLSA building for presentation at the next meeting.

     Comments concerning the preliminary draft of the State Coordinate Manual were offered. Mr. Anderson presented additional information that he recommended be added to the Manual. Authority members approved this addition. It was agreed that the Manual was ready for final draft.

     Copies of an Executive Order dated December 4, 1970, stating that the State Land Survey Authority was assigned to the Division of Geological Survey and Water Resources, Department of Business and Administration, were reviewed. Mr. Myers reported that as far as he knew, the SLSA had no knowledge of the existence of this Executive Order until recently. Mr. Myers stated he had talked to Mr. Hugh Sprague concerning the Executive Order, and steps are being taken to rescind this order.

     Mr. Myers reported that he had written to Mr. John D. Ashcroft requesting an audit of SLSA records. It was Mr. Myers' opinion that an early audit of the SLSA would be helpful with the accounting and inventory records.

     A letter of complaint concerning survey quality by an individual surveyor was reviewed. Mr. Myers requested a recommendation from the Authority for handling this type of correspondence. It was the recommendation of the Authority that all substantial complaints be forwarded by the State Land Surveyor to the State Registration Board with an information copy of this action sent to the person issuing the complaint.

     Mr. Myers stated that copies of certain survey records had been offered to the SLSA Repository with the request that the records be kept confidential. It was the opinion of the Authority that it would not be to the advantage of the SLSA to store confidential survey records. Dr. Fellows suggested that an index of confidential records available to the SLSA for their use might be helpful.

     Mr. Myers reported that Mr. James DeYoung, acting attorney for the State of Missouri, had contacted him concerning the Missouri-Nebraska boundary dispute. Mr. DeYoung stated he had recommended to the Attorney General of Missouri that $100,000 be requested from General Revenue to be used for work concerning the Missouri-Nebraska compact. He suggested that the SLSA work up a rough estimate of cost for the project. To date, Mr. Myers has received no request for assistance from the Attorney General concerning the boundary dispute.

     Mr. Myers requested authority to employ additional students or student dependents on a part-time basis to assist with the indexing of records. Authority members approved the request.

     Mr. Myers recommended that the date of the Authority meeting be changed from the second Thursday to the fourth Thursday of each month. This would assist in arriving at a more accurate expenditure report for each meeting. Recommendation approved. The next meeting is tentatively planned for April 26, with the proposed 2-day meeting to be held on May 24-25.

     Mr. Myers reported on the progress of the following projects:

          a) Iron County - good progress on search and evaluation work

          b) Microfilming - 16 counties filmed to date
                             5 counties, indexing completed

          c) St. Louis Coordinate - no report

     Meeting adjourned at 3:05 p.m.


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Transcribed by Steven E. Weible

February 8, 1973 Missouri State Land Survey Authority Meeting Minutes

MISSOURI STATE LAND SURVEY AUTHORITY

Minutes of Meeting

February 8, 1973

     The meeting of the State Land Survey Authority was called to order by Daniel Kennedy, Chairman, at 9:00 a.m., February 8th, at the Land Survey Authority Building, Rolla. Others present were James Anderson, Richard Barr, Larry Fellows and Robert Myers.

     The minutes of the January 11 meeting were reviewed and minor changes suggested. Minutes approved.

     The trial balance sheet for the month of January was approved.

     The tentative agenda for the spring workshop sponsored by the Missouri Association of Registered Land Surveyors to be held at the Land Survey Authority Building in Rolla was reviewed and approved.

     Mr. Myers stated that on January 22nd, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Eckhardt and himself had met with the House Appropriation Committee and submitted an amended supplemental request. The Governor's recommendation was for no additional funds; the Authority requested $20,425 to be appropriated for the supplemental request. On January 29th, Representatives Morgan and Wallis visited the Land Survey Authority office to further discuss the supplemental request. No word has been received on their recommendation as a result of these meetings. On February 6th, Messrs. Kennedy, Eckhardt and Myers appeared before the Appropriation Committee concerning the regular budget for 1973-1974. Mr. Myers reported no opposition was voiced concerning the SLSA appropriation request.

     The Executive Request dated January 29, 1973, requesting that all contacts with the Legislature dealing with proposed legislation be cleared through the Governor's office and in specific through Mr. Valier, was reviewed. Mr. Myers stated he had been unable to contact Mr. Valier but Mr. Valier's secretary told him that all they wanted was a brief summary of the legislation to be presented. The requested information was submitted for House Bill #138.

     House Bill #419 concerning reorganization of the Department of Business and Administration was reviewed. It was the consensus of the Authority that any opposition to the bill should be voiced to Representative Holt's committee by the Authority members. Representative Holt was contacted by phone and he stated that each agency concerned would be given an opportunity to appear before his committee and would be notified of time and date as soon as they were known. It was agreed that Mr. Eckhardt and Mr. Myers should prepare a statement, to be presented by Mr. Eckhardt, to the committee. This statement would be forwarded to the other Authority members prior to the meeting with the committee. It was also agreed that Authority members would attempt to contact their representatives concerning the SLSA's position on H.B. #419.

     Mr. Myers stated that he appeared before the Legislative Committee on February 7th to testify for House Bill #138 concerning state coordinates. There appears to be no opposition to the bill.

     Mr. Myers informed the Authority that three contracts submitted to the Office of Administration had been approved and returned on February 7th after a long delay. These contracts are with Ronald Murphy, Herman Kaller and Barry Bookout.

     Mr. Myers stated that a contract for the photogrammetric part of the Iron County project would be initiated as soon as practical. It was the consensus of the Authority that the photogrammetry work should be contracted for as soon as possible and the delivery date left open.

     As Authority members had not completed reading the State Coordinate Manual draft, it was agreed that after reading the Manual, members would submit their comments to Mr. Myers. Hopefully comments will be submitted at an early date in order that a final draft can be prepared before the March Authority meeting.

     Mr. Myers stated that he had been asked to serve as chairman of ACSM Standards Committee. Authority members agreed that it would be beneficial for Mr. Myers to serve in this capacity.

     Mr. Myers requested approval to attend the ACSM meeting in Washington, D.C., March 15, 16 and 17, and the AARLS meeting at Hot Springs, Arkansas on April 12, 13 and 14. Attendance was approved.

     A letter from Mr. Joe Wollard, UMR Business Officer, was reviewed by Authority members. The letter in part states, "The campus would recommend to the Board of Curators of the University of Missouri that favorable consideration be given to negotiation between the two parties as to transferring the present site of your activities to the University and the University making available to the Authority a site for the new construction. The accomplishment of this transfer would appear to be in the best interest of both parties." No reply will be made at this time.

     Mr. Myers suggested that a letter be written to the Commission of Administration requesting that the SLSA be included in the State of Missouri's 5-year Capital Improvement plan. Authority members agreed that it would be advantageous to contact the Commission of Administration, but felt that SLSA personnel should continue working on plans for future facilities also.

     Mr. Myers stated that a contract had been initiated with Barry Bookout, UMR student. Mr. Bookout has been working for the SLSA part-time through UMR's financial aid program for students. Mr. Bookout has completed the maximum hours allowed him through this program. Contract maximum is for $340.

     In reference to January 11th meeting, Mr. Myers stated that no letter had been written to the Governor concerning the Capital Improvement request. Mr. Myers stated he had talked to Mr. Joe Cassidy and Mr. Mark Edelman concerning a supplemental request. It was his opinion that any added attempt for obtaining additional funds was useless, and in fact could be detrimental at this time.

     Mr. Myers reported he had talked to Mr. Peter Ruger, Assistant Attorney General, concerning the Missouri-Nebraska boundary. Mr. Ruger requested that the SLSA prepare some preliminary plans and cost estimates for this project.

     Dr. Fellows stated that it was his understanding that under proposed legislation, most state employees would be on the Merit System by 1975, and recommended that job descriptions be prepared for all present and proposed SLSA positions. Mr. Myers said these descriptions had already been completed, but that he would check to see if all future proposed positions were sure included.

     Mr. Barr stated that a task force committee had been appointed to make a study of East-West Gateway activities in order to determine future projects and funding.

     Meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.


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Transcribed by Steven E. Weible