Minutes of the Proceedings of the OACES 2008 Spring Conference

Eagle Crest, (Redmond), Oregon June 9-11^th, 2008

Present: Peter Allen, Josephine, Bob Bagett, Gilliam, Grant & Wheeler, Eric Berry, Polk, Mike Berry, Deschutes, Greg Blackman, Union, Dan Boldt, Wasco, Jack Burris, Wallowa (retired Life member), Carl Clinton, Clackamas, Jim Clayton, Clackamas, Richard Comstock, Union, Gary Dejarnett, Jefferson, Bob Ezell, (Lane retired Life), Jim Elam, Washington, John Farnsworth, BLM, Jerry Floyd, Curry, Aaron Geisler, OBEC, Chuck Gibbs, Linn, Ken Grantham, Deschutes, Tom Hamilton, Lincoln, Mary Hartel, BLM, Bob Hovden, Multnomah, Daryl Ingebo, Sherman, Mike Jackson, Lane, Joe Jenson, Tillamook, Randy Johnson, Hood River, Barbara Kanz, Vial-Fotheringham, Jerry Keenan, Columbia, Bob Kelly, Union, Rodger Latham, retired Linn (Life member), Dan Linscheid, Yamhill, Mike Marcus, Klamath, Dan McNutt, Tillamook, Ethan Nicely, Lincoln, Chuck Pearson, Clackamas, Greg Petersen, Clackamas, Mark Riggins, Marion, Linda Rigutto, Washington, Roger Roberts, Jackson, Rick Robinson, Union, Karlas Seidel, Coos, Ron Singh, ODOT, Mike Springer, Grant & Wheeler, Steve Thornton, Clatsop, Richard Vial, Vial-Fotheringham, John Waffenschmidt, Lincoln, Nathan Woodward, Columbia, Scott Young, Washington.

During opening sessions, Jim Elam, Washington County Surveyor, discussed the Oregon One Call Utility Notification Board that he sits on. He is trying to get locators to use either Lat/Long or Oregon Coordinates as opposed to the current situs address system. Following discussion, this was voted upon and approved by those in attendance. Tom Hamilton, Lincoln County Surveyor, asked if any of the counties might be interested in purchase of their $100,000 plus road centerline survey system, since they do not need it any more. Lincoln county is not interested in leasing or loaning it out at this time. (Note: camera date was set wrong on all inserted photos)

Both the Clackamas and Lincoln County Surveyors presented corner restoration situations recently encountered. Dan Linscheid gave a brief OSBEELS report. Due to a snafu, Ed Henricks, PLSO Chair, was not in attendance, and Dan gave a brief account of current activities of that organization.

Mary Hartel and John Farnsworth, with the BLM, presented their procedures and considerations used in corner restorations, which in some cases can present extreme difficulties in achieving a legal, evidentiary solution which is equitable to all effected parties. Bono fide rights of entrymen was covered, as was holding to the sanctity of the plat and all other evidence of original corners as well as consideration of any dependant surveys lawfully performed since the original survey. Those wanting to visit IBLA decisions were encouraged to see the BIA website at http://ibiadecisions.com as opposed to the IBLA site, since it has a better interface for inquiries.

Ron Singh gave a visionary presentation on the Oregon Realtime Geodetic Network, stressing the need to revamp current Oregon laws relating to the Oregon Coordinate system and some of the current requirements contained in Chapter 209. A lengthy discussion relating to bases of bearings was enjoyed by all.

Richard Vial and Barbara Kanz, with Vial-Fotherinham in Portland, gave a presentation on Condominiums and subdivision guarantees. They were stressing the need for county surveyors to take a more proactive lead in the services they provide the public relating to the condominium approval process.

Chuck Pearson, Clackamas County Surveyor, discussed the current legislative proposal, which is basically limited to changing the current statutes relating to the corner restoration process to allow the fees relating to the program to be established by the county as opposed to the current maximum fees. PLSO will be encouraged to support this proposal as it starts down the legislative path.

Roger Roberts, Jackson County Surveyor, discussed ORS 368.366, relating to vesting of vacated properties by the county commissioners. The discussion following leaned toward a belief that this procedure, if used to vest in parties not owning adjacent properties, is illegal or at least of questionable legality. The particular situation he was raising related to an 1880’s platted town called Tolo, which had previously been the site of Fort Lane, and in the portion of the plat owned primarily by the county at the site of the old fort, some street vacation activities have occurred recently which has caused him some concern relating to the vesting question.

Roger also discussed a journal recently submitted to him by a family in Illinois. The GGGrandson of George McFall sent Roger the journal containing notes taken during GLO surveying during some of the earliest years they were in Oregon, 1852-54. Butler Ives was McFalls’ boss during part of this period, and they were busy extending the meridian northerly into the Washington territory as well as to the northerly line of California. At one point, McFall wrote in his journal that he had been “transmigrated into a mule”, to carry provisions across some of the most rugged , mountainous terrain in southern Oregon. The July 4^th, 1852 entry stated, “rain rain rain rain - may never stop”.

Chuck Gibbs, Linn County surveyor, presented on restoration efforts by his department on portions of both the Marion and Lane county boundaries, the former in T10S, R7E, and the latter in T15S, R7E. It did not sound like Chuck much enjoyed surveying in the snow out in the southeast corner of his county.

Mike Berry gave an informative presentation on researching and retracing county roads. He has prepared a 20+ page document outlining the basics of determining the legality, location and width of county roads, much of which will pertain to Jefferson , Crook and Deschutes counties. Some of the information contained in his handout can be used by researchers in many counties.