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Commissioners pause plan for annual commercial flyover mapping; assessor seeks more input
Summary
County discussion about purchasing annual oblique aerial imagery (pictometry) and related software ended with a decision to seek more information and solicit vendor demonstrations; the assessor requested inclusion in vendor selection and staff will gather bids and vendor demos.
Perry County commissioners discussed whether to move from the state's five‑year aerial flyover to an annual oblique imagery (pictometry) service to support property reassessment and permitting. The board did not make a final purchase decision and agreed to solicit vendor demonstrations and pricing.
Assessor Mindy (first name given in the meeting) told commissioners she had researched pictometry for years and said an annual oblique service could cost roughly $40,000–$50,000 a year plus software and integration fees; one vendor at a conference quoted an annual price in that range, she said. Mindy asked for a seat at the table in vendor conversations and objected to staff pursuing vendors without assessor input: "I don't feel like you should be making decisions that pertain to my office...I've been doing it for 23 years." She asked that any procurement include her office's operational needs.
County staff said an annual vendor would allow more timely detection of new or changed structures between the state's five‑year flights but cautioned the county must budget for both flight fees and software integration. There was discussion about contract timelines: the meeting noted that some bids must be awarded within about 45 days after opening due to state procurement guidance.
Commissioners asked staff to invite multiple vendors for demonstrations, to share cost and software details with the assessor's office, and to return with draft bid language so the board and the assessor can evaluate options. A motion to table the reassessment/flyover purchase until staff returns with vendor info passed by voice vote.
Why this matters: More frequent aerial imagery could speed property discovery, potentially improving assessed values and permitting enforcement, but it also requires recurring budget commitments and software integration with county GIS.
What happens next: Staff will compile vendor proposals and demonstrations, share specs with the assessor, and return with recommended contract terms and cost estimates for commissioner review before any award.
