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County surveyor warns of GIS mismatches, urges investments in mapping staff
Summary
Todd Rummler, the county surveyor, told the committee that certified survey map state review reduces recording errors but county GIS parcel mapping sometimes lags behind filed surveys; he recommended dedicated GIS staffing or capacity to integrate survey data into the county system.
Todd Rummler, Richland County surveyor, briefed the committee on survey review practices, certified survey map state review and discrepancies between recorded surveys and the county GIS parcel mapping.
Rummler said state review of certified survey maps (CSMs) now occurs for some counties and provides a helpful check: “Now all certified survey maps go through state plat review up in Madison for review. ... That's been well worth the money to have the state reviewing those.” He described several instances where GIS parcel lines did not match deeds or surveys, producing disputes over creek-center boundaries and access on Jungle Bar Lane; county staff worked with mapping contractors to correct those errors.
Rummler said the county currently contracts mapping work to an outside firm (MSA) but that the volume of new surveys and limited budget or in-house capacity means newly surveyed parcels are not always promptly integrated into the GIS: “Once a parcel is surveyed ... that's not getting put into the GIS. It's not getting integrated. Because 1, we don't have anybody in house that can do that.” He recommended considering a full-time GIS technician to maintain and integrate survey data.
Rummler also reminded the committee of an upcoming PLSS (Public Land Survey System) forum May 15 and described his county-surveyor duties (filing and scanning surveys; reviewing closures and contacting surveyors to fix errors). He provided invoices and an overview of work hours tied to the county surveyor contract.
Why it matters: accurate parcel mapping is essential for property transactions, land-use decisions and dispute resolution. Rummler's briefing flagged a capacity gap that can leave recorded surveys out of county GIS maps for extended periods and suggested staffing or contract solutions.
