Recorder (S2) gave an overview of recorder-office work and several near-term operational changes, including a new judicial-sealing ("judicial shielding") process that becomes effective Jan. 2 and measures to publish PLSS corner data collected under a state grant.

On judicial sealing, the recorder said retired or current state judges (and family members) may submit a notice and $75 fee that causes selected recorded documents to be shielded in the county's indexes. The system will preserve a placeholder and legal description but hide names, dates and other personally identifying details in the public index. The recorder cautioned the board that shielding cannot remove copies of records already distributed externally and that certain records (for example, signatures on petitions) cannot be fully hidden.

"When you try to pull up the document, there'll be a statement that says this document is not [viewable]," the recorder said, describing the placeholder approach. Staff and commissioners discussed whether the recorder's office should provide paid research for applicants who need help identifying documents to shield, and the recorder said the office is still deciding on that operational detail.

On surveying and PLSS work, the recorder reported that Nyberg Surveying has submitted government corners under the PLSS grant; the office has recorded 62 corners and will publish a public GIS layer so residents can view the identified corners online. The state is holding 30% of grant funds until completion, staff said, and the county has contributed in-kind resources to advance the work.

Finally, the recorder said the office purchased a $600 scanner to back up marriage records and certified copies; originals will be retained and the scanner will serve as a redundancy measure.

What happens next: The recorder's office will begin accepting judicial-sealing notices Jan. 2, finalize procedures for potential paid research services, publish recorded PLSS corners on the county GIS layer, and continue back-up scanning work.