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Commissioners reluctant to give out mapping information: Officials question how data will be used
(Pharos-Tribune (Logansport, Indiana) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Aug. 19--The Cass County commissioners decided they needed further discussion before handing over information that state officials want to use in expanding an online interactive map of Indiana.
On Monday, a representative of the Indiana Geological Survey drove to Logansport from Indianapolis hoping for an OK by the three commissioners, but he departed the city without that go-ahead. After 30 minutes of dialogue, commissioners tabled the matter.
"I think we have some concerns that need to be brought out," said Commissioner Jim Sailors.
He wanted details on what state officials were doing and why they were seeking the information.
Jim Sparks, the state's geographic information officer, said the information would be used to add data layers to an online Indiana map available on the Indiana Geological Survey's Web site. Specifically, the state wants to obtain parcels with a bare minimum of information attached to the graphics, local roads, point addresses and local boundaries.
The data would be added as "layers" to information already obtained from state and federal agencies. The intent is to "stitch together" all 92 counties in Indiana in order to support economic development, disaster planning and recovery, transportation planning and water quality planning, Sparks said.
Sailors asked, "Who has access to the information?"
Sparks replied, "Everyone would who has Internet access."
The interactive map is funded by the Indiana Department of Transportation and can be used by government, the private sector, not-for-profits and the general public free of charge.
The project would cost the county about $7,000 a year for setting up and maintaining the Web-based technology. That cost would be covered for the first two years through a $15,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security, Sparks said.
Commissioner Dave Arnold asked whether the grant would disappear after two years. Sparks said it could, but he said he did not think it would because of the importance of the project. If funds did dry up, the county could simply stop participating, Sparks said.
Arnold wondered whether the project would benefit Cass County residents.
"I'm not real sure that might be best for Cass County," Arnold said.
Sparks listed possible benefits. When FEMA came into Indiana to access flood damage, this kind of information would have been valuable in comparing damage to requests for federal funding and in speeding up distribution of relief funds. The map built with locally obtained information would also be a public service, he said.
Sailors wanted to know who would control the information.
"It is always the citizens of your county who own that information," Sparks said. "We're asking for a copy of it."
Cass County is already contracted with WTH Engineering to provide GIS mapping online. In April, the commissioners agreed to pay $3,600 a year for its own interactive mapping Web site that provides photographic images of the county, along with the name of the property owner.
Sparks said the state would work with WTH or just accept the information directly from the county.
Commissioner Dick Rusk asked whether the state would be selling the information to anyone.
"We wish not to sell that," Sparks said. "In fact, that is exactly counter to what we hope to do with this. These are important public records. We want to increase the availability rather that limit it by trying to sell it to someone."
Concerns remained for the commissioners on how the data would be used and maintained. They promised Sparks the discussion would continue.
Sparks had been hoping for answers from all 92 counties by the end of August.
"We'll just have a hole for Cass County in the meantime until we figure out what all the issues are," Sparks said.
The next commissioners meeting is set for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 2.
Kevin Lilly can be reached at (574) 732-5117, or via e-mail at kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com
GIS mapping
--To view Cass County's online map, go to www.co.cass.in.us and click on the link for "GIS Mapping."
--To view the Indiana Geological Survey's online map, go to igs.indiana.edu and click on "IndianaMap" under the "GIS/Maps" tab.
To see more of Pharos-Tribune, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.pharostribune.com/.
Copyright (c) 2008, Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, Ind.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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