PLSO The Oregon Surveyor Sept/Oct 2020

Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon |  www.plso.org 17 Featured Article A s someone who paints dirt for a living, I had never really expected to be asked to write an article for anyone. However, when I was asked to consider writing something for PLSO, it just made sense. I have been able to help many of my survey clients with insights that I have picked up over 15 years of utility locating. Hopefully I can bring something of value here. Here are a few things about myself: I start- ed working as a utility locator in 2004. In 2019, I stepped out on my own and start- ed a private locating company, Mark It Out LLC. I live in Salem with my beauti- ful wife and our six cheerful children. I enjoy volunteering in the children’s pro- grams at our church. Silver Creek Falls is my favorite hike. Pineapple and bacon is my favorite pizza topping, and surveyors are my favorite clients. Seriously, I love working for surveyors. They tend to be better prepared with records, as-builts, or plans before a job begins. Surveyors have given me a sig- nificant amount of work in my first year in business. They have given me some fun and unique jobs to locate. I am not Secrets of Utility Locating By Thad Charlick This was an unusual example of a homeowner having records of his property. Public records show a map of the septic system. continues on page 18 T Thad Charlick has been working as a utility locator since 2004. He owns Mark It Out LLC in Salem, where he lives with his wife and six children.