PLSO The Oregon Surveyor July/August 2021

Featured Article 15 Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon | www.plso.org A s county surveyors we may find ourselves being asked the ques- tion: “What exactly does a county surveyor do?” This question often comes from well-meaning county commission- ers, looking to reduce staff and/or save money, or those who may not under- stand the importance of the county surveyor position. And, your state may not have legislative mandates in place that specify the county surveyor’s func- tional duties. In Oregon, this type of specific legislation has been “on the books” for quite some time. These legislative rules clearly define the county surveyor’s roles and responsi- bilities. I offer some of themhere for your review which may help you answer the question, “What the heck does a county surveyor do?,” help you explain the ne- cessity of a county surveyor to county commissioners, or to provide ideas to create legislation in your state for the county surveyor position. Oregon has 36 counties, each with a county surveyor. Some are elected, but the majority are appointed. County sur- veyors in Oregon are required by statute to be licensed surveyors. The county surveyors and county engi- neers are organized into an organization called the “Oregon Association of Coun- ty Engineers and Surveyors,” which is an affiliate organization of the “Association of Oregon Counties.” The main duties of Oregon county sur- veyors are: 1. To review and file surveys from private and public surveyors, 2. Review and approve subdivision, partition, and condominium plats, and 3. Maintain and reestablish monuments of the PLSS system. All of the statutes noted below have been enacted by the Oregon Legislature and codified in the Oregon Revised Statutes. A brief discussion of some of the more important statutes follows and the actu- al statute (or chapter) is noted for your convenience for further review at: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_ laws/Pages/ORS.aspx Boundary Surveys ORS 209.250: This statute details the re- quirements a private or public surveyor must comply with before submitting a survey to the county surveyor. The county surveyor reviews the survey for compli- ance to the statutes and when found to be in compliance, files the survey as a permanent public record in the county surveyor’s office. Subdivision and Partition Plats ORS 92.050-92.100: Details specific duties including plat name approval, survey re- quirements,monumentation requirements, field inspections, delayedmonumentation caused by construction, and others. The county surveyor reviews the plat, perti- nent deed documents, and the boundary resolution. Many counties require a sepa- rate boundary survey; showing found and set monuments, lines of occupation and any other feature that may have an im- pact on the plat boundary. Such a survey must be submitted prior to the final plat. Often, a “title report,” providing copies of I offer some of them (legislative rules) here for your review which may help you answer the question, “What the heck does a county surveyor do?” R. Charles Pearson, PLS What the Heck Does a County Surveyor Do? The Oregon Version continues T