LAND INFORMATION OFFICE

Julie Anderson, Planning & Development Director

OPERATING AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE

The Planning & Development Director is also the Land Information Officer, responsible for modernizing all land records in Racine County. Authority for these tasks comes from Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter Adm. 47, Wisconsin Land Information Program, and Sections 16.967, 20.505 (ie) (ig) (im), and 59.72, Wisconsin Statutes. The Land Information Office is to design, implement and maintain an economical and efficient, automated mapping and land information system that permits ready entry, retrieval and exchange of data by and between the various users. State statutes require that a portion of the monies collected from real estate recording fees be used, at the discretion of the Land Information Officer, only for modernization of land records.

The Land Information Office coordinates land information projects within the County; between the County and local governmental units; between the State and local governmental units; and among local governmental units, the federal government and the private sector. The office is also the location of the County Surveyor Services, the duties of which are described and authorized by Sec. 59.45, Wis. Stat.

EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES  

A goal of this office is to create a mapping system consisting of five required basic elements. It has completed four of these and is well on the way to completing the remaining element, topographic mapping. The Land Information data for Racine County is updated quarterly and is available on the desks of all employees in the Planning and Development Department. This system is also available in the County offices of Public Works, UW Extension, Emergency Management, Sheriff, Real Property Lister and Corporation Counsel. CD's containing updated land information are shared with most municipalities within Racine County, as well as with private consultants working with Racine County municipalities. Utility companies have also purchased the data. The System is also being used by the Racine County Economic Development Corporation and by several municipalities in Racine County. The address grid for Racine County has been installed as a layer in the GIS.

2005 GOALS AND BUDGET STRATEGIES  

• Update existing data files and enter new and updated data from SEWRPC as it is received.
• Contract for the preparation of an Arc IMS web application for Racine County spatial data.
• Continue digitizing existing topographic map features and undertake Year 2005 digital orthophotography project for all of Racine County.
• Enhance Land Information System availability by continuing additional Internet accessibility and developing formal data-sharing agreements with Land Information System users.
• Prepare and provide housing assessment data to the Wisconsin Land Information System.
• Utilize GIS in hazard mitigation and public safety services.
• Work with Information Systems Department and Register of Deeds to create an action plan for development of a database for public access of land information and assessment data.
• Contract for professional services for County Surveyor.
• Plan for data conversion from Genamap to Arc INFO and begin training process for new software.
• Prepare for the Smart Growth plan by participating in a regional water supply study, which is directly related to land records modernization in Racine County.