HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-18-2008-11a
MEMORANDUM
To: ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
FROM: STEVE AVERETT, LAND RECORDS/GIS DIRECTOR
susJECT: UPDATE ON ORANGE AND ALAMANCE COUNTY LINE RESOLUTION
DATE: MARCH 11, 2008
cc: LAURA BLACKMON, COUNTY MANAGER;
GEOFF GLEDHILL, COUNTY ATI"ORNEY
The North Carolina Geodetic Survey (NCGS) has made substantial progress in
their efforts to resolve the Orange and Alamance county boundary. Representatives
from the NCGS (Gary Thompson, NCGS Director & Dennis Lee, NCGS County Line
Surveyor) provided an informational presentation to select staff from both Orange
and Alamance counties on March 11, 2008. Also in attendance were Geoff Gledhill
and Clyde Albright, the respective attorneys for each county.
The- information provided included twelve points whose coordinates have been
captured using GPS technology. It was explained that three of these points reflect
portions of the 1849 historic description. The other nine reference locations of the
county boundary as delineated on existing USGS quad maps. Research performed
by NCGS supports their claim that the USGS attempted to delineate county lines
based on research of historical documents and claims, as well as personal interviews.
Staff from both counties provided feedback to the NCGS representatives that might
shed light on more historical information. It is not clear at this point if these
recommendations will affect any alteration of the line proposed by the NCGS.
Along with reviewing historical information provided by the counties, the
NCGS will also be contacting staff from Caswell County to assess their interest in
resolving their southern boundary with Orange and Alamance Counties. This would
alleviate future conflicts between the three counties regarding the northern most
coordinate of the Orange and Alamance line, tying both to Caswell.
The coordinates provided by the NCGS have been plotted into Orange
County's GIS and some basic analysis of affected properties has begun. This
analysis will include acreages, potential number of parcels, potential number of
homes, and potential value. Additional items maybe be analyzed upon direction by
the County Manager.
It is the intent of NCGS to complete this project by dune 30 due to their
.budgetary constraints. This implies that the decision process will be complete prior
to that date so that NCGS funds from the current budget year can be allocated to the
contracted surveyor that will eventually monument the newly accepted boundary.