Pub. 13 2018 Issue 1

7 Issue 1 2018 / UCLS Foresights www.ucls.org often cover, disturb, or remove monuments. Road millings regularly remove all or portions of the monument while overlays make the monument difficult, if not impossible, to access. In Salt Lake County, a new road surface might be several feet above an existing brass cap monument. Additionally, chip seal and crack repair activities have permanently sealed monument ring and lids. 5. Landowner Improvements: Monuments are also lost to construction, maintenance, and improvements of landowners. 6. Land Reclamation: Following wildfire events and/or to remove dense or unwanted underbrush, federal and state agencies routinely initiate a “chaining” process. This activity literally removes or disturbs every physical object in its path – including monuments and accessories. Why Does Monument Destruction Continue? Experienced surveyors throughout Utah will tell you the problem of monument destruction has persisted for many decades. Why does this happen? There are multiple factors that facilitate the removal of land survey monuments. Unfor - tunately, economics, ethics, and ignorance all contribute to, rather than solve the problem. 1. Surveyor Ignorance: Although most land surveyors understand monument preservation, and the requirements of state law, many do not understand their professional responsibilities. They are often reluctant to inform the jurisdictional authority and/or educate their client about the consequences of removing a monument. 2. Non-Surveyor Misunderstanding: Many non-surveyors do not understand the value of survey control and the added expenses to resolve a boundary conflict that a missing or disturbed monument might have caused – not to mention accuracy and consistency. Reduction in the quantity of monuments equals an increase in the cost of a boundary or right of way survey. 3. Disregard for the Law: The probability of being caught and the consequences for violating the law are relatively small, when compared to the cost savings of non-compliance. This attitude is found among land surveyors, engineers, contractors, and planners in both private and public practice. 4. Lack of Enforcement: The licensing board’s failure to, swiftly and clearly, enforce the flagrant destruction of survey monuments. Perhaps the threat of losing an occupational license, in addition to any monetary fine, would motive compliance Why do we (as a profession) tolerate a practice that is so detrimental to a fundamental service we provide? Why do we allow the willful destruction of an object that memo - rializes our work? Why do we ignore the blatant removal of evidence that our professional license and personal repu - tation may depend upon? Why do we not voice a concern when we witness the removal of property corners and rivets in sidewalks? Why do we compromise ethics to improve our bottom line? Why do we rationalize and make excuses for our actions and the actions of our peers? The Salt Lake County Surveyor is proactive in the pres - ervation and protection of survey control monuments. Through their monument preservation program, they have documented the spatial details of nearly 19,000 monuments. However, many of these monuments have not been re-ob - served for ten plus years. Others are beneath existing street surfaces or may be in inaccessible locations. Notify the Coun - ty Surveyor when you become aware that a monument has been, or may be removed. Educate clients, contractors, and municipal authorities of the monument’s value. Help the County Surveyor help you! Note: The opinions expressed in this article are my own, and do not necessarily represent those of the Utah Council of Land Surveyors, its membership, or the office of the Salt Lake County Surveyor. q The Sal t Lake County Sur veyor i s proact i ve in the preser vation and protection of sur vey control monuments. Through their monument preser vation program, they have documented the spatial details of nearly 19,000 monuments.