After more than four months of discussion, county commissioners have decided to cooperate with state officials in forming an online, interactive map.

On Monday, the commissioners voted unanimously to hand over data for a statewide GIS map that includes multiple “layers” of data accessible at no charge to anyone with Internet access. They will provide roads, addresses, parcel numbers and corporate boundaries for Cass County.

In August, Jim Sparks, the state’s geographic information officer, approached the commissioners about providing the information, but commissioners said no pending further discussion on how the data would be used.

“The explanations we got were really not all that clear so we asked for some help,” said Commissioner Dick Rusk.

That help came in the form of Rex Jones of WTH Engineering, the company that manages Cass County’s own online map for $3,600 a year. Because of restrictions placed on the data request, Jones assured the commissioners that their constituency was protected.

“I see that there is no problem for your citizens in order to be able to make this available to the state of Indiana, which would then potentially be made available to the federal government because it is not associated with any names,” Jones said.

Parcel numbers and addresses would be provided, but no names would be attached to the data, he said. For that information, seekers would have to go to the local data stewards.

So, why is the data needed by the state?

The data would be added as “layers” to information already obtained from state and federal agencies. The intent is to “stitch together” all 92 counties in Indiana to support efforts at economic development, disaster planning and recovery, transportation planning and water quality planning.

With the four data layers, new value would be added to users of IndianaMap, which include government, the private sector, not-for-profits and the general public.

“I have to compliment the commissioners on their due-diligence because I think you were one of the few counties that actually invited the state down to explain it,” Jones said. “Because of that interest in the data request, you probably made a decision for everybody in the state. Other people started to get concerned when you brought that to the forefront.”

No one from the state was present at the meeting, but Jones said to date about 40 percent of the counties had signed on with the state’s map.

Before the document was signed, Jones made it clear that the data belonged to the county and the decision on who they give it to is up to the commissioners.

There was concern about the state asking for additional layers in the future, such as first and last names of parcel owners.

“It’s not an automatic that they can just get any layer at any time,” Jones said. “They would still have to have your permission to do that.”

The first two years of data-sharing relationship is to be covered by a $15,000 grant. If the money dries up, the commissioners can stop participating.

State officials promised not to sell the information. It will be available free of charge.

Kevin Lilly can be reached at (574) 732-5117, or via e-mail at kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com



GIS mapping

To view Cass County's online map, go to www.co.cass.in.us and click on the link for “GIS Mapping.”

To view IndianaMap, go to www.indianamap.org



Want to know more?

To view the state’s online investment-return report, go to www.igic.org and click on “News” on the left hand side. The report, “The IndianaMap’s Economic Impact,” is the first link.