|
Where do
we go from here? GIS may tell
With one eye on the future and one on
the present, the county is picking up steam on development of its
own new geographic information system. The system is based on parcel
mapping, which is more precise than traditional maps. Layers of
information are then added to the map. Using computers, the maps can
readily be accessed and will quickly provide more specific details
and statistics about any property in the county.
The maps are created using aerial
photography. A plane with a camera mounted over a window in the
bottom takes pictures while using the satellite Global Positioning
System. The camera is also connected to a computer. White "X's" were
painted on scattered county roads to provide test coordinates,
county board member Terry Werth said.
County engineer Tom Hickman has been in
charge of the mapping project. Logan County was flown over and
photographed this past spring, and the map is now being tested.
(Click on picture for larger image)
(Click on picture for larger image)
A two-hour presentation explaining what
GIS is and some of its many uses was made to community leaders on
Sept. 22. This system can support many layers of information. The
county is financing the parcel mapping. Other financing to expand
its use is being sought from the city of Lincoln and agencies that
will benefit from its use.
While the system will serve many
entities, it has shown itself to be most beneficial to a community
as an economic development tool. It has many uses, but one of its
greatest prospects is for growth and planning.
LDN will bring you more information on
this important subject in the future.
Work
program deemed up to snuff by state
Paul Gleason, as Workforce Investment
Act chairman, summarized an annual report from the state. The
booklet-form report provided numerous economic-related statistics
that compared our population to that of five to six other counties
around us and to the state population.
[to top of second column in
this article] |
In the bottom line it said that Logan
County exceeded 13 of 17 criteria points; with the other four points
we met criteria. The final score of 95 percent says that we did well
doing what we could do with a certain amount of money and the makeup
of our families, Gleason said.
Animal
control, doing it better
Patrick O'Neill, chairman of the animal
control committee, announced that he has formed a task force that
will share information with other animal shelters. Other shelters
have been contacting the Logan County facility, hearing about its
recent success in turning things around. Shelters all around the
state have found it equally difficult meeting new state-mandated
laws. The new rules put extra work burden on employees.
O'Neill said he sent out letters to a
number of shelters, proposing a meeting to brainstorm more ideas
about what works. They hope to get more ideas about how to get
animals adopted.
Community
health
Mark Hilliard, administrator of the
Logan County Health Department, said that there was a good turnout
for the men's free prostate screening on Sept. 22.
Three physicians from St. John's
Hospital donated their time screening 50 men. Services entailed a
lab PSA blood test covered by an American Cancer Society grant,
blood pressure testing and a physical exam of the prostate. There
were three men with irregular findings.
The physicians were impressed with the
setup at the local health department, Hilliard said. The department
was very happy that the screening was successful and that it did
some good, he said.
Chairman
Dale Voyles reappointed county board member Gloria Luster to another
one-year term on the health board.
[Jan
Youngquist]
 |
