June 10, 2021 at 1:12 p.m.
Aerial photography of county approved
The land department has been having infrared photos taken for timber management purposes in recent years. That department also has had regular aerial photos taken historically, but not very frequently.
This will be the first time the contracting photographer will take high resolution photos and will provide 360-degree views of the entire county in one year.
Pictometry International Corp. of Rochester, N.Y., will be the contractor. They will photograph the entire county next year. The county will pay for it over three years.
Cost will be $63,261.25 in 2017, $59,195.84 in 2018 and $59,195.84 in 2019.
Soil and Water Conservation District funds will pay about two-thirds of the cost and the land department, about one-third.
Rates for the second three-year cycle would be $60,636.32 in 2020 and $59,195.84 in 2021 and again in 2022. The entire county would be photographed again in 2020.
In addition to providing an updated aerial view of the land department's timber inventory, other county departments are expected to benefit, Administrator-designate Joshua Stevenson told the board.
Assessing, environmental services and the sheriff's office can use the photos to give a view of property before employees make site visits, he said.
The county also plans to make the photos available on the county website.
Board chair Jeff Peterson questioned the invasion into residents' privacy by making available to the public photos of people's homes and yards.
"I control access to my back yard and I want to keep it that way," Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk said, adding, "I'm not hiding anything. I just want to control who comes on my land."
Peterson and Gaalswyk voted against authorizing the photos.
"Google Maps is already looking at your property anyway," Commissioner Dick Downham said as he joined Commissioners Bob Kangas and Scott Bruns in approving the contract.
Pictometry plans to take the first set of photos next spring.
Second publication rights after Brainerd Dispatch.[[In-content Ad]]
Comments:
You must login to comment.