Public Works says new national coordinate system will require compliance; electric bikes, Spanish Fork building remain priorities
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Summary
Public Works staff told the commission that a forthcoming national coordinate system and state code updates will require county compliance, and said recent purchases of electric-assist bikes have improved field efficiency; staff also reiterated support for a new Public Works building in Spanish Fork.
Anthony, a Public Works representative, told commissioners Oct. 2 that the state legislature is moving to adopt a new national coordinate system and that county survey and mapping work will need to comply with the updated state code when it takes effect.
Anthony explained the new system aligns urban-area elevation to ground level and reduces projection differences between GPS and traditional surveying methods. "This new 1 actually brings in the urban areas that up to the ground level. So me shooting with GPS and you pull on a tape measure will be the same on the new coordinate system," Anthony said.
Public Works also reported operational gains from four electric-assist bikes purchased earlier in the year. Anthony and budget staff said the bikes cost roughly $13,000 in total and that the department saw efficiencies that offset the purchase quickly: "we made that up in employee wages in a month," Anthony said.
Commissioners asked about the long-discussed proposed Public Works facility in Spanish Fork; Anthony said the department would be "fully supportive" of moving to a consolidated building and that a complex that stores equipment in the vehicles and provides larger mechanics and storage spaces would improve operations.
Next steps
Public Works will monitor the state code bill implementing the new national coordinate system to determine any required technical or budgetary adjustments; commissioners were reminded the county must comply once the statute is adopted.