The county-run database is an expansive program that organizes information based on location, such as parcel information for tax maps, stormwater runoff data and even shade tree programs in some municipalities.
The county has hosted its own system for about five years.
All of the more than 10,000 parcels located in Vernon are contained in the system.
Lou Knipe, director of Planning and Development for Vernon Township, said current maps don't reflect changes in lot consolidations and new roadways and subdivisions. Once they are updated, the township will be able to use the information internally to update zoning and land use maps.
Knipe said the shared service agreement is a good one and the township is very happy with the arrangement.
"It saves quite a bit of money compared to paying a consultant to do it," he said.
In addition to cost savings for the township, area residents doing research on their property also will benefit from the updated information, Knipe said.
According to information from the county, Vernon will save about $5,000 through the county's no-cost Geographic Information System Web hosting program, which puts all of the information on the county's Web site, www.sussex.nj.us.
The county itself estimates the cost for data development will be reduced by 40 percent with the agreement, and the system's application development will be reduced by 67 percent. Specific dollar amounts could not be figured because costs are calculated on an hourly basis, said Sussex County Shared Services Coordinator Keith Armstrong.
Other municipalities have shared the service with the county on a job-by-job basis. Among some current projects are stormwater mapping in Hopatcong, placing shade trees in Branchville and compiling infrastructure information for the Department of Homeland Security, Armstrong said. The program also can help county and municipal governments comply with Right to Know regulations by providing information and locations of government buildings within the county.
"Anything you can think of, any kind of database that can be linked to a location, can be included in the GIS program," Armstrong said.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Stephen J. Novak and Roberta Fugate
Quelle/Source: New Jersey Herald, 21.05.2008
