My Most Frequently Asked Questions:
What is a surveyor? What do they do?
Land surveying is the art and science of establishing, or re-establishing, corners, lines, boundaries, and monuments of real property (land) based upon recorded documents, historical evidence, and present standards of practice. Land Surveying also includes associated services such as analysis and utilization of survey data, subdivision planning and design, writing legal descriptions, mapping, construction layout, and precision measurements of angle, length, area, and volume.
A Professional Land Surveyor (P.L.S.) is an individual who is licensed to perform, oversee, and certify the results of the work as described above.
What are the duties of a County Surveyor?
The County Surveyor advises the County Mayor and County Council regarding all surveying work. They perform, or arrange for the performance, all surveying work for the County. They keep a fair and accurate record of all surveys conducted and received, and all corner files received. They are to deliver a copy of any survey to any person or court requiring the survey after the payment of the established fee and ensure that all surveys of legal subdivisions of sections are made according to the United States Manual of Surveying Instructions in effect at the time the survey is completed. In addition to all of that, they verify the correctness of, or establish correct coordinates, for all survey reference monuments set in place and shown on all subdivision maps and plats which have a spatial relationship with any section or quarter section corner.
In Salt Lake County, we have over 23,000 street monuments for which the County Surveyor is responsible.
Why is the County Surveyor an elected position?
It is important to have a County Surveyor who answers directly to the people – which is accomplished through elections. The other option would be to have the position be a hired or appointed position. This would put the office in the position of serving at the pleasure and bidding of the County Mayor. Having the position be an elected office places a healthy buffer between the elected officials in the County Government structure. It also places the County Surveyor in a better position to be able to protect your property rights.
Why are you running?
I made the decision to run for Salt Lake County Surveyor so that I can serve the people and professionals the work and live in Salt Lake County. The Salt Lake County Surveyor’s Office provides valuable information and resources that help all of the residents that call Salt Lake County home or provide services to those residents. I have worked for many years serving those same residents and have relied upon the Salt Lake County Surveyor’s Office for the valuable information needed to perform those duties. Now, I would like to take the lead in providing those same services.
Why should I vote for Bruce Williams for County Surveyor?
In one word, Experience. I have spent my career of 34 years working in the Survey Profession. Much of that was spent in the private sector (26 years) working for everyone from individual homeowners, to large corporations and municipal entities. I am the only candidate in this race that has worked in the private sector as a PLS. In 2016, I made the transition to the public sector where I have learned to serve the public working for both city and county governments. I have worked for the SL County Surveyor's Office as the Field Operations Manager for the past 6 years.
I am civic minded and have been a State Delegate for two years and a Precinct Chair for the past four years. I served in the Boy Scouts as a Scout Master, and a Merit Badge Counselor. My love of Surveying has inspired me to give back to this great profession. I serve on the Education Committee for the Utah Council of Land Surveyors (UCLS) and teach up and coming field surveyors. I teach individuals aspiring to be Licensed Land Surveyors in my role as Adjunct Professor at Salt Lake Community College, where I teach Ethics and Liability.
I am running because I feel that with my experience both in the private and public sectors, as well as my desire to give back and help advance the profession, I am the most qualified to serve the public in protecting their property rights and understanding their needs, and the needs of the private surveyor.
I've looked at both candidates, what sets you apart?
I will not disparage any other candidate, but I can tell you about myself, what I have to offer, and what I can bring to this office.
First, I have 34 years of experience surveying throughout Utah. I have done surveys from Tremonton, down to St. George, and from Vernal to Wendover, and EVERYWHERE in-between. In addition, I have performed survey work in Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and North Dakota.
Next, of my 34 years of surveying, I have worked for 26 years in the private sector, performing work for everyone from single lot owners to large scale developments, to large highway projects. I have performed every kind of survey work that there is - minus underground mining surveying. I know what the private surveyor needs from the County Surveyor's Office.
I have run my own surveying company, performing tasks including marketing, bidding, budgeting, hiring, managing, and taking a project from inception to completion.
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Throughout my career, I have felt the desire to give back. I have accomplished this by volunteering my services as a merit badge counselor for the Survey Merit Badge with the Boy Scouts of America. I have volunteered my time off (vacation time) and resources to go into schools to participate in Career Days to let our young people know that Land Surveying is a career they can find joy in. I am a member of the Education Committee with the Utah Council of Land Surveyors (UCLS). As a member of this committee, I have volunteered my time and knowledge to help field surveyors in the surveying, engineering, and construction industries attain certification as a Certified Field Technician (CST), a national certification. I am also an adjunct professor at Salt Lake Community College, teaching the Ethics and Liability course in the Surveying Program.
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Lastly, I have centered my campaign, not only on trying to let people know about me and my qualifications, but also trying to educate people on what surveyors do, and what the County Surveyor's Office does.
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I fell in love with surveying when I was in my 20's and strive to honor and advance the profession whenever I can. I am not a politician, though I understand and have been involved in politics. I want to serve the citizens of Salt Lake County and hope I can earn your vote.