MoreA grave matter for Alabama surveyors comes to life on the floor of the Alabama Legislature after an engineer is reprimanded by the state for surveying a cemetery without a license.
Monday, February 18, 2008
By BRIAN LYMAN
Capital Bureau
By BRIAN LYMAN
Capital Bureau
MONTGOMERY -- A bill to loosen licensing requirements for surveying in rural areas of Alabama is drawing fire from professional surveyors who say that it could spawn problems and disputes for landowners.
Its supporters, however, contend that it would address a shortage of surveying services in rural areas that has increased surveying costs statewide.
A version sponsored by state Rep. Marc Keahey, D-Grove Hill, would allow those who have worked with a professional surveyor for eight years and provide three letters of recommendation to qualify as surveyors in areas of 5,000 residents or less.
State Sen. Pat Lindsey, D-Butler, plans to introduce a Senate version this week, saying it is tough to find surveyors charging reasonable prices in his largely rural district.
"It's almost impossible to get a license to survey," he said. "And the way they've got their rules now, you can't do anything. You can't run lines on your own land."
