The USGS states that LIDAR is “a remote sensing technology that collects three-dimensional point clouds of the Earth’s surface. This technology is being used for a wide range of applications including high-resolution topographic mapping and three-dimensional surface modeling as well as infrastructure and biomass studies.”
The USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) grant will cover 50 percent of the funding to purchase LIDAR. The county’s matching portion would be an estimated $100 per square mile or $56,500. Funds are available in the 2015 capital for GIS imagery fund.
“This will be very beneficial for several departments: drain, mosquito, 911, and Roger Garner for emergency management,” County Administrator/Controller Bridgette Gransden said. “This was a project we were going to originally include in the 2016 budget, but this grant came in with an opportunity for us to spend significantly less money.”
Commissioners unanimously approved a request from Cantrell to proceed with the project. To receive the grant, support needed to come from the board by the end of September. The program has a starting date in the spring of 2016.
The board also recently:
- Approved a per diem rate for meals in cities designated as “high-cost cities” by the IRS. The per diem rate will be: Breakfast, $13.75; lunch, $16.50; and dinner, $24.75. For all other meals, the county per diem will remain the same at: Breakfast, $8; lunch, $10; and dinner, $22. Rates for both situations include gratuity.
- Appointed Mark Potts (Republican) and Carol Buller (Democrat) as representatives on the Midland County Board of Canvassers. Their terms will expire Oct. 31, 2019.
- Appointed Jennifer Hayes and Colleen Markel to the Michigan Works! Workforce Development Board.