The Marshall County Commissioners heard a request by Chris Marbach of Marbach, Brady and Weaver – a survey company working with NIPSCO on the 100-mile power line from Burr Oak to Topeka.
Marbach’s request was for the acquisition of the names and addresses of property owners along the proposed route that would be obtained through the county’s Geographic Information System, or GIS.
The county currently has an ordinance in place stating that outside companies cannot obtain GIS information without permission and just-cause, along with a $15,000 fee. Marbach said he’s understanding of the fee and will sign disclosure and confidentiality papers in order to obtain the information. He assured the commissioners that the information would not be sold to any other outside source and that it would be used to send notices of procedure in the project.
The line would affect parcels in 10 counties and Marbach would like to have access to all parcels that would be affected, as well as those in two proposed alternate routes.
The commissioners’ attorney, James Clevenger, asked to look into the ordinance and asked Marbach to come back at the first meeting in March for further discussion.
