The Apache Junction City Council on May 20 will vote on paying $5,000 annually to support an Arizona Department of Water Resources geographic information system.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the council chambers, 300 E. Superstition Blvd.
The council will vote to approve an intergovernmental agreement with ADWR for a contribution to the maintenance and operation of the Arizona Continuously Operating Reference Station network, Apache Junction GIS Administrator JC Kliner said during the council’s May 5 work session.
The network is a permanent site that transmits real-time coordinate information over the internet, he said.
“Pretty cool technology. We can receive that information with one of our GPS receivers and receive real-time, highly accurate locations of where we are,” Kliner said. “We’ve been utilizing this technology since about 2020 and it’s become like a critical asset to our data collecting.”
Councilwoman Tess Nesser asked how the Arizona Department of Water Resources became the agency to be selected to manage the program.
“Because when I went last night online to look up CORS to educate myself a little bit and I’m reading, for the longest time I couldn’t figure out how people dealing with water got control of this,” she said.
It is in the Arizona Department of Water Resources’ land-surveyor division. It was originally managed by the Arizona Department of Transportation, Kliner said.
The Arizona Continuously Operating Reference Station is a network of 51 reference stations — 36 state-managed and 15 managed by others — providing precise coordinate information that is a critical component to the city’s mapping efforts, it states in the proposed resolution.
“(T)he city will contribute annually to support the operation and maintenance of the AZCORS program. In return ADWR shall provide access to the AZCORS network and technical support with data-related issues,” it states.
The agreement states it will be for five years with no option to extend the term by amendment. A new intergovernmental agreement must be entered into prior to the expiration of the current term, it states.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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