The Ogle County GIS Project began with the creation of a GIS Task Force by the Ogle County Board in August, 2000. The Ogle County GIS Task Force contracted with the consulting team of GIS Logistics for a Geographic Information System (GIS) Needs Assessment and Implementation Plan. The objective of the plan was to 1) inventory the current mapping, database and computer capabilities of the County, 2) help County officials determine the final form of a realistic and achievable system for Ogle County, and 3) create a plan for constructing that system.
The results of interviews with several public and private organizations across the County indicated the majority of those interviewed could greatly benefit from a few common layers of information. Several groups maintained these common layers of information in several formats and at several accuracies. It was determined that eight basic layers of information could be shared among project participants. These layers include: Soils, Addresses, Parcels (Cadastral), Zoning and Jurisdictional Limits, Road Centerlines, PLSS and Monuments, Basic Planimetrics, and a Digital Orthophoto base.
A simple premise arose from this summary: "Those agencies initially responsible for this data will continue to maintain this data and the accurate data will then be digitally shared among the project participants."
Upon completion of the Needs Assessment and Implementation Plan, a GIS Planning Group was formed as an interim body to manage the project. This Group also solicited memberships for the ultimate project governing body, the Ogle County GIS Committee. Members of the GIS Planning Group made presentations to the County Board, all municipalities, and several other groups within Ogle County. These presentations resulted in a GIS Committee comprised of 13 public agencies consisting of County, City, and Township bodies.
The Ogle County GIS Committee manages the Ogle County GIS Project. This county-wide project will be fully implemented over a 5 year period that began in January of 2001. The Committee also establishes policies, procedures, and prices on the acquisition, maintenance, and dissemination of the 8 basic layers of data.
The project theory consists of: A County-wide project with County-wide management and County-wide financing. The more participants involved, the lower each participant's funding level will be.
1989 IL Rt. 2, South
Oregon, IL 61061
815-732-2851
gis@oglecounty.org