NDACo Launching GIS Program

Posted 3/04/22 (Fri)

Jeff Eslinger | County News Editor

Beginning April 1, 2022, NDACo will offer counties a Geographic Information System (GIS) Program to help them better serve citizens across several areas, including emergency services, tax assessments, addressing, and a host of road-related activities like route efficiency of plows, addressing, etc.

It’s not every day that NDACo starts up a whole new program. As with other programs, the need for GIS assistance came to the Association’s attention over time from our member counties.

In his role as NG9-1-1 Program Manager NDACo’s Jason Horning’ job has been to help coordinate the development of a GIS database for use in the state's NG9-1-1 system.

This data is obviously mission-critical to an NG9-1-1 system and is used on every 911 call to determine which 911 dispatch center a caller should be directed to.

Over the years, Horning has also been called in to act as the resident expert for GIS issues as they arise. For example, helping the Department of Commerce construct a plan to use county GIS and tax data to arrive at more accurate population count for the 2020 census, serving on the legislative committee researching electronic posting and impacts to counties with regards to GIS parcel maintenance, and helping counties better visualize the 2020 census GIS data in order to determine if re-districting was necessary within their county.

Horning says, “Our vision for the GIS Program is to help more counties take advantage of GIS technologies and find more ways to be more efficient and effective in service to the public.”

Working with Horning on the new program will be Maggie Splonskowski, who has been interning at NDACo as a 9-1-1 Data Analyst. Read more about Maggie in the adjacent article.

As one example, Horning says that even counties with few or no internal GIS resources still use Parcel GIS data to help determine taxable value. Parcel data can further assist counties with:

• Assisting in Planning and Zoning work
• Using map products as a visual aid at county commission meetings
• Providing economic development insights
• Identifying the financial impacts of natural disasters

As with other NDACo programs, the GIS Program is envisioned not to replace county employees or vendor relationships, but as a support for counties to increase their usage of GIS data and GIS technologies. Specifically, to:

1. Provide counties in need with access to a qualified GIS resource and services.
2. Perform data analysis and create digital map exhibits as needed for decision makers and the public.
3. Seek common efficiencies at the county level through an application of GIS technology and online mapping services.
4. Serve as a GIS liaison for counties with state and federal partners as deemed appropriate.

The program’s focus over the coming months will be to raise awareness of what the program offers counties, and answering any questions they may have, not only about the program, but the benefits to be gained from GIS in general.

The cost for counties to participate in this service has been established at $3,375 annually.

GIS technology has been around since the mid-60s but began gaining popularity in the early 2000's as both private and government agencies began to recognize the many ways this data can be leveraged to improve many services to the public.

For more information about the GIS Program, contact Jason Horning at jason.horning@ndaco.org or Maggie Splonskowski at maggie.splonskowski@ndaco.org or 701-328-7300.