n the fast growing Smith
Mountain Lake section of Franklin County, Va.,
residents are very appreciative of their county government and Jennifer Martin in
particular.
That’s because Franklin County’s Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) coordinator has been engaged in a county initiative to convert all
tax-parcel records from paper to computer-accessible digital form.
Internet users look up land parcel information on A&A’s WebGIS for assessed property values in
the Smith Mountain Lake and Rocky Mount
areas. Overlays show previous sale values, zoning, and land use classifications.
"The major challenges for the GIS conversion have been obtaining
the funding, getting everyone involved, and creating layers as we identify uses for the
database," says Jennifer, who became GIS coordinator when Franklin began the project
in January. "We’re about half done, and it’s going well," she adds.
Anderson & Associates’
GIS Director James Martin says, "Our
effective relationship has developed because Franklin County has quality people in place
from the top down, and they have taken a serious interest in how the project work is being
done. We try to share the mapping and quality control experience with the client, so they
understand the value of the product being delivered."
The county started developing GIS technology in
conjunction with its 911 emergency dispatch service more than a year ago. Franklin County
plans to work with each department to identify information mapping needs that can be
incorporated into the GIS. A comprehensive map of the county trails and navigable rivers
is now available on the Franklin County website (www.franklincountyva.org).
A map of proposed trails and blueways is also available, an endeavor
spearheaded by Jennifer’s husband, Scott Martin, Franklin County’s Director of
Commerce and Leisure Services. In a county that stretches between the Blue Ridge Parkway and Smith Mountain Lake,
recreational tourism has become an important draw.
Jennifer, a native of Bethesda, Maryland,
graduated from Boise State University in Idaho
with a degree in biology. She worked for the Forest
Service’s Rocky Mountain Research Station, where she learned GIS and became the
agency’s GIS specialist. The couple has two dogs and like to hike and canoe in their
spare time. Jennifer also enjoys creating pottery. &
