SALISBURY — New aerial imagery software could boost public safety and help county tax assessors during tax revaluations, a Pictometry International representative told the county during Monday’s commission meeting.
Rich Rothman, a district manager for the Carolinas, pitched the software — which would include a flyover and roughly 35,000 aerial photos — to commissioners. The photos and software would cost the county about $75,000.
But at least two county commissioners seemed interested.
Chairman Jim Sides said he hopes the commission continues its pursuit of the project and agrees to the contract.
Sides motioned to vote on the contract at commissioners’ Nov. 4 meeting.
“I’m impressed by what I’ve seen and by what information I’ve gathered that there is more value than by what it actually costs us,” Sides said.
Rothman told the county the software allows employees to measure structures and land.
In July, the county agreed to a contract with the pictometry company, while reserving the option to back out of the deal. County leaders said the agreement was necessary to put the county’s name on a flyover list for early 2014.
Commissioner Jon Barber also said he hopes the county doesn’t back out and sees the software as beneficial to the county and to county employees.
“I see it as not only helping current staff but it can also help us from adding additional staff going out on the road,” Barber said.
Roughly 50 North Carolina counties have used a pictometry contract, Rothman said, including nearby Cabarrus, Mecklenburg and Union counties.
Rothman said some imagery functions would be patched into the county’s website for the public to use, but other tools, like measurement functions, would not be available to the public.
Sides made a point during the meeting to confirm the public would still have the same access to aerial imagery that it has through the county’s GIS website — and not a diminished version, if the new functions were added.
Rothman also said the information would be accessible by 911 telecommunication operators who could relay the information to emergency responders.
“They can see ditches. They can see fences,” he said, adding that the photos, shot from various angles, provide a map constructed by pictures.
Barber said the help for emergency responders could be significant.
“Anything we do for public safety is very important,” he said.
Contact reporter Nathan Hardin at 704-797-4246.