Ogemaw County may expand GIS sharing with state, getting free aerial imagery in return

Randy Booth, Ogemaw County’s equalization director, asked commissioners to authorize signing an updated agreement with the Michigan Department of Management and Budget to make more county GIS layers available through a statewide public repository.

Booth said the state has used Ogemaw County’s address points and road-centerline data since 2018 and provides aerial imagery to the county in exchange. "They use our address points and the road center lines, and it's available free to anybody in a statewide database," he said. Booth told the board the state flies for 12-inch resolution imagery every five years and is offering expanded access that could eliminate many citizen requests to the county. He also noted an option to purchase 3-inch oblique imagery that allows desk measurement of buildings, but said that higher resolution would likely require future funding requests.

Commissioners asked whether townships and local assessors would retain access (Booth said yes), and discussed whether the county should purchase oblique imagery in coming years to improve property assessments. Booth said the state-provided 12-inch imagery is still useful for spotting new construction. The board asked staff to prepare the contract for signature and follow up next week with a resolution if needed.