HARRISVILLE — The Alcona County Board of Commissioners voted Wednesday to adopt a fee schedule for printing services of the county GIS map data.

The adoption came after the development of the schedule by John Hartley, the county’s information technology specialist.

Commissioner Kathleen Vichunas said that GIS specialist Niko Tucker was approached by someone to bring out large-scale GIS maps for the county, and there was no established schedule.

Last year the county contracted with the Northeast Michigan Council on Governments, where Tucker is employed, to develop GIS maps for the county under a $4,000 contract for the county.

GIS maps are highly detailed and show various “layers” and give more information at a glance than traditional mapping. The layers include everything from sewer lines to plant life in the area.

Under the program, various townships could get the GIS information for free by opting into a $50 fee to help pay a maintenance charge.

Hartley said he developed the fees based on different fees surrounding counties charge for the printing service.

He said with the county’s current printing abilities they can print large-format maps, up to 42-inches wide through the equalization department. They also can bring smaller maps and color maps.

Hartley said the background maps, in which the GIS information is overlaid, will be older U.S. Department of Agriculture maps from 2006 or maps from Google Earth Pro.

According to Hartley, if any money is made from offering the printing services to the public, newer GIS software could be purchased with the profits. He said if color printing was requested more his department could purchase a color printer to be used just for that purpose.

Treasurer Cheryl Franks asked if Hartley, who said he could print out the maps for the public, was charging a service fee.

“That’s kind of built into the fees,” he said. “We’re going to see how it can stick because it does not take a ton of effort on my part to print.”

Franks went on to ask whether townships would be charged for printing services as they opted in to help the county pay for maintenance fees through the program.

Hartley said he thought they should be charged.

“If someone wants something printed off for sure I will be charging them,” he said. “The paper still costs the same, the ink still costs the same.”

Hartley said in a lot of cases the townships, which have the same information, can print the maps themselves.

If townships wanted to negotiate a price with the county for maps, or have the fees waived, Hartley said that could perhaps be facilitated.

Commissioner Craig Johnston said there should be no additions to the schedule for that instance.

“I think we leave it the way it is, and if they want to request that we waive the fee we go for it,” he said.

Vichunas cast a motion to approve the schedule and it was passed with a 4-0 vote. Chairman Kevin Boyat was absent from the meeting and did not vote.

Jason Ogden can be reached via email at jogden@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5693. Follow Jason on Twitter @jo_alpenanews. Read his blog, Sunny side up, with Jason at www.thealpenanews.com.