Surveyor February 2018 – Vol
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Louisiana Engineer & Surveyor February 2018 – Vol. 21 No. 1 Journal Kurt M. Evans, PE, FITE, FACEC ACEC/L 2017-2018 President INSIDE THIS ISSUE: LAPELS LES ACEC/L Message from LES Honors Message from the Chairman Page 3 Engineers Page 15 the President Page 25 August 2017 Vol. 20 No. 3 LOUISIANA ENGINEER AND SURVEYOR JOURNAL February 2018 Vol. 21 No. 1 The Louisiana Engineer & Surveyor Journal (ISSN: 15275965, USPS 588-360) 9643 Brookline, Suite 116 Baton Rouge, LA 70809-1488 Louisiana Engineering Society This is the official publication of the Louisiana Engineering Society, the Louisiana Professional LOUISIANA ENGINEERING SOCIETY LOUISIANA ENGINEERING SOCIETY 9643 Brookline Avenue, Suite 116, Baton Rouge, LA 70809-1488 Engineering and Land Surveying Board, and the Phone: (225) 924-2021 Fax: (225) 924-2049 American Council of Engineering Companies of Louisiana. E-mail: [email protected] LES LES Website: http://www.les-state.org This magazine is published quarterly. “PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID at Baton Rouge, LA.” POSTMASTER–Please send address changes to: The Louisiana Engineer & Surveyor Journal 9643 Brookline Ave., Suite 116, Baton Rouge, LA 70809-1488 Telephone: (225) 924-2021, Fax: (225) 924-2049 LES ADVERTISING RATES American Council of Engineering COST PER COST PER SIZE ISSUE YEAR AMERICAN COUNCIL OF OF LA ENGINEERING COMPANIES AMERICAN COUNCIL OF OF LA ENGINEERING COMPANIES Companies of Louisiana Full Page Inside $1,200 $3,840 9643 Brookline Avenue, Suite 112, Baton Rouge, LA 70809-1488 Full Page Back Cover $1,500 $4,800 Phone: (225) 927-7704 Fax: (225) 927-7779 1/2 Page $700 $2,240 E-mail: [email protected] 1/4 Page $420 $1,344 ACEC/L ACEC/L 1) Prices quoted apply to camera-ready copy. A one- time charge will be added for composition of an ad, art work, or if changes are made during the contact period. 2) All ads must be prepaid. Advertisements with payment should be sent to LES by the 15th of the Louisiana Professional Engineering month preceding month of issue. 3) Published quarterly, February, May, August and LA PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING LA PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING BOARD AND LAND SURVEYING LA PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING LA PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING BOARD AND LAND SURVEYING and Land Surveying Board November. 9643 Brookline Avenue, Suite 121, Baton Rouge, LA 70809-1488 Phone: (225) 925-6291 Fax: (225) 925-6292 PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE Website: www.lapels.com LAPELS LAPELS Brenda Gajan, Managing Editor Dan Mobley, Associate Editor The Louisiana Engineering Society, the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board, and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Louisiana do not guarantee the accuracy of statements made or necessarily concur with opinions expressed in the publication. 2 FEBRUARY 2018 • LOUISIANA ENGINEER AND SURVEYOR JOURNAL Message from the Chairman Terry Huval, P.E. Fundamental Ethics When Dealing With Governmental Entities out ahead of time. If one During my career, I have been employed in both the private and really wants to know, there public sectors. In those engagements, my employers placed at- are many ways to seek out tention on good ethical behavior. As time went on and as my those answers. In the end, career unfolded, I learned that dealing with governmental enti- the professional must use ties sometimes creates special opportunities for confusion and prudent judgement, as it is Terry Huval, P.E. problems. Sometimes public officials themselves, either know- to the benefit of both the Chairman ingly or unknowingly, can place their contracted professional in professional and the client uncomfortable situations. The good news is that such events to avoid litigation and bad publicity. provide the professional a unique opportunity to help the client Also, bringing the issue even closer to home – the engineering understand any potential ethics issues. professional and its firm must understand how the consequenc- Those of you who regularly work with public sector clients al- es of infractions can impact their licensure with the Board. ready know this very well. Asking the right questions before Some of the areas in State law that can get a professional in trou- you act can save you, and your client, lots of headaches, public ble include: scrutiny and legal penalties. While taking a State of Louisiana • Violating ethics laws as they apply to meals, trips and other ethics course(s) for entities dealing with local and state govern- expenses provided to the public client ment might be a good start, the challenge for engineering pro- o Check out: https://www.doa.la.gov/osp/Travel/travelpo- fessionals is to remain a successful business entity, while stay- licy/pocketguide.pdf ing within the requirements of all applicable laws. It is not an • Following proper Procurement statutes for either your ser- accident that many successful engineers and their firms have vices or goods to the public client a proven record of successfully navigating these requirements. • Open Meetings laws By doing so, those professionals have demonstrated how to suc- o Which limits the number of elected council members you LAPELS cessfully run their businesses, while at the same time remaining can meet with at one time (usually one less than a quorum), in LAPELS ethical. addition to other features in applicable laws that provide for Unfortunately, rules have had to be developed to deal with the other limitations “Bad Actors” – individuals who are apparently more willing to • Campaign Contributions risk their personal reputations, and those of their clients, by o Every candidate for public office should be very cognizant AND LAND SURVEYING BOARD AND LAND SURVEYING LA PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING AND LAND SURVEYING BOARD AND LAND SURVEYING LA PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING trying to take (or avoid) actions that can create problems later. of these regulations, but it is still up to the professional to be sure While a strategic execution of “What corners can I cut?” or that such contributions are done legally “What I can I get away with?” may potentially improve a firm’s • In general, a visit with a qualified attorney on State ethics short-term profitability and/or its relationship with its client, it issues might be a prudent investment. takes only one lawsuit or public scandal to more than wash away By now, you get the idea on the issue and what is at stake for you, those benefits. your firm and the clients you serve. The crazy part about this is that all true professionals really do Thank you for the great work you do. I wish each of you a suc- know better! They generally know what’s legal and what’s not cessful 2018. – and if by chance they don’t, they know it is their job to find Sincerely, Alan D. Krouse, PE Board Members D. Scott Phillips, PE, PLS Board Staff Terry J. Huval, PE Thomas R. Carroll, III, PE, PLS Donna D. Sentell Chairman Executive Director David L. Patterson, PLS Charles G. Coyle, III, PLS Vice Chairman Jeffrey A. Pike, PE Richard Savoie, PE Deputy Executive Director Christopher P. Knotts, PE Christopher K. Richard, PE Acting Director of Enforcement Treasurer Chad C. Vosburg, PE Paul N. Hale, PhD., PE William Hyatt Secretary www.lapels.com Board Investigator LOUISIANA ENGINEER AND SURVEYOR JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 2018 3 Enforcement Journal Richard Savoie, Deputy Executive Director The Board continues to investigate alleged violations standards of practice vio- of the laws and rules which regulate the practice of lations on revised survey engineering and land surveying in Louisiana. Sub- plats, provide the revised stantiated violations result in disciplinary or enforce- survey plats to the Board ment action being taken either through a Consent for review, properly file Richard Savoie Order or by Board Decision following a formal hear- the revised survey plats Deputy Executive Director ing at which the respondent is adjudged guilty of one into the public record, or more violations. Below is a summary of the disci- and provide copies of the revised survey plats to the plinary/enforcement actions taken by the Board since Board; and to the publication of the Consent Order on the the previous issue of the Journal. Board’s website, the printing of a summary of this matter LAND SURVEYING STANDARDS OF PRACTICE by name in this publication, and the reporting of this mat- VIOLATIONS: ter by name to NCEES. David L. Patterson, P.L.S., a professional land surveyor LICENSURE RENEWAL APPLICATION (PLS-4784), was subject to disciplinary action by the Board VIOLATIONS: for failing to meet the Board’s standards of practice for boundary surveys in violation of La. R.S. 37:698(A)(6), Bobby D. Morrison, P.E., a professional engineer (PE- to wit LAC Title 46:LXI§2907(G)(3), 2907(G)(4), 2907(G) 27468), was subject to disciplinary action by the Board (6), 2907(G)(14)(f), 2907(G)(15) and 2909(B)(3). Between for making a false statement in applying for a renewal November 2012 and March 2013 Mr. Patterson performed license with the Board in violation of La. R.S. 37:698(A) two property boundary surveys and prepared, sealed, (1). In July 2015 the Oklahoma Board took disciplinary signed and issued survey plats for tracts of land located in action against Mr. Morrison for practicing and/or offer- Louisiana which failed to show dimensions or bearings of ing to practice engineering without proper licensure or a property or boundary line. Between January 2013 and temporary permit and failing to submit a complete per- June 2015 Mr. Patterson performed fourteen property manent professional engineer application within 30 days boundary surveys and prepared, sealed, signed and issued of the issuance of a temporary permit. In September 2015 survey plats for tracts of land located in Louisiana which Mr. Morrison submitted to the Board his 2015 Louisiana failed to label monuments as “found” or “set”.