PARSONS – Parsons City Council members have been looking to move the cemetery map and database from paper to a digital format and on Tuesday, Maria Kostakos presented a proposal to Council for the digital formatting. Kostakos said Parsons City Administrator Jason Myers contacted her and explained what Council is looking for.
“What I did was create an estimate for the first phase,” Kostakos said. “The project can be broken down into three phases. Phase one would be going to the site and collect data from the site by taking photos of the head stones and markers and collecting information and put the information into a map in auto cad. I would then create a data base that goes along with that.”
Kostakos said once completed, the data base could be printed and kept in the Parsons Business Office. She said the data base would create a searchable document where different searches could be performed to find information needed.
Second phase would be to take the paper records and putting them into the data base as well. The third phase would be putting all of the information into a user-friendly format.
Councilman David Greenlief, chairperson on the cemetery committee, asked Kostakos for an estimate of the entire project including all three phases.
“I think to be able to say how much it will be, I will first have to get into the project,” Kostakos said. “It is going to be a lot of time with checking information and double checking information.”
The Council voted to approve a resolution of intent to create and provide for the operation of a Parsons Economic Development Authority for the City of Parsons pursuant to and in accordance with West Virginia State Law, Chapter 7, Article 12 County and Municipal Development Authorities.
Councilman Tim Auvil said he feels the Authority is the direction Parsons needs to go.
Councilmembers voted to approve a professional service agreement with Region VII Planning and Development Council to develop a GIS database and mapping system for the water treatment and distribution system.
The next Parsons City Council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. May 2 in council chambers.
