Land use, not surveys at fault in questions over deeds

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Original surveys of the northwest corner of Red Willow County were done as accurately as possible at the time, but the way landowners used their property over the years has made things complicated in the 21st century.

County Surveyor Dicenta told the Gazette today that landowners often didn't follow the existing survey when they laid out fencelines, for example, or planted crops.

That was OK if the property was all owned by the same people, or stayed in the family, he said.

Disputes can arise, however, when it is discovered that one landowner has been using property that actually should belong to a neighboring parcel of land.

Surveyors in the 1800s laid out boundaries for townships, and then started plotting sections from one corner. By the time the survey reached the opposite corner of the township, sections often had to be less than one mile in depth to fit the original borders.

The advent of Geographic Information System mapping has made the process much more precise over the years.

The topic came up in a Red Willow County Commissioner meeting Monday in discussions about the need to correct deeds in portions of the county.

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