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Sentry Dynamics protests electronic records fees

Jack Sjostrom's company, Sentry Dynamics, collects information on Idaho properties and compiles it into a software application. His customers can access it through a Web browser to learn about individual parcels, to find maps and to facilitate real estate transactions all over the state. Rather than traveling to courthouses or searching Web sites, Sentry Dynamics customers use the software to access data in one place.

It's not that easy for Sjostrom. In fact, some public agencies are making things more and more difficult for him and others to stay in business. Access to public electronic data isn't always free or even provided for a reasonable fee. The cost of obtaining geographic information system (GIS) data varies widely from county to county, Sjostrom said.

Basic GIS information from Latah County is 10 cents per parcel. Order data for more than 15,000 parcels and it's a flat fee of $1,500. Throw in ownership information about the parcels and it costs 5 cents more per parcel. Want your data to include roads, the rural address, zoning districts or precincts? Each requires additional fees.

“That parcel information is a very small file that fits on an email attachment,” Sjostrom said. “The cost of copying on a CD and mailing it to us shouldn't be more than $25.”

Details Here: www.idahobusiness.net/archive.htm/2006/12/18/Tech-company-protests-electronic-records-fees

first published week of:   01/05/2007

terrorism fear as boom in price of uranium pulls in new miners

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is concerned that a doubling in the price of uranium has attracted so many miners to the sector that inspectors may not be able to keep track of the new supplies. IAEA, which regulates compliance with the Nuclear Weapons Non-proliferation Treaty, fears that uranium could fall into the hands of terrorists or hostile nations if it cannot control new mine production. Since the start of 2006 the price of uranium yellowcake, the raw material for nuclear fission, has doubled to $72.50 per pound. Analysts are predicting that the price could go even higher in 2007, hitting $100 per pound. This has led to a vast increase in the number of uranium miners and explorers hoping to cash in on the price rises. According to analysts the number o“junior” uranium miners and explorers has increased tenfold to at least 200 in recent years. A number of countries are expecting to expand their nuclear generating capacity and there are an estimated 251 reactors in planning or under construction around the world.

Details Here: /business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8209-2518643,00.html

first published week of:   01/05/2007

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