Steven Gardner

Surveyor of the Week

... continued ...

> When we moved to our house in 1991, two sides of the property were, and still are, covered in blackberry vines. It seemed a shame not to use them for something so I did some research on making fruit wines and produced some pretty decent blackberry wine and port. I have a good friend in the wine business in Napa Valley and he helped me in establishing a little vineyard that now has 80 grape vines and produces about 20 gallons of Zinfandel/Syrah every year.In 1982, I got my California LS, which was a good thing because my dad retired in 1983. We had a party at our house to celebrate getting my license and my dad gave me a sympathy card. When he retired, I bought the company in a partnership with a civil engineer and Gardner-Feusi Company was born. In 1984, I got my Nevada license and in 1986, I passed the US Mineral Surveyor exam which involved a trip to Anchorage for what I believe was the last time the test was offered. So I was able to carry on doing our usual subdivision, boundary, improvement plan work as well as performing Mineral Surveys which is the type of surveying I have enjoyed the most. It was fairly plentiful for a while until about 1994 when the Feds finally succeeded in shutting the door on patenting of mining claims. In 1987, I started my first M.S. under my own name. When they hired me, they said my young age (34) was a factor because I was likely to live long enough to complete the job. The survey was approved by the BLM in 1989 but patent was not issued until last year, after the gov. had run out of hoops for the owner to jump through. By that time, the original owner of the claims had already passed away. It consisted of 21 claims totaling 1274 acres on top of the Mono Craters in Mono County, CA. The claims are aliquot parts of protracted sections. The original survey of the township lays out sections up to the base of the Craters and called the rest of the township “unsurveyable”. We did it though with a Topcon GTS3B, no GPS at that time, although I went back a couple of times with GPS to stake some line points. Man, that would have made things a little easier. My corners have now been accepted by BLM as the section corners.Since my partner went to work at Caltrans 10 years ago I have been a sole proprietor with currently 5 employees. My survey work is mostly small land divisions, boundary work, topos for architects and engineers, some construction staking and increasingly, expert witness testimony. I’ve got 5 or 6 attorneys that call me when they have survey-related cases. Most of them (not all) are very knowledgeable and I learn a great deal by working with them. It’s enjoyable until the depositions and court testimony start. Some people enjoy that but it’s not my favorite pastime. It can be kind of fun when the attorneys ask really dumb questions and you can get them flustered. I have also done quite a bit of work for the State Board as a “Technical Expert”. They send me cases mostly resulting from consumer complaints and I write reports about whether the licensees have violated State law or standards of practice. Only once has one of these cases involved court testimony. The case was heard by an Administrative Law Judge in Oakland. I was testifying for the Attorney General and Bud Uzes was testifying for the licensee. I thought the guy had clearly violated the Land Surveyors Act but in a real technical sense that didn’t hurt anybody. The judge believed Bud, though, and found for the surveyor. Bud was the most convincing witness I’ve ever seen on a witness stand. The Board basically said thanks for your opinion, judge, and suspended the guy’s license anyway. Can you say kangaroo court?Well, if you’re still awake, thanks for taking the time to read this. I do have a tendency to go long when I write and I’m sorry about that. I appreciate this opportunity to be part of the RPLS board and I can’t tell you how many hours of entertainment you all have provided me as well as truly informative and thought-provoking discussions. Thank you.-Steve

Very sorry to hear this too. I had no idea he was ill.

Steve I enjoyed your posts. Just re read your SOTW on RPLS. RIP Mate.

RADU

I am so sorry to hear that. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

I'm sure he is leaning up against the survey chariot in the sky with Bill McComber, Versal, and many of our other fellow surveyors and friends that have passed on.

He will be missed.

Hit me like a brick!!!!

I dunno what to say...

RIP Steve
Loyal

Thoughts and prayers go out to the Gardner family.

Rest in peace Steven.

Damn. He was a good guy, very sad to hear of his passing.

I got to know Steve a bit since arriving in Roseville.

We shared many of the same likes and dislikes. My beard is better, but Steve's hair was much better than mine.

Steve was a great surveyor who could back up his methods with some real thought and solid logic.

The world is less of a place now that you're gone, Steve. I wish we could have got to know each other better.

Sad to hear, I liked his posts. Ironic that I post this sitting next to a copy of George Harrisons album (yes kids record album) All Things Must Pass.

Steve was one of my favorite contributors. I will miss his comments.

My condolences to his family.

God bless them all.

Jerry

Wow... I didn't mean to... But, I guess I drank a few in his honor tonight...

I'm not a religious guy, but I can't think of anything but a happy destination and thoughts for the man.

A beer is risen to Steven!!

Carl

Makes ya think deep and serious thoughts.

RIP Steve.

N

WOW!!! I didn't know he was ill. Sorry that you got that call Dave. I enjoyed Steve's posts and talking with him at the meetings.

My condolances to his family.

Well that sucks. Steve was a good man and surveyor, and contributed professionally to this and the other boards. RIP Mr. Gardner... hope you are laying down some riffs in the next land.

Very sorry to hear this, I enjoyed his posts. My thought are with his family and friends.

Been thinking about death and people dying alot these last few days .. and then this news today ...
Sorry to hear... One of the good guys no doubt...

My deepest condolences and most sincere prayers go out to his family. Rest in Peace Steven.

Sad news to hear for sure. I didn't know he was ailing.

Very sad news, he will be missed.

Rest in peace brutha.

Rick

sorry to hear....to young too.