Tall City TV should broadcast the City Council meetings

Midland residents who are Suddenlink and Grande cable customers are able to watch "Tall City TV" which is the local government access channel. For the most part, the subject matter shown so far is public relations oriented -- a video about the city, a video about how the city government operates, etc. Not long ago, a video of Mayor Wes Perry's 2009 "State of the City" speech was aired. If you missed it, click to watch it on the city's website.

There's another very good use for that channel, and it's a shame the city isn't taking advantage of it. The other day at the City Council meeting a local kook* mouthed off with a suggestion that the City Council meetings and hearings be recorded on video and broadcast on that government access channel.

The mayor explained that they had thought about it in the past and got a bid from a company that would provide that service for a fee of $80,000 per year. Yikes! Nice pay for part time work. Here we are trying to keep the tax rate from going up, so we sure don't need new expenses.

But there are some alternatives. This project could be done on the cheap. The city owns some video cameras, and surely one of them is available for a few hours a month to record the meetings. It would take someone to press "record," then when the recording is complete, transfer it to the broadcasting system. And that would take a little skill, but it's been done before, so how hard could it be? There are probably city employees who could do it. They've all got regular jobs to do, but to tag them for another eight or so hours a month to record and transfer video doesn't seem like too much of a strain on the system. But let's assume they are all too busy. Recruit volunteers.

Check out this statement from an April '08 city press release:

In 2007, over 120 volunteers contributed a total of 25,469.5 hours. This translates into $497,164.64 for value of time.

So the city is willing to let people work for free. And there are many retired people in the city who have or will do volunteer work. Something as important as assisting with the televising of the City Council meetings would probably draw several qualified volunteers.

It can be done if the Council wants to do it. The only draw back for the Council would be the fear of those dreaded Youtube moments. But those are easily avoided by simply paying attention, voting responsibly and not picking the nose.

Let's put the City Council meetings on Tall City TV.

*(That kook was me. Or if my 8th grade English teacher is reading, that kook was I.)

Comments

[J Hart]

San Angelo has done it for quite sometime.

[Geo]

Thanks, J Hart.

San Angelo has set an example that perhaps Midland can follow.

[Shanice]

What a good article.

You should contact the bizymoms Midland community to get your article featured to their large mom community. http://www.bizymoms.com/midland/index.php

[Geo]

Thanks for the kind words, Shanice. And the suggestion!