By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Zeeland Township will soon have an audio-visual system in place that will record township meetings and make them available online.
The Township Board on Jan. 6 approved entering into a contract with its information technology provider, JDK IT Solutions, to outfit the meeting room in the lower level of the Township Hall with a wireless microphone and speaker system, as well as additional wireless mikes and a camera with streaming and recording capabilities, at a cost of about $51,000.
The system will record Township Board, Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals meetings and upload them onto the township’s YouTube channel.
Several residents had called on the township to have its meetings recorded as a way of allowing residents who can’t make a meeting to be able to see the actions of the Township Board and Planning Commission. They believe it will improve transparency of township business and accountability to residents.
The Township Board last June voted to retain JDK, which is based in the township, as its IT provider. Holland-based Hoekstra Electric will supply the AV system, and JDK will set up and service it after that, Township Manager Josh Eggleston said.
The township received a lower quoted price from another potential supplier, but Eggleston did not recommend that option because “the microphone system they were using was not wireless, and if you want to talk, you had to hit a button every time you want to talk. I felt that would be not a good idea to have at our board table.”
Eggleston went on to say that the JDK quote was “the most responsible quote.” He said that it’s possible the final price could end up being less if the township has fewer speakers installed than had been recommended.
“I think we can all agree that it’s more than we want to spend, but however, we’ve talked about it for a couple of years, and I think it’s a necessary component to take our meetings to the next level,” Trustee Dave Barry said.
“I appreciate the fact that Hoekstra Electric is local. They have a great reputation, and I trust their judgment recommendations, and the fact that they’re partnering with JDK … Between those two, I’m confident in their expertise and skills to provide the very best system for the needs that we have.”
The speakers will be recessed into the ceiling over the board table and the audience area, according to township documents.
It will be at least a month or two before the AV system is installed. In the meantime, Eggleston proposed the board develop a policy around its use.
“If the internet’s down for some reason at a meeting, we’re not going to cancel a meeting because we can’t record it,” he said.
Zeeland Record
Zeeland Township will soon have an audio-visual system in place that will record township meetings and make them available online.
The Township Board on Jan. 6 approved entering into a contract with its information technology provider, JDK IT Solutions, to outfit the meeting room in the lower level of the Township Hall with a wireless microphone and speaker system, as well as additional wireless mikes and a camera with streaming and recording capabilities, at a cost of about $51,000.
The system will record Township Board, Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals meetings and upload them onto the township’s YouTube channel.
Several residents had called on the township to have its meetings recorded as a way of allowing residents who can’t make a meeting to be able to see the actions of the Township Board and Planning Commission. They believe it will improve transparency of township business and accountability to residents.
The Township Board last June voted to retain JDK, which is based in the township, as its IT provider. Holland-based Hoekstra Electric will supply the AV system, and JDK will set up and service it after that, Township Manager Josh Eggleston said.
The township received a lower quoted price from another potential supplier, but Eggleston did not recommend that option because “the microphone system they were using was not wireless, and if you want to talk, you had to hit a button every time you want to talk. I felt that would be not a good idea to have at our board table.”
Eggleston went on to say that the JDK quote was “the most responsible quote.” He said that it’s possible the final price could end up being less if the township has fewer speakers installed than had been recommended.
“I think we can all agree that it’s more than we want to spend, but however, we’ve talked about it for a couple of years, and I think it’s a necessary component to take our meetings to the next level,” Trustee Dave Barry said.
“I appreciate the fact that Hoekstra Electric is local. They have a great reputation, and I trust their judgment recommendations, and the fact that they’re partnering with JDK … Between those two, I’m confident in their expertise and skills to provide the very best system for the needs that we have.”
The speakers will be recessed into the ceiling over the board table and the audience area, according to township documents.
It will be at least a month or two before the AV system is installed. In the meantime, Eggleston proposed the board develop a policy around its use.
“If the internet’s down for some reason at a meeting, we’re not going to cancel a meeting because we can’t record it,” he said.
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