TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

County Mulls Web Streaming

ADVERTISEMENT

By Tony Marrero

Hernando Today

Published: August 15, 2008

Brooksville - County Commission meetings could soon be coming live to a computer near you.
The commission on Tuesday is expected to consider a recommendation by staff to purchase a software system to stream the meetings on the Web in real time.
As well, the video of the meetings will be archived on the county Web site with the corresponding agendas and minutes, giving residents a searchable, virtual video vault of government at work.
"It's going to improve public access to information," said Judy Korbus, administrative services manager for the Hernando County Clerk of the Circuit Court, who has spent two years researching the technology.
If approved, the clerk's office would enter a contract with IQM2 of New York, paying $89,300 for software, some hardware and training on the new system. There is a $12,000 annual cost to maintain the system.
Hernando County Government Broadcasting, or HCBG, will pay $29,800 of the initial cost, with the balance coming from the clerk's office budget. The annual cost would be borne by the Community Relations Department.
The technology would be a boon to residents who don't have access to Hernando County Government Broadcasting Channel 622, such as satellite owners and those who don't have the digital tier of BrightHouse Networks, said Brenda Frazier, the county's community relations coordinator. The three county government channels moved to the digital tier when BrightHouse realigned its channels last December.
Frazier said the ultimate goal will be to stream all the county government programs on the Web.
Residents will also benefit in ways they won't see, Frazier said: The system continues the county government's efforts to achieve a paperless government.
The county a few years ago stopped printing huge piles of backup materials for commissioners and staff. Now, commissioners get the material on a disc. But the new system further automates the process, further reducing the amount of documents shuffled back and forth between staffers for review, Frazier said.
The recommendation will likely pass. On Thursday, four commissioners reached by Hernando Today said they expect to support the measure.
"The more access our citizens can have to what goes on at the meetings, the better," Commissioner Jeff Stabins said.
Commissioner Rose Rocco called it a "tremendous asset," and Chairman Chris Kingsley said the added accessibility and the savings in paper and staff time make it a sensible investment.
"It's going to be amortized really quickly," Kingsley said.
Commissioner Dave Russell, who is among county residents who don't get the government channels because he has a satellite, said the same.
Many larger counties began developing Web streaming capabilities years ago, Korbus said. Now smaller counties, including Citrus, are paying for the technology.
Rick Foti, video production manager for HCGB, said he is excited to get to more households.
"When I was hired here 10 years ago, one of my dreams was to be able reach everyone in the county," Foti said, "and this is just one more step toward that."
The County Commission meeting begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the County Government Center, 20 N. Main St. The agenda for the meeting hadn't been posted by press time, but a staff member said the discussion on the Web technology will likely take place in the afternoon. To check the agenda, visit http://www.hernandocounty.us/bocc/agenda.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT