For the first time in months of discussion, a proposal to broadcast and record East Grand Forks City Council meetings heard no audible dissent Tuesday.
City staff members have drafted a budget that comes in just under the $25,000 grant awarded to fund the project, and the proposal quietly moved forward for final consideration by the City Council.
Under the proposal, the city would purchase five video cameras and other equipment capable of broadcasting city meetings on TV and online.
If the project receives approval next month from the council, public webcasting could be live as early as Jan. 1.
"We would start building it likely in July or August and conduct test broadcasts in the fall-work on our camera angles, branding and graphics-and get that all set," city technology manager Corey Thompson said.
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The city will work with Midcontinent to determine a start date for TV broadcast.
The proposal has been met with resistance in the past. Before and after the grant was secured, opponents said the move was an unnecessary expense for the city. At that time, the estimated cost ran as high as $63,000 to buy and install equipment.
Mayor Lynn Stauss vetoed the city accepting the grant in January, arguing the city is open enough and sees sufficient coverage by local media
The council overturned the veto five days later after the project budget was adjusted to fall at or under the grant total. The grant was awarded to the city by the Knight Foundation and is distributed on its behalf by the Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks and Region.
Proponents of the broadcasting service said it would allow more people who are unable to attend meetings in person to access the broadcast any time of day in a variety of ways, such as with cellphones and tablets.
If the project is approved, East Grand Forks would join other area cities such as Grand Forks and Thief River Falls that broadcast their city council meetings on TV and the internet.
