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Town hall: the sound of silence
by Suzanne Rook, Wake Weekly Associate Editor
Coming soon to a television near you: improved sound and picture quality for Wake Forest town and planning board meetings.
Town commissioners have long griped about the poor video and atrocious sound delivered to local cable customers during the two boards' meetings, but only recently has town staff moved to solve the problem. The audio equipment, Town Manager Mark Williams believes, is at least 15 years old. It was donated by the Chamber of Commerce and was not new when the town took ownership. Video equipment was replaced a few years ago, he said, after it was damaged in a lightning strike. Williams said Time Warner Cable, who provides the air time to broadcast the meetings, offered the town $50,000 in grant money earlier this year to improve the town's video system. The monies were to be in exchange for a 10-year extension on the cable company's franchise agreement. But commissioners, who say residents often complain of the broadcasts' sound quality, have not acted on the offer. Instead, they authorized staff to pay $7,850 to hire a consultant who would determine the town's audio/video needs. Susan Simpson, director of parks and recreation who is responsible for all government buildings, will soon receive a listing of that equipment. Bids will be put out in a week and a half and should be received two weeks later. The consultant's information and the bids will be presented to the board and, Williams said, can be used to help the town better negotiate with Time Warner. Simpson said the consultant has estimated the upgrades will cost anywhere from $60,000 to $75,000. Installation could add as much as $20,000. Williams says he hopes to bargain with Time Warner for more grant money and get a new system by spring. If the company won't foot the bill, Williams said, the expense becomes a budget issue. And the town doesn't have money set aside for new equipment in the 2003-04 budget.
Last Updated On: October 30, 2003
Copyright 2003 The Wake Weekly