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2023/09/05 - Mayor's Column: New Broadcasting Equipment

“AN OPEN DOOR TO O’FALLON”
A WEEKLY NOTE FROM MAYOR HERB ROACH
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Since 2003, the City of O’Fallon has been broadcasting video of City Council Meetings. We believe that it is very important for people to be able to view City Council business without having to be physically present at City Hall.

Since Citizen input and knowledge of what is going on is so very important, we have been trying to find ways to improve our broadcasts.  Most of the equipment we have been using to broadcast our city meetings to the public dates to about 2003.  As you know technology has made some major advances over the past 20 years.

In addition to the older equipment resulting in a poor quality signal, the two television broadcasting services, AT&T and Spectrum, have changed their policies for public broadcasting. In order to continue to be allowed to have AT&T and Spectrum broadcast our meetings, we would have had to produce many more hours of original programming, way beyond what we are capable of doing.

As such, we have made the decision to upgrade out aging equipment. With the new equipment, we will provide more options for our residents to view and participate in our public meetings with improved quality of both video and audio.  Soon, we can provide high-quality streaming and on-demand viewing  through multiple channels, including Zoom, YouTube, Facebook and the City’s website.  We should be up and running on the new equipment by our October 2nd City Council Meeting.

While the upgrades will allow for more options to view meetings, the City will no longer be able to broadcast its meetings through AT&T and Spectrum after our September 18, 2023 City Council meeting. We will put out more information on the city Facebook and website about streaming options and instructions prior to the October 2nd meeting of the City Council.

Next week, I will also share with you how O’Fallon ranks with other communities as to in-person participation at City Council Meetings.

As residents of O’Fallon, you should always be able to reach out to your elected officials and ask questions about what is happening in O’Fallon. Having open communications is important to me and something I care very deeply about. Thank you for reading, and please remember, my door is always open.