As time passes, new technology becomes available, old technology breaks down, and things have to be replaced. The replacement of old tech with the new is likely to happen in the near future for Colonial Beach Town Council.
Heather Oliver, the town’s clerk, gave some background on what was going on.
During a December meeting, there was an update on the town’s audio and video equipment in light of its failure during several meetings. The current batch of microphones they are using were installed back in 2017 along with a router and two televisions. Unfortunately, five of the ports used have gone on the blink, forcing the Council to use wireless mics instead.
An AV company, Lee Hartman & Sons, took a look at things and advised that the Town should replace the whole sound system and make sure that everything is compatible. The cost of doing this would run to the tune of $18,500, according to the quote the company gave the Town.
Under this plan, the Town would keep its wired mics so that each seat has one. A simpler receiver/amplifier system would be installed, and a touchscreen interface would replace the current sound mixer.
The other option involved complete reinstallation and new equipment, which could total in the realm of $40,000. This more complex system would not be unlike what Westmoreland County contracted VICOM to install back in 2015. That particular system is often in need of troubleshooting from a staffed IT/AV expert.
If such a system was installed in Colonial Beach, a staff member would have to be trained, or the town would have to hire someone on to handle it. With all of this, the estimated cost would be in the realm of $42,000.
The reason for this disparity in prices is rather simple: one is pulling everything up, roots and all, and replacing it, while the other option keeps what has been working and just tosses out what’s been on the fritz.
Of course, this may not fix every problem, but the hope is that it will fix most issues that people are having when remotely watching a town meeting.
As this was just an informational item, there will not be any decisions made just yet. More research is being conducted and discussions are being had.
“The mics have worked tonight, and I don’t mind sharing them,” Mayor Robyn Schick stated later on. “But there was a time where it seemed like none of the mics worked. Nobody could hear anybody, and there were a lot of complaints.”
For the time being, the replacement of the equipment is being held off so that everyone can see how the mics hold up for the next few months.
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