Wow! Improved Video/Audio for Some September Committee Meetings

Wow, what an improvement! Imagine our surprise when we tuned in to watch the video of September’s Quorum Court Infrastructure Committee meeting and could see all the JPs interacting and hear what they all had to say!

And, asking informational speakers to sit at the JP table — as they did during the first part of the Courts & Public Safety Committee meeting — made those proceedings totally transparent because the public can clearly see and hear all the discussion.

That is, until halfway through that committee meeting when the video, without warning, reverted to the usual, poor, behind-the-JPs position and the audio immediately suffered its inevitable decline.

Long-Standing Issue

JP Kris Kendrick tried for livestreaming transparency in a proposed (unsuccessful) ordinance back in May 2020.

FCR began pursuing upgrades to the Quorum Court’s video/audio in March, 2021, when we first wrote to County Judge Jim Baker and the Quorum court about ongoing and continuing problems with the poor quality of livestreamed meetings, making it near impossible for taxpayers to know what’s going on unless present in the room.

Baker’s response at that time: “Thank you we are looking at it.”

Most recently, taxpayers were unable to watch live election results from the Courtroom because the equipment was apparently not working.

We continued to press the matter and obtained quotes from local vendors to promote Ordinance 22-17, which the Budget Committee passed back in May to overhaul and upgrade AV capabilities.

We are more than disappointed that Ordinance 22-17 has not yet come before the full Quorum Court for a vote, apparently having somehow disappeared from Quorum Court agendas after the May Budget Committee approved it.

Last week Faulkner County citizens got just a quick glimpse of vastly improved audio and video in the Courtroom where JPs meet and other public business is conducted (like meetings of the Election Commission).

Our Republican-majority Quorum Court and Baker owe it to County citizens to pass and fulfill Ordinance 22-17 in the spirit of full transparency.

Get the upgrade project going so the public gets a clear view of the public’s business and can easily hear all the proceedings!

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash