Fort Scott City Commission moves forward with televised meeting plans

The Fort Scott City Commission is making a return to the small screen.

After citizens approached the commission during a regular meeting on August 19 requesting commission meetings be televised again, the city announced at the City Commission meeting on September 2 that meetings will be televised once again beginning September 16. However, this date may be moved if the equipment that was ordered does not arrive on time.

"The return is long overdue and a good thing, as a lot of seniors and homebound citizens have asked me about them since they went away," said City Commissioner Nick Graham.

The city has spent approximately $1,600 on purchasing a video camera with an audio input, lapel microphones, as well as additional speakers to be placed in the back of the commission room.

The use of the lapel microphones and the additional speakers are an effort to address the nagging sound issue that has plagued the commission in the past. In fact this issue is a large part of the reason for the cancellation of the meetings on television several years ago.

"People couldn't hear the meeting," said City Clerk Diane Clay.

City officials are hoping for the televising of the commission meetings will encourage people to pay more attention and come to the meetings to ask questions. City Manager Joe Turner is expecting this change to give the public more accurate information.

"They will be able to get the straight story, the whole story rather than just pieces," said Turner.

Graham added, "We've got a good new rudder for the ship, and things are slowly but surely moving forward, so the more exposure of that, the better."

The city will be working with the cable company to have the meetings televised on Channel 3. The meetings will not be live. Meetings will be taped then given to the cable company who will air the meeting at a later time. This schedule is not yet determined, however, Turner is hoping to have the details at the next City Commission Meeting.