Supervisors switch to YouTube

MARENGO — Streaming meetings for live, remote viewing by the public will make Iowa County Board of Supervisors more transparent, if the supervisors can figure out how to provide the service.

The board has been streaming the 9 a.m. Friday meetings on Zoom (the link and password are found at iowacounty.iowa.gov/board-of-supervisors/), but the process has been anything but flawless.

Supervisors will begin streaming on YouTube this month.

Researching its options, the county received details about Mevo Video Livestream two weeks ago from Matt Kressley, of Independent Tech Solutions. Benton County uses Mevo with two cameras to stream its meetings on YouTube, Kressley said.

Three cameras would cover the Iowa County boardroom, said Kressley. They would cost $1,200. Floor stands would be $130 each; table stands were cheaper--$100.

The county would have to purchase an iPad for $450 to run the system because the Mevo app is compatible only with a MAC operating system or android phone, said Kressley. The app costs $20 a month.

Supervisors Abby Maas said the cost is worth it if it saves her and Supervisor Chris Montross headaches every week. Maas and Montross are in charge of starting the streaming and recording of the meetings each week.

Supervisors purchased a Cool Pan Pro camera for recording meetings in March, said Montross, and has been streaming through Zoom, but the system doesn’t always work and recordings of previous meetings aren’t available on Zoom.

“I like the idea of it streaming,” said Supervisor Alan Schumacher. “I have no problem spending the money and going through with this.”

Supervisors would still have to have a process for starting the recording, said Maas. All five supervisors should know how to do it in case Maas and Montrose are both gone, said Supervisor Chairman Kevin Heitshusen.

After discussion, supervisors decided to change platforms rather than cameras. Montross set up a YouTube channel for Iowa County Iowa Supervisors last week. Meetings will stream through YouTube and will be saved there.

Montross hopes to have everything ready to stream the next meeting at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 17.

Anyone who wishes to attend board of supervisor meetings in person may join them in the boardroom on the second floor of the East Annex on Court Avenue, across the street from the courthouse.