Why can’t local government hold a meeting without having sound issues? As someone that keeps up with local government (but typically doesn’t physically go to meetings in person), I am very frustrated with the repeated issues with sound and technology at meetings. And I’m not the only one: over the last year I have heard multiple people at City and County meetings complain about the sound during public comment.
It’s next to impossible to hear what’s being said in the Beaufort City Council chambers, even when participants speak into a microphone. And don’t get me started on the room where City Council has their work sessions! Livestreams of meetings in City Council chambers are an exception – they are always easy to hear, understand, and visuals are always easy to see. It’s actually easier to understand what’s going on in the City Council meetings on the livestream than in person.
Beaufort County is even worse – If you try to watch any county meeting on livestream, be prepared to miss something important because a mic isn’t working or you can’t see the visuals that are being presented. Typically you’ll see a flurry of activity that looks like they are going to try and fix the issue, but whatever they’re doing isn’t working. And it doesn’t seem like anyone is monitoring the livestream to make sure the people online are hearing and seeing what’s going on. Argh!
You can go back and watch ANY County meeting or City work session to see and hear what I’m talking about – or NOT see and NOT hear.
Watch ANY Beaufort County School District meeting – there are never any sound or visual issues, both in the room and online. So why can’t the City Council and County Council follow suit?
County Broadcast Services has a budget of $953,664, the City of Beaufort’s IT department has a budget of $1,025,621 – both of these budgets have doubled (or close to it) over the last couple years. You’re telling me they can’t manage to have a meeting in person or livestream that people can actually understand and hear?
There are a lot of efforts around public transparency and engagement in both the City and County Councils (thank you!). PLEASE fix the sound so that those of us who are paying attention can understand what’s going on!