Pivot being considered due to equipment issues at city hall
By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
After a brief return to a traditional, in-person format, Whitewater municipal officials are leaving the door open to a possible return to a fully virtual format while higher-grade equipment is en route.
The Common Council on June 15 discussed the status of the in-person meetings – particularly for the virtual attendees watching online or calling via phone to hear audio deliberations – and deemed the quality has been inferior.
After nearly 15 months of conducting city business virtually, the council in late May opted to resume meeting in person. Few people have physically been in the audience, however, with the majority still taking the city up on its offering of virtual options.
The council’s motion gave City Manager Cameron Clapper the go-ahead to conduct virtual meetings if deemed necessary. The full council’s next regular business meeting is scheduled for July 20.
Accommodating a blended format of in-person and virtual participation will require more up-to-date technology, Clapper said, and the effort is underway.
“As with many things these days, it’s difficult to know when it will arrive,” Clapper said, pointing to the broader supply chain challenges across the U.S.
Council President Lynn Binnie said he felt compelled to place a discussion of meeting format on the June 15 agenda after fielding comments from constituents on the poor quality of the first in-person meeting in May.
“I listened to part of it after, and it was really echoey and not very good,” Binnie said.
Kristin Mickelson, public relations and communications manager with the city, said IT personnel within her department have attempted several quick fixes with the technology on hand to improve the quality of what virtual attendees are hearing.
“We’re trying the best we can with what we have,” Mickelson said.
As has always been the case, the city will post on agendas whether forthcoming meetings are the hybrid or fully virtual format.
