In an effort to ensure more transparency in the way local government functions, the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors have decided to have their meeting streamed online and simultaneously recorded for later playback if persons interested miss the live proceedings. According to the Daily NonPareil, the board on Tuesday voted 4-0, with Supervisor Lynn Grobe absent, to approve a quote of $46,016 from the Omaha firm of AVI Systems for the installation of the necessary equipment so that meetings can be shown live, also known as streaming, as well as the ability to be recorded for public viewing later. The board also approved having YouTube as the vendor.

The equipment would include a camera in the back of the boardroom, with various ceiling speakers and microphones, plus a new projector and screen allowing other departments use for training purposes. There would be a three-year service agreement in which AVI would fix or replace equipment if needed. It could take two weeks, maybe less, to install the equipment, followed by testing and/or tweaking to ensure high quality. It will be set up so that the public could go to pottcounty-ia.gov and then click on “Meetings” and their listed dates.