Jon
Van Allsburg, 207 Bay Circle Drive, represented MAC Media. It is a
public access station and a non-profit organization. They currently
provide service to Park Township by broadcasting the Board meetings
monthly. They offer free use of broadcasting and video recording
equipment to township residents and organizations. Mr. Van Allsburg
noted that there are nearly 5000 cable TV subscribers in Park
Township, of which 40% watch MAC TV at least once a month. They are
asking Park Township to provide a 1% franchise fee, which is charged
to cable TV subscribers only.
Marrsilje stated this appears to be a financial question and feels it
would be appropriate to assign this to the Finance Committee.
MOTION MADE, MOTION SUPPORTED, MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by
Marsilje and supported by VanRaalte to refer the funding of MAC TV to
the Finance Committee.
Price questioned why it needs to be a Finance Committee decision,
because the money is outside our budget. It’s a percentage that we
would collect through cable TV.
Visser explained that all moneys go through our budget. There is also
a legal issue involved. We are allowed to contract for specific
services. He is not sure that providing equipment to the general
public, that we have no control over, falls in that legal description
for a specific service.
Martin explained the township is permitted to expend funds only as
authorized by statute.
Price stated that she is hesitant to refer this to the finance
committee because she feels very strongly that this is something we
should fund.
Steggerda commented that one of the options we have is to only
broadcast our meetings.
Price stated she doesn’t want just the Board Meetings to be aired.
The Planning Commission Meetings are important, too. She feels we are
restricting ourselves if we don’t take full advantage of MAC TV.
Koopman agrees that we should make government accessible to the
people. He feels we could work out a contract with MAC TV for
specific purposes, rather than a general across the board agreement.
Steggerda questioned collecting franchise fees. Can we collect less
than 1% to cover the cost of broadcasting?
Martin noted we can charge less than 1% and up to 5%.
Visser stated it is up to the Board’s discretion what the percent will
be.
Price inquired if the township could buy equipment, such as video
cameras, for the township residents to use.
Martin replied he is not sure if there is a specific statutory
authorization. It could possibly fall within recreational purposes,
but that would be a pretty liberal interpretation.
Visser asked for the motion to refer the funding of MAC TV to the
Finance Committee. The motion passed 5 to 1. Price was opposed.
