Potpourri – Warsaw Appears To Be A Leader Statewide With Livestreaming
Potpourri – Warsaw Appears To Be A Leader Statewide With Livestreaming
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Dan Spalding-dspalding@timesuniononline.com
Potpourri – Warsaw Appears To Be A Leader Statewide With LivestreamingIs Warsaw city government the most transparent in the state? One could certainly make that argument in terms of livestreaming government meetings.
In fact, it appears the city is making a robust effort to livestream meetings compared to any city in the state.
When the Oakwood Cemetery Board meets Thursday, Warsaw will be livestreaming and archiving meetings for 10 government boards. A link to feeds to the meetings can be found near the top of warsaw.in.gov.
Locally, a comparative check of city websites for Goshen, Elkhart, Plymouth and Columbia city turns up no signs that those towns are livestreaming anything.
The city surveyed about 30 municipalities earlier this year and determined that livestreaming is offered in South Bend, Fort Wayne, Brownsburg, Evansville, Columbus, Portage, Fishers, Rushville, Whitestown and Kokomo.
Exactly how many types of meetings each of those cities provide online was unclear.
Warsaw has been phasing in the livestreaming service since April. According to Staci Young, assistant to the mayor, the service has attracted 971 views, including 313 who have watched meetings as they happen.
“We are trying to be on the forefront of using technology for engagement for government agencies our size,” Young said. “This provides a whole new level of engagement, transparency and convenience to residents. We have to go where the people are.’”
TOWNSHIP CAMPAIGN – In what might be a first in local township politics, Wayne Township Democratic candidate Shari Benyousky has released a two-minute campaign video.
The video highlights the 48-year-old English professor’s background and reasons why she ventured into her first attempt at elected politics with an aggressive campaign that is coordinated with three Democrat advisory board candidates, Laura Deal-Decker, Jim Falkiner and Lori Roe.
Benyousky faces Republican Jeanie Stackhouse, who works in the township office as an investigative clerk. Other Republican advisory board members are Bruce Woodard, Josh Spangle (former Monroe Township trustee) and incumbent Gordon Nash.
In the video, Benyousky pledges to “help people up with dignity when they need a hand” and alludes to a controversial $1.2 million fund in the township budget, adding:?“This race is about ideas verus money. I have ideas. My opponent has money.”
To see the video, search Benyousky on YouTube.
INVITE ACCEPTED – On a related note ... in a recent letter to the editor, Wayne Township Trustee Sheila Burner, who is not seeking re-election, invited Democrats to their next township advisory board meeting, set for 4 p.m. Thursday. She made the offer in reply to Democratic township trustee candidate Benyousky whose letter earlier questioned whether the township needs to be sitting on $1.2 million, not including an official rainy day fund.
Benyousky contends the $1.2 million accumulated in recent years is not earmarked for anything.
According to Benyousky, she and others plan to attend Thursday’s meeting and will likely have some questions.
Baby Box In Warsaw? – It appears Warsaw could soon be the fourth city in the state to establish a Safe Haven Baby Box established at a fire station.
A private online fundraiser to purchase and establish a baby box in Warsaw is already underway. In less than a week, the effort, organized by Kristi Ormsby, has generated $3,150 of its stated goal of $5,000. The fundraiser can be found by searching “Kristi's fundraiser for Baby Box at Fire #3” on Facebook.
While the fundraiser alludes to using the newly opened fire station No. 3 on Warsaw’s south side, Fire Chief Michael Wilson said it still needs approval from city council and the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory board.
The Kosciusko County Fire Association endorsed the idea last week during its annual fish fry, according to Wilson.
Baby boxes already exist in Woodburn, Michigan City and Indianapolis, according to Safe Haven Baby Box, which is based in Woodburn.
Speaking of the new fire station, officials hope to announce an open house date next week. Tentatively, it looks like it will be in late October, according to Wilson.
DEBATE DETAILS – The first of several Congressional candidate debates (2nd and 3rd districts) in northern Indiana is set for Monday, Oct. 8 when 2nd District candidates Jackie Walorski and Mel Hall meet at 7 p.m. It will be broadcast on WSBT-TV.
MADD APPRECIATION – Mothers Against Drunk Driving honored 31 lawmakers from across 13 states last week for their commitment to the cause. Rep. Tim Wesco, whose district includes much of southern Elkhart County, was the lone recipient from Indiana.
