Ortonville-After seeking some accountability for the area public access Channel 18, village officials say they will now withhold collections of about $11,000 per year garnered from village Charter subscribers’until an agreement and oversight committee is organized.
The message comes after Brandon Township officials voted 7-0 on July 6 to keep current cable coordinator Greg Normand on a month-to-month basis, rather than extend the position. It was also disclosed recently that there has been no contract for the cable coordinator in more than nine years. The township board also suggested that the cable coordinator contract be put out for bid, although that may not happen until next year, due to concerns of fairness to Normand.
Similar to the township, the village receives 5 percent of each Charter Cable subscriber bill each month to operate the public access channel. Currently, village residents pay about $224,000 each year for cable service of which 5 percent is paid for Channel 18. In comparison, Brandon Township Charter subscribers contribute about $70,000 per year to the public access channel, or 5 percent of the total Charter Cable fees.
‘The village council wants to have equal input on the channel and what is being broadcast,? said Melanie Nivelt, village trustee. ‘We are not about to turn money over to the township until we have we have an agreement. This has went on long enough and we can find other use for that money, it does not have to go toward Channel 18.?
Nivelt suggests a cable committee with representatives from Brandon Township, Brandon School District and the village meet to make decisions on both programming and oversight.
Kathy Thurman, Brandon Township Supervisor, said an intergovernmental agreement is currently in the works with the township attorney preparing the terms of the agreement.
The township board approved a 2009-2010 budget for the cable station of $63,068. That figure includes a $30,000 stipend for the cable coordinator and $18,573 for cable technicians? the Brandon High School students who Normand says film meetings and events, running cameras, and do editing within the confines of the station. Currently, there are seven students working.
Lorrie McMahon, Brandon School District superintendent said the cable access channel uses a high school classroom for editing, in addition to the assistance to Brandon teacher Jeff Malicke.
‘Because the equipment is in the classroom, it’s covered under the district’s insurance policy. The students use the equipment for interschool broadcasts, creating videos and learning the video process.?