Hyten seeks grant for video conferencing

what is the cost of this system that is going to save us so much time and money? how much time are u spending in the (EOC)? seems that two-way radios, cell phones and computers do the same fast and economical sending of information between two or more parties.

save money on training? well u still will have to video tape or purchase a training video to show demos. this can be done on dvd or blue ray.

all of these items we have already purchased and do all the same things ur wanting to waste on a new method. we dont need to hit Mr. Bookwalter up on video to ask him a question, to be on the video this makes him or anyone immobile. meaning they cant multi task or continue doing what they were doing.

just bc the money is a grant doesnt mean its free! it has cost me, and u and all of us so much that we are tired of giving. how many emeregency controlled situations do we experience here in putnam co that video conferencing would have made a difference?

the spending needs to stop!

Kim, thanks for trying to do something for the county. No matter what the naysayers say! Saves money on paying county employees travel expensives and reimbursement for fuel. And as for the 5 OTHER hats you wear for the County, KUDO's to you and your staff on those as well. Knowledge is power one should be informed before one posts in an open format.

Has any one ever thought of just going to walmart and buying a webcam and microphone and using something like YAHOO to do video conferencing

Web cam kit with mic 29.99

Yahoo>>> FREE

total cost of ownership per user 29.99

Tax dollars better spent:n Priceless

Sounds a little like the sign on the "mobile command center" in the fair parade. It read "no tax dollars were spent on this". It was a grant from the federal gov. Gee, i wonder if some of the 45 thousand dollars that Iv'e paid in taxes in the last two years were part of that grant. Looks to me like were going broke just as fast as we can!

SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL EXPENSES AND REIMBURSEMENTS FOR FUEL??? my ex. of saving money...1) u purchase a training video 2) download to your computer 3) send to all employees 4) get donut, some coffee and wait. i get home from work, go to my computer and download and watch your training video.

CASTLE PIRATE!!! will u figure the amount of travel time i just wasted and how much gas evaporated from my tank as it sits in my driveway??????

It's a federal grant, people, which means: If we don't use it, someone else will! Why not throw our hat into the mix? If there is even a remote chance it can save our county a little money, what's the harm? It doesn't cost anything to apply for the grant. If we aren't approved, then we will continue on our own little path. I think the problem here is that some people don't like change and it's an insult to them when the subject is even approached.

badboy46120 Not going to banter with you on this, but this program allows for MUCH more then just training. It allows for "Video conferencing" meaning a live program running. So lets say there is an Auditors training session in Fort Wayne, NOW that employee does not have to drive to it but can watch it live, via this link, in real time and ask questions instead of a DVD that just plays, the employee can now ask questions of the instructor/speaker in real time. Another example, no longer having to run inmates back and forth to courts ie saves fuel in County Jail van and keeps them secured where they belong (now this is if the courts and jail decide to do this which from what I understand they are going to).Understand this link is faster then the typical Internet that you run in your house MUCH MUCH faster!

As for the gas in your car evaporating thats a little childish isn't it? But you do have your right to free speach. Again being informed on a topic will help you understand it a little more, unfortunately you were not. Have a nice day ;)

E-Conferencing can significantly reduce cost. Where I work, we use Web-Ex for all global conferencing. I, for one, favor keeping bureaucrats here rather than paying them to travel. This alone will undoubtedly cover the expense.

However, it is equally important to remember where grant money comes from. At last count, we had to send nearly $5 to Washington to get $1 back. Therefore, the actual cost to the tax payer is nearly five times this amount.

Considering the age of E-conferencing technology, one has to question why it was not an integral part of the Emergency Management Center from inception.

While I think this may be a nice new toy for Mr. Hyten and his staff, I think the money would more productively be use elsewhere.

Is it at all possible to use it for our failing bridges? We have 2 atleast currently closed and more in bad shape. Can we continue to close a bridge when it is bad? Eventually we will not be able to go anywhere for having to cross a bridge. Just wondering?

I bet if a county commisioner, Mr. Hyten or any other county offical lived on one of these road they would be in a bigger hurry to have them repaired. Just my opinion.