REDINGTON SHORES – The town of Regington Shores’ cable TV channel, off the air for the past four months due to a system breakdown, will return in March with expanded capabilities.
The commission ordered a replacement video system that can stream town meetings and other content over the Internet in addition to the television broadcast.
Commission members voted unanimously to accept a bid of $4,700 for the new equipment. It will be up and running for the next month’s regular commission meeting, Commissioner Casey Wojcik said.
The new system is a StreamBreeze Mini, ordered from Hi-Tech Trading Co. of Clearwater. According to Wojcik, the system offers “enough growing room” but lacks some advanced features such as 3-D, which he said the town likely would not use.
The StreamBreeze Mini system ordered will be used right away to stream commission meetings and announcements over the Internet in addition to the existing cable TV broadcasts.
CDs available from Pinellas County on topics of interest to citizens will be added to the schedule within 2 to 3 years, Wojcik said.
The system also has a feature that allows citizens to interact online during the meeting broadcasts. That phase will likely be added in 4 to 5 years, he said.
Not available with the system ordered is emerging social technologies that connect to Facebook and Twitter. Even without the latest advancements, the new TV system will have capabilities “waiting for us to grow with,” Wojcik said.
A warranty covers the system for one year for parts and 90 days for labor.
A free Internet service that allows 10 to 15 people to watch at one time will be used at first.
Should the audience grow beyond that capability, a pay service that can accommodate around 100 people would be needed, Wojcik said.
Identical bids
Three bids of $4,500 were received for repairs needed to the Town Hall roof. Commissioner Tom Kapper, a builder, said that was a first for him.
“I have never seen three identical bids come in for a project in my entire career,” he said.
No explanation was given for the occurrence. The commissioners chose AAA+Mr. Roofer of Pinellas for the job on the recommendation of town Building Official Steve Andrews.
Illegal grass disposal
Residents are being warned not to blow grass clippings into the gutters. Vice Mayor John Branch said the illegal act costs the town thousands of dollars in sewer cleaning expense every time it occurs. Bagging of clippings is required, Branch stressed. Those who do not comply will face costly fines.
“You’re going to get a ticket sooner or later,” Branch said.
Branch said he had also received complaints of cats prowling in neighbors’ yards “doing their business and destroying birds.”
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