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In the Race

Now, here, you see, it takes all the blogging I can do to keep in the same place.
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Dear City of Franklin...I Apologize

By Janet Evans
Thursday, Aug 28 2008, 09:40 PM


Last night after attending the School Board Annual Meeting of the Electors (which I will be doing a short report on shortly) I stopped over at City Hall to catch the end of the Technology Commission meeting.  I have quite an interest in technology and our city website, and especially was looking forward to the discussion of audio streaming.

Unfortunately I missed most of the website presentation but did hear enough of the end discussion, including when money was being discussed.  There are some things that are just worth the money.  I don’t know if you have ever come across an item in the store that was being sold for just a few bucks and you picked it up with a smile and said boy, how the heck did they make this product for that price; unbelievable.  Sometimes when you think about what you pay for some products, compared to others, it’s a no brainer.

To me, spending $40,000 on upgrading our technology is a no brainer.  As a Franklin citizen who values technology I believe it would be a mistake for our Technology Commission to not send a proposal to the Common Council to upgrade our website to the best and most up-to-date site it can be.  And I believe it would be a mistake if our Common Council did not approve the $40,000.

That said, to my apology.

Later in the meeting District 1 Alderman Steve Olson once again made me a target of his bloviating (that’s the kindest word I can use).  Once again I was just sitting in the audience as a citizen of Franklin observing.  As he gave his presentation about how he believes Franklin is not up-to-date with the taping of meetings (I think I have heard that before…oh, yeah, from me and first from John Michlig) all of a sudden he turns and looks toward me and makes a reference to the fact that Mrs. Evans has embarrassed the City of Franklin.

Well, about 14 sets of eyes all turn to me….

And I’m thinking…(well, me being a lady and all I won’t tell you what I’m thinking) (Actually, I’m not really all that much of a lady so maybe on my Righty blog I may tell you some time).

Anyway…slip of the tongue that he phrased it that way?  I believe he was attempting to say that my pod casts of the Common Council meetings, which I, a peon of the universe (my characterization), am able to do, are better than the antiquated cassette tapes that the meetings held at City Hall are forced to fumble with; that we, the citizens of Franklin are forced to go to City Hall and request and pay for, and then find a cassette player for, if we no longer own such a thing. 

He had some other things to say, as usual…but I’ll let you go to City Hall and request an antiquated cassette tape to listen to the conversation…after all…I’m just a blogger.

But, once again, I do apologize for embarrassing the City of Franklin by going out and learning how to do a pod cast.  I guess for some, ignorance is bliss.


Comments

fvkeller   

YOU embarrassed the City of Franklin?

Are YOU the chair of the Technology Committee?  I believe that would be Scott Meade.

Are YOU a long-time member of the Technology Committee?  I believe that would be Alderman Steve Olson.

Do YOU WORK for a company that – according to their website – is a leading provider of professional video, audio, multimedia, and computer based products and services for more than 30 years?  Guess who, again.

What are YOU apologizing for?  The City of Franklin – the Common Council – and the Technology Committee owe their bosses – the citizens of Franklin – an apology for an inadequate, antiquated and embarrassing city website.

Olson should shut his pie hole!

August 29, 2008 7:33 AM

Bryan Maersch   

Ok,

I can't just sit here and not say anything. You both know I am a member of that commission but only since last October.

1) The software that comes into question is the Northwoods CMS (Content Manager Software) which is on version 3.4. This is the software which helps to create the content on the City's website. Over the past year, the TC has collected information from Franklin Citizens on improvements that they would like on the city's website. Including those more recently of Alderman Taylor. The company (Northwoods) that presented to the TC sold and supports our 4 year old version of the software.

Originally, the TC requested that company to aid us in a redesign of the city's website. $25,000 was earmarked to get that done. The company Northwoods (who are responsible for quite a few large company's websites) came back with a quote for migration of our website to their new platform version 4 point something for a price tag of $39,000 plus more if we wanted optional training for our webmaster and other goodies.

The TC believes that the extra cost to go to the (new and improved) software does not warrant the extra cost. There was just not enough bang for the buck as far as features at this time. Plus the webmaster (Lisa Huening) would need time to learn the new Content Manager besides her all ready overburdened duty's as the assistant to Mark Luberda.

2) The antiquated way meetings are recorded has been on the TC's radar for a while. We live with the having to stop to turn over a tape in a tape recorder that was probably purchase at Radio Shack in the 70's.

To that end a sub-committee has been put together (myself included) which will be moving along the digitization of city meetings. This committee  will need to include the costs involved with the digital recorders, software to archive the meetings and keep track of them. Additional hardware and accessories needed to produce the meetings on digital media or on the city's website.

While Alderman Steve Olson does at times stick his big toe in his mouth. He, Alderman Sohns and Alderman Taylor said they were impressed with your Pod casts of City meetings (wow they do like to listen to themselves). All three are committed to bringing the City's Website and meeting technology up to 2008 standards.

Yes, it is an embarrassment when a city of our size is using 20th century technology. What is obvious by your blog and your Righty Blog is that you do not have that embarrassment.

PS.

If you want to see some embarrassing city web sites just look at Hales Corners or Cudahy's.

Plus we are looking for additional members of the Technology Commission as we are a couple members short. Here is the link to the form:

franklinwi.gov/.../displayFile.aspx

August 29, 2008 9:43 AM

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