By Tracy Overstreet
tracy.overstreet@theindependent.com

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Independent/Scott Kingsley Kevin Gerlach runs cable into the back of the new racks in GITV's new studio and production facility at City Hall. The mail room was remodeled for the move. Independent/Scott Kingsley The new console for GITV mixes existing equipment with new equipment in the new production and studio space at City Hall. Other technology upgrades include new cameras in the City Council chambers and sound monitors for the chambers' microphones. Click Thumbnails to View

It went off air Jan. 23 for its first major upgrade in 14 years, said city Public Information Officer Wendy Meyer-Jerke.

Video on GITV's cable channels of 6 and 56 returned about 3 p.m. Thursday. Audio returned by the weekend.

GITV features a live broadcast and replays of the Grand Island City Council meetings, replays of the Hall County board of supervisors and Grand Island school board meetings.

GITV technician Jeremy Watson also produces numerous individual shows about government programs, departments and upcoming events.

The upgrade cost about $175,000 for two projects a upgrade of the GITV studios and an upgrade of the city council audiovisual system in the council chambers.

"A lot of it has been rewiring," Meyer-Jerke said of the cost.

The GITV update cost $68,000 and included a move of the GITV studios across the hall in the basement of City Hall, 100 E. First St. The master control room is about four times what it used to be. The studios are about three times as large.

The move was done largely to accommodate a coming expansion of the city/county Emergency Management Department, which obtained a large grant to update 911 equipment, Meyer-Jerke said.

The upgrade of the city council chambers cost $107,000 and included new council microphones, a new voting board and a special monitor that will show the current motion and amendments before the city council.

The audio update in the council chambers was critical, said Paul Briseno, assistant to the city administrator.

"We had a lot of complaints about not being able to hear," he said.

When Audio Visual Inc. came in to begin update work, they discovered just two of 28 speakers in the council chambers were still working, Briseno said.

Meyer said the upgrades should greatly improve the GITV productions. The update returns the ability of doing in-studio interviews at City Hall a practice that had been suspended due to lighting problems.

"It's really an exciting time," Meyer-Jerke said.