Cable Department - GI-TV

Mission Statement

The goal of the Cable Commission is to allow as much access to the Government of Grosse Ile Township by its citizens through the broadcasting and taping of the Township Board, the Planning Commission, the Cable Commission, the Recreation Commission, the Islandfest Commission, the School Board and any other committees or commissions the Township Board deems necessary, as well as taping and replaying selected meetings and programs for viewers of both G.I. – TV, the Grosse Ile Township Municipal Channel and “The School Channel.” In addition, the Cable Commission works with the cable providers, Comcast and Wide Open West, and the Township Board to enhance cable television services and products for the citizens of Grosse Ile Township in a positive manner.

• Americast was sold to Wide Open West. The Cable Commission approved the Franchise transfer in October of 2001, and Wide Open West finalized the deal in late November. Wide Open West promised to maintain its high level of cable service and in the future offer broadband services to the residents of Grosse Ile.
• The Public Access channel on the Wide Open West system was activated. Channel 18 currently has no programming and runs the community bulletin board as a video source.
• Comcast announced that it has reached a deal with ATT to merge its cable divisions and become the nation’s largest provider of cable services. The deal will be effective in the first quarter of 2003.
• Comcast changed its Internet provider from Excite@Home to its own service, Comcast High-Speed Internet.
• Comcast did continue to cover events on Grosse Ile. In 2001, Comcast covered the High School graduation, boys football, boys and girls basketball, and the rodeo at Islandfest.
• On July 13th, during the Atofina incident, G.I. – TV was able to broadcast live from 6:30 a.m. until the all clear at 3:30 p.m. With the Administrator “live” on the channel and several commissioners calling for, and double checking, the latest information, G.I. – TV was a responsible and timely source for disaster information.
• After the Atofina Incident, G.I. – TV kept the residents abreast of the latest information by televising the EPA news conference in its entirety, and taping key community meetings that took place in Wyandotte as well as televising “live” the Grosse Ile Township informational meeting that took place on August 16th in the Merle Solomon Boardroom. This meeting was also duplicated on video tape for purchase by citizens and distributed to other communities that wanted to rebroadcast this meeting.
• The Cable Commission purchased the equipment for the Grosse Ile AM Radio station to be part of the Disaster Warning System here on the Island. You can find G.I. Radio at 1700 on the AM dial.
• G.I.-TV, in conjunction with Officer Ken Pelland, produced a parental drug awareness video tape. This tape was not aired on the station, due to the sensitive nature of the materials, but was produced solely to educate parents on the warning signs of drug use by their children. Copies are available at the Grosse Ile Police Station.
• The Grosse Ile Fire Department along with the Grosse Ile Airport conducted an Aviation Disaster Drill. G.I.-TV both taped the drill and the seminar that preceded it and produced a training tape for the Fire Department.
• G.I.-TV worked with the Fire Department to review, edit, and enhance a surveillance tape that was used to help identify a suspect in a Township Arson investigation.
• G.I.-TV was able to cover and procure tapes of interest to Grosse Ile that occurred in other communities including Supervisor Doug Jones testimony in Lansing concerning congressional redistricting, Rep. John Dingall’s seminar on terrorism, interviews with Wayne County Officials and SEMCOG’s Wayne County meeting on the Southeast Michigan water system.
• A Pioneer DVD recorder was added to the record and playback system so that DVD discs may now be used to store and playback meetings and shows.
• A new graphic system was installed for the G.I.-TV community bulletin board. Using Power Point, the bulletin board can now use graphic, animation, and still photography and video sources to enhance the new look.
• The old graphic system is still being used as a back-up system if needed and a disaster alert system.
• With the expert help of Township Trustee, Roger Will, the Leightronix and Power Point programs are now accessible from both the cable office and the Police Department so that the cable broadcast may be controlled from the Public Safety Building, in case of an emergency.
• A CD player was added to the playback system so that seasonal CD’s could be played as an audio source for the municipal channel.
• A second Leightronix Pro 8 was purchased as a back up, and is currently being used for the School Channel.
• By rewiring two locations in the Township Boardroom, and creating a 100’ cable snake, the portable camera from the downstairs conference room is now in use and has the capability of being used in many more areas of the Township Hall.
• Digital replay decks and a digital camera were purchased as the first step in modernizing the video capabilities of the Cable Commission. All township meetings, and most township functions, are now recorded digitally and all township meetings are replayed digitally.
• The old SVHS Panasonic video decks are now being used in a duplication rack in the cable office. Dub requests have increased over the last year.
• G.I.-TV broadcasted over 90 Township meetings last year. The commissions and committees telecasts include the Township Board, the Planning Commission, the Cable Commission, the Recreation Commission, the Islandfest Committee and the School Board. The Annual Meeting, and the Annual Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy Meeting were also taped and broadcast.
• In January 2002, both the Township Town Meetings for the Master Plan and the Skate Park Interest meeting were televised. Both meetings were interactive, allowing citizen participation by providing an e-mail address, permitting viewers to both make comments and ask questions during the “live” broadcast. The e-mail address is questions@grosseile.com. All commissions and boards will have the option of including this feature in future meetings.
• An informational video was produced for the Centennial Farm Equestrian Center.
• A promotional video was produced for Water’s Edge Country Club.
• In cooperation with the All Night Party Committee, a highlight video of the party was produced and given to the High School Seniors.
• The Cable Department worked very closely with the Recreation Department. Once again the Cable Department ran an after school video class for middle school children, as well as a video camp for the Recreation Department. G.I.-TV also covered many recreation programs including the Easter Egg Hunt, Hurray for Halloween, the Astronomy Seminar, A Dickens Christmas, Fall Harvest Days, the Tenth Anniversary of the Playscape, the Christmas Dinner, and all of the Recreation Master Plan Meetings. G.I.-TV also produced a new program promoting the Channels Program Guide, hosted by Doug McIntosh, called “Rec. Notes.”
• New programming included two editions of G.I. Magazine, two episodes of Animal Shelter News, and three episodes of Grosse Ile Images. All of these shows may continue in the future, as needed.
• Islandfest, again was a main focal point for the Cable Department. The Parade was covered despite threatening weather as was the Reflections Concert, the Shout Band Concert, the Antiques Roadshow, the Donkey Races, the Electric Car Races, the Fashion Show, and the Car Cruise. Two 30 second commercials were produced to be aired on Comcast cross station advertising but due to a Comcast error, they were not aired.
• The Cable Commission again made cooperating with Grosse Ile Schools a high priority. A permanent control room has been established in the East River Boardroom that now includes live playback equipment. The School Board has worked hard at improving the quality of the broadcast, including purchasing new robotic cameras and putting up curtains around the Boardroom. The new Alphgen graphic computer is installed and the school has taken over the day-to-day operation of the school channel. The Cable Commission still tapes not only the School Board Meetings but any other event the schools request including the following: plays at the High School Concerts, and plays at both Parke Lane and Meridian Schools, the High School Talent Show, the Honors Assembly, the Honors Dinner at the Country Club, the Spelling Bee, the Science Fairs, the Madam Cadillac Assembly and this year once again high school homecoming events including the parade and the football game. Four other football games were taped including two away games. Girls basketball was featured including the two regional games at Tecumseh and other sports include boys basketball, hockey and wrestling as well as girls volleyball and the regional competitive cheer contest. Game tapes by other communities and of interest to Grosse Ile were replayed.
• The Grosse Ile Web page is still being overseen by the Cable Department. Chris Rhodes, a senior at the High School continues to maintain and create an outstanding site that continues to grow and be more current all of the time. New features on the page include all of the zoning ordinances; current tax information from the Treasurer’s Office, as well as the entire disaster plan written by the fire department since the Atofina Incident. The minutes to all of the Township Board Meetings as well the weekly news letters from Supervisor Doug Jones can be found on the web page. Channels, the Recreation Department Program Guide is also featured on the web page.

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