Iroquois County board bars outside use of county microphones and audiovisual equipment

The Iroquois County Board voted March 5 to prohibit outside use of county microphones and other audiovisual equipment in county meeting rooms.

Board members debated whether renters and outside entities should have access to expensive sound and presentation gear. Several members said the risk of damage and the difficulty of operating the system support restricting use to county staff and authorized government users. After discussion the board member presiding made a motion to add a provision to the county meeting-room use and administrative building access policy that ‘‘no one is allowed to use the county equipment in regards to microphones or anything else.’’ The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Supporters of the change noted the complexity of the built-in sound system and the potential costs if equipment were damaged. Some members suggested a refundable deposit or a fee for after-hours access, but the majority favored a clear prohibition on outside use with the option for the chair or management to authorize exceptions under a separate agreement.

The policy change will be reflected in a revised written policy presented to the board at a future meeting. Staff said they would prepare the amended language and circulate it for review before formal adoption.

The board moved on to committee reports after the vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the public transcript.