BELLE — New televisions recently installed at Belle City Hall are expected to help reduce travel expenses, expand training opportunities and improve communication with state agencies, according to City Office Manager-Treasurer Charro Reasor.

Reasor said the televisions were purchased for two primary purposes. The first was improving the city’s ability to conduct remote meetings with state agencies and other partners.

“For my office, one of the priorities was Zoom meetings,” Reasor said. “I have a lot of meetings on Zoom with DNR, FEMA, lawyers, different things like that. I’ve been invited to go to St. Louis, and I can just do it in my office rather than driving.”

The television also allows Reasor to monitor live feeds from security cameras inside her office.

“It was mainly for Zooms, but also so I could stream the live footage of the security cameras in my office for when I’m here,” she said. “It’s kind of a safety thing that I can see now and then.”

The televisions are also being used to allow city employees to complete required training without traveling outside the area.

Reasor said water system certification classes alone can require significant time commitments.

“When the guys have done their water classes, those are 10-day classes,” she said. “They’re doing two days a week over five weeks.”

After certification, water operators must also complete annual continuing education requirements.

“Once we do have a trained operator in house, he’ll have to continue 30 hours of annual continued education,” Reasor said, noting the new setup allows employees to complete coursework in a quieter environment.

The equipment is also being used by city officials to attend regional meetings remotely.

“Mr. Vogt has utilized it instead of traveling to the MRPC,” Reasor said. “He can do it here in house, saving on mileage there.”

Police officers will also have access to the televisions when completing required online training hours.

Reasor said travel costs related to meetings and training can quickly add up for a small municipality.

“Over the course of the last few years, it’s been several thousand dollars,” she said.

Because many agencies now rely heavily on remote meetings, Reasor said the investment should continue producing savings in the future.

The idea to expand the televisions beyond the first installation came from Belle Mayor James Mitchell after the initial setup proved useful.

“It was really the mayor that came up with the idea,” Reasor said. “After we got the one hooked up in my office, a month or so later he really got to thinking it would be good to have the training room.”

While the system is currently being used for meetings and training, Reasor said it could eventually support larger training events hosted locally.

Reasor said the new equipment has already proven useful for city operations.

“I love it,” she said. “It’s working out good for us.”