Commission plans call-in television show

Residents who can't turn out for the County Commission's afternoon meetings will soon be able to tune in during evenings and personally ask board members questions about pressing issues.

A call-in show called "Clark County Connection" will begin on the Clark County Community Channel (Channel 4) during the next two months, said Tom Warden, director of the county's Public Communications Department.

Warden, who will share hosting duties with video producer Randy Swallow, said his department has been planning the show for more than a year.

It will allow residents who are unable to attend County Commission meetings to catch up on important issues and call in questions to guests, which will be either commissioners, county staff or both.

"People could learn about the direction of county government and how resources are being used," Warden said. "Taxpayers are funding the county. It's a great tool to let people know how their money is being spent."

Warden said some of the topics that might be discussed are zoning issues and grand openings of community centers.

"We could talk about things like the agreement the county recently drew up with Henderson," Warden said, referring to a pending annexation. "It's an agreement that touches a lot of people's lives."'

Warden said callers will be asked about their questions before they are put on the air to prevent people from making lengthy statements or speeches.

"The commissioners think it's a good idea; they're looking forward to the communication," Warden said.

The producers of the show have yet to determine whether it will be an hour or half-hour show. Warden said it will be sometime in the evening, although a time slot has not been chosen.

The show initially will be filmed in a UNLV studio and eventually moved into the County Government Center.

Warden has plenty of television experience, coming to the county two years ago after a seven-year stint as a news anchor for KLAS-TV Channel 8.

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