Platte County commissioners approved a contract July 7 to purchase three unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and accessories through Sourcewell.

A presenter identified the order as 2025CO099 and said the county would contract via Sourcewell to buy three drones with "flare capabilities and the accessories that they have with them." The presenter stated a budget impact of "$26,956,956 dollars and 84' cents" and said the amount was already included in the 2025 budget.

The commission moved, seconded and approved the contract on a 3-0 roll call. The public presentation did not include model names, intended operational roles, vendor delivery schedules or how the county plans to staff or license the UAS operations.

Why it matters: the county's planned purchase of UAS can affect public-safety, search-and-rescue and public-works operations; the presenter described the systems as having flare capabilities but did not specify operational policies, FAA compliance measures, or ongoing maintenance costs in the public presentation.

The meeting record shows the county approved the Sourcewell contract (2025CO099) and the budget amount was stated by staff during the item.