Oak Park council approves police drone, confirms youth-assistance appointees; county commissioner outlines business supports and park work

The Oak Park City Council on Feb. 17 voted to buy a DJI M30T drone for the Public Safety Department and unanimously approved appointments to the Oak Park Youth Assistance board, the council announced during a roughly 30-minute meeting at City Hall.

The council also heard an update from Oakland County Commissioner Yolanda Smith Charles on county programs for small businesses, a third phase of ARPA-funded 3D-printer support for manufacturers and an upcoming closure related to park renovation work at Shepherd Park.

The drone purchase will come from Unmanned Vehicle Technologies and, according to Public Safety Director Steve Cooper, the device "is the DJI M30T" and is intended to "provide real time, situational awareness" to assist in search-and-rescue, crime-scene work, crowd monitoring and fireground operations. Cooper told the council the department's stated purchase price is $14,643.75, and later asked the council to authorize a purchase in the amount shown in the meeting packet as $14,643.57. He said the purchase includes Federal Aviation Administration training for six operators; the department listed an annual warranty/insurance cost of $1,200 (the first year free) and a software package that Cooper said costs $3,000 per year and is included for the first year to integrate drone flights with the city’s evidence system.

Nut Graf: The council framed the purchase as a public-safety investment that city staff say will improve officer safety and response…