Board approves OMB grant applications and $894,173 down payment for sheriff’s helicopter

The Martin County Board of County Commissioners approved a package of Office of Management and Budget items on March 25 that included multiple grant applications, acceptances and a budget transfer to support a sheriff's helicopter down payment.

Stephanie Murley, director of the Office of Management and Budget, asked the board for permission to apply for several alternative-water-supply and parks grants and to accept or recognize multiple awards and contributions. She described grant requests and acceptances ranging from $17,500 for a healthy-aging Parks & Rec grant to $3,050,000 for an alternative-water-supply project; in several cases the grants require matching funds programmed into the utilities capital-improvement plan.

Murley also presented a budget transfer request tied to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office: the sheriff’s office has accumulated a dedicated reserve for a helicopter purchase and requested a budget transfer of $894,173 representing a 20% down payment. Murley said the reserve had accumulated to approximately $1.6 million and that the transfer would come from the sheriff’s returned excess fees and reserves already held for this purpose.

Sheriff (unnamed) addressed commissioners about the county aviation program’s operational needs and safety rationale, saying that older Vietnam-era OH-58 helicopters had been used for decades and that the Office needs two operational helicopters to maintain continuous service and cover maintenance downtime. “Unless you have two helicopters, you don't have an aviation program at all because of the required maintenance,” the sheriff said.

Commissioner Heatherington moved approval of the OMB items; the motion was seconded and the board approved the package by voice vote. The items Murley listed at the meeting included (descriptions as provided to the board): permission to apply for FY25 alternative-water-supply funding (tropical farms water plant) $2,050,000 (match $2,050,000); permission to apply for FY25 alternative-water-supply funding (north water treatment plant) $3,050,000 (match $3,050,000); permission to apply for FY24 Parks & Recreation Healthy Aging grant $17,500 (no match); permission to apply for 2025 waterways assistance grant (Jensen Beach Causeway boat ramp) $450,000 (match $450,000); acceptance of FDEP Gomez Community potable water grant $940,000 (no cash match; local CRA contributing $200,000); acceptance of FDEP nutrient reduction technology grant $523,325 (no match); a set of budget resolutions to allocate unanticipated donations and contributions (Riverside PUD $115,000 split $30,000 to Fire Rescue and $85,000 to Public Works; Preserve at Loblawley North PUD $16,000; 7 J's PUD $100,000 toward a proposed fire station); salary adjustments to move previously reserved funds into departments; recognition of $229,845 in Florida opioid settlement funds; and recognition of a $50,000 reimbursement from the Village of Indiantown to the building department.

Murley said staff would work with purchasing and the sheriff’s office to execute the helicopter purchase, and that the budget transfer and grant actions were programmed within existing CIP or reserve funds. Commissioners voted to approve the OMB package; a separate vote later in the meeting confirmed approval of the consent agenda that included these items.

No commissioner requested to withhold the helicopter item from the package; commissioners who spoke supported retaining a county aviation capability for public safety and hurricane response. The board’s action authorizes staff to proceed with grant applications, acceptances and the stated budget adjustments, including the down payment for the sheriff’s helicopter.