Commissioners debate bulletproof glass for county dozer; cost, heat exposure and visibility cited; decision tabled
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Summary
Commissioners discussed replacing dozer windows with ballistic-resistant glass, heard estimates and safety concerns and agreed to gather more information before deciding.
Commissioner Cresswell proposed installing bulletproof (ballistic-resistant) glass in a county bulldozer after repeated breakages while the machine was used for wildfire response.
Cresswell told the court the dozer’s glass had been replaced multiple times and that a replacement blew out while he was operating the machine on the highway. He presented vendor pricing and said the county could outfit the two front doors and a center front window with ballistic-resistant glazing at an estimated total cost of $6,187.50. He also said a single replacement of the standard door glass runs about $400.
Commissioners and staff discussed trade-offs. Supporters emphasized operator safety during wildfire response. Opponents and others raised concerns about heat performance and visibility: one participant noted that plastic or film alternatives can scratch and degrade and that bulletproof materials may reduce optical clarity after repeated abrasion from brush and branches. A staff member asked whether ballistic glazing used in other heavy equipment held up under prolonged heat exposure; that person (identified as Jared) said he had no study on that point and recommended the court ask forestry and equipment experts.
Cresswell said the ballistic-resistant glazing would be laminated and described it as “supposed to be resistant … to a 9 millimeter point blank” and said ballistic glazing would take 6–10 weeks to arrive. Several participants suggested ordering spare standard glass to avoid prolonged downtime if a window breaks while waiting for a replacement. One speaker noted warranty and parts channels vary by manufacturer and that some replacement parts must come through the equipment vendor.
The court did not adopt a purchase or replacement policy at the meeting. Commissioners agreed to gather more technical information — including heat-rating data and experiences from other agencies and the equipment manufacturer — and to consider sourcing spare standard glass to reduce operational downtime. The item was effectively tabled pending those follow-ups.
