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Penobscot County emergency management expanding drone mapping; commission hears cost and funding options
Summary
Penobscot County emergency management told commissioners March 11 that its drone program has created pre‑disaster imagery for five communities, with equipment purchased using ARPA funds and training/licensing costs covered in the department operating budget.
Penobscot County’s emergency management director updated the commission March 11 on the county’s growing drone program, reporting that the county has mapped five communities for pre‑disaster imagery and is deploying drones to support preparedness and response work.
The county’s GIS specialist, Thomas, has led mapping efforts and worked with the county fire/EMS coordinator to create detailed imagery used for preparedness. The emergency management office currently has three certified Part 107 operators (two volunteers and Thomas), and the director said he is pursuing his Part 107 certification as well.
Officials quoted equipment costs at roughly $16,700 per drone and said the application/training fee for the Part 107 license runs in the mid‑$100s. The commission heard that the original acquisition was paid from ARPA capital purchases, while ongoing licensing and training costs are covered from the department’s operating budget. The director said operational costs were anticipated and incorporated into the improvement plan.
Commissioners discussed options for sustaining the program and whether to consider a small, abnormal fee to communities using the service to create a drone replacement fund so county taxpayers do not solely carry replacement costs. One commissioner said any such fee should be “abnormal in nature” while another called for a fair model and for staff to bring proposals to the strategic planning committee.
No formal vote was taken; the discussion concluded with direction to study fee options and return with proposals tied to the county’s five‑ and ten‑year capital and replacement plans.
