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Carbon County approves applications for ConocoPhillips drone grant and search‑and‑rescue snowmobile grant
Summary
The commission authorized applications for a ConocoPhillips community grant to expand the sheriff's office drone program and for a Division of Recreation Search and Rescue grant to buy two snowmobiles, with the latter to be matched by search‑and‑rescue funds.
Carbon County commissioners approved two grant applications Feb. 19 aimed at bolstering public‑safety equipment: the county will apply for a ConocoPhillips community grant to add drones to the sheriff’s fleet and will apply for a Division of Recreation Search and Rescue grant to purchase two snowmobiles.
Sheriff Wood told commissioners the department has trained several certified drone pilots and envisions drones for multiple roles — a drone assigned to the jail, additional drones for patrol crews and equipment for SWAT — to improve officer safety and speed evidence collection. He described the ConocoPhillips opportunity as a corporate community grant with no required local match and said the county could obtain at least one drone through the program.
On the search‑and‑rescue grant, Sheriff Wood said the county’s SAR team has four snowmobiles and 22 members; the team proposes adding two more, estimating the two machines will cost under $40,000. He said Search and Rescue will provide the required match from funds it raises, primarily from an annual demolition derby.
Both grant‑application motions passed by voice vote.
Sheriff Wood described the equipment as complementary to prior budgeted purchases and training; he said deputies have attended a college certification program (107) and some staff are already certified pilots. The county did not specify a vendor or exact drone model at the meeting and said it will pursue formal grant applications and procurements in subsequent steps.
