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Supervisors approve nearly $300,000 Arizona State Parks grant for Lake Powell rescue equipment
Summary
Coconino County accepted a $299,091.19 Arizona State Parks grant to buy a submersible remotely operated vehicle, night-vision equipment and medical supplies for the sheriff's Lake Powell rescue and law-enforcement boating program.
Coconino County supervisors on Sept. 23, 2025, approved a fiscal-year 2026 budget adjustment to accept an Arizona State Parks project sponsor agreement of $299,091.19 to support the county's Lake Powell law-enforcement and rescue boating program.
Supervisor Fowler, who requested the item be separated from the consent agenda, said the equipment will give the sheriff's office added capability for search, rescue and recovery operations at Lake Powell. County staff described the purchase as a submersible remotely operated vehicle (ROV) with lighting and night-vision equipment plus medical supplies for the county sheriff's boat patrol.
"Lake Powell can be hundreds of feet" deep in places, County Manager Andy Bertelsen said during the item introduction, and the ROV allows searches at greater depths. Parks and emergency-service staff told supervisors the county recently used similar equipment in a recovery operation and that owning the ROV and night-vision gear will reduce recurring rental costs when conducting night operations or deep-water searches.
Supervisor Fowler said night-vision equipment is "really important" for night searches and that relying on rentals from other counties was costly; having county-owned equipment will save money and increase readiness.
The motion to approve the budget adjustment and accept the grant was offered by Supervisor Fowler and seconded by Supervisor Tammy Ontiveros. The board voted unanimously to approve the agreement and related budget action.
Details: the award is an Arizona State Parks project-sponsor agreement (project number 7802504; amount $299,091.19). The county indicated the purchase will include a submersible ROV, night-vision equipment and medical supplies to continue law-enforcement and emergency rescue boating operations on Lake Powell. Staff noted the equipment had been demonstrated recently to county staff and the sheriff's office.
Next steps: County procurement and the sheriff's office will process the purchase under the grant terms and the approved budget adjustment.
