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Escanaba council OKs $15,435 drone purchase for public safety; funds from grants and donations
Summary
The council approved buying a DJI Matrice 30T combo for $15,435 using grants and a donation; public safety said the drone will be used for searches, thermal imaging, and incident monitoring.
The Escanaba City Council voted July 17 to purchase a DJI Matrice 30T drone package for $15,435 to be used by public safety for searches, incident monitoring and mutual aid.
Director of public safety described a recent regional incident in which a drone allowed crews to observe an armed and fleeing suspect without sending officers into a potentially dangerous area. The administration said the drone purchase is funded entirely by grants and donations — including a donation from UP Whitetails, awards from the Community Foundation and YAC, and a gift from the Edward Sackerson Charitable Foundation — and will not draw on the city’s operating budget.
The package described in the meeting includes DJI Care Plus, four batteries, and a speaker/spotlight accessory; public safety said the unit has thermal imaging for searches and can be shared with other agencies. The department said it currently has three licensed drone pilots and expects to train additional operators; the council asked about training availability and insurance coverage during discussion.
Council members asked about supplier training and operator qualifications. Public safety said one of the licensed pilots served in the military and would assist with training; the supplier is located out of state. The department said it will provide mutual-aid support to other agencies when needed.
A motion to approve the purchase passed on a roll-call vote. The administration said grant and donation sources covered the full purchase price.
