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Isanti County delays purchase of tethered drone amid funding uncertainty
Summary
Isanti County commissioners voted unanimously to table approval of a tethered small unmanned aerial system after questions about initial funding and grant timing. The emergency management director said a UASI grant was awarded but federal review could delay or claw back funds.
Isanti County commissioners on April 15 voted unanimously to table a request to purchase a tethered small unmanned aerial system after questioning where initial funds would come from if federal grant reimbursement was delayed.
Clint, Director of Emergency Management, told the board the county had been awarded an Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant to buy a tethered drone. “We were awarded the grant for the purchase of the drone,” he said, and noted the initial vendor quote was $24,311 and had risen $880 between the quote and the award.
Clint told commissioners the federal government is conducting manual reviews of some grants and that, while the state had awarded the funds to the county as a subrecipient, “until we have monies in hand, it’s possible that the feds could claw that money back from the state, leaving us holding the bag.” He said the drone’s tether allows continuous powered flight by carrying electricity through a thin wire to a ground power source, extending loiter time beyond the 15–30 minutes typical of untethered drones.
Several commissioners asked whether the sheriff’s office had budget room or whether county contingency or public safety aid funds could be used if the grant funds were not delivered promptly. Finance staff said they were not able to identify an alternative funding source on the spot. Commissioner discussion repeatedly returned to the same concern: the board did not have a clear backup funding source identified.
After discussion, Commissioner Duff moved and Commissioner Christiansen seconded a motion to table consideration until the board’s first May meeting so staff could identify potential funding options. The motion carried unanimously.
The purchasing question raised several operational points during discussion: commissioners asked how often the device might be used and whether the county’s existing untethered drones could be retrofitted; Clint said the tethered system offered longer flight times and better camera capabilities and could be loaned to other agencies for large events. He also confirmed he could not provide a plan for where initial purchase dollars would come from if grant reimbursement were delayed.
The board took no further action on the purchase at the April 15 meeting.
