Sheriff’s sonar team seeks $84,277 quote and county support; staff to pursue nonprofit match

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office sonar team briefed commissioners on the need to replace aging side-scan sonar equipment used for underwater searches, and requested permission to explore partial funding from a local nonprofit before returning with a formal funding request.

Sergeant Ryan Miller said the county’s sonar equipment is past its serviceable life; elements of the system are about 15–19 years old and the analog portion is no longer supported. Miller said the county’s vessel and trailer were repowered and updated, but the imaging electronics and a separate remotely operated vehicle are reaching end-of-life and should be replaced to preserve search-and-recovery capabilities.

Miller presented an initial vendor quote for a like-for-like modern replacement at $84,277.23 and said he planned to approach the Mahogany Boaters Education Association (MBEA), a local 501(c)(3) that has supported waterways equipment in the past, to request roughly $40,000 toward the purchase. Miller asked for permission to advance that discussion and to return to the board at a business meeting with the nonprofit and a recommended county funding split. During the briefing Miller estimated the county’s share would be roughly $22,001.38 from the general fund and a similar amount from the vessel account, but he said final numbers would be presented at the business meeting.

Why it matters: The sonar team is a regional asset used for public-safety search-and-recovery operations; commissioners noted the equipment is used for incidents that are not all boating related (plane crashes and shoreline recoveries) and suggested contingency or vessel funds could cover the county portion.

Commissioners gave staff direction to consult the nonprofit and return at the next business meeting with a formal funding request; Sergeant Miller said he would try to appear next week with the nonprofit and a recommendation for appropriation.