Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
County Council approves FEMA-backed river patrol boat to restore law-enforcement presence on the Ohio River
Summary
Vanderburgh County Council approved a sheriff-led plan to accept a FEMA Port Security grant to purchase a patrol boat — about $230,000 — that the sheriff—s office and Evansville Police Department will operate jointly. Council also asked staff to pursue state river grants to fund operations and to avoid spending before reimbursements are confirmed.
Vanderburgh County Council on May 7 approved a sheriff-led plan to accept a FEMA Port Security grant and buy a patrol boat to re-establish law enforcement presence on the Ohio River.
The ordinance and appropriation discussion centered on a grant that will pay the majority of the boat purchase; Sheriff Noah Robinson said the vessel is “about $230,000” and that federal reimbursement covers roughly three-quarters of the cost, with other local funding sources contributing the remainder. Robinson said the county will not expend funds that FEMA will not reimburse.
Why this matters: Council members and county staff said the patrol capability fills a gap in maritime security and public-safety response on the Ohio River. The vessel is intended both to…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
