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Kootenai County examines donated helicopter; commissioners press for legal review of liability and documentation
Summary
Sheriff’s lieutenant urged the county to accept a nonprofit-donated helicopter, citing life-saving uses and a nonprofit covering insurance; commissioners raised questions about county liability, volunteer mechanics, maintenance oversight and asked staff to secure outside counsel and a cost quote before deciding.
Lieutenant Mark Ellis told the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners that the sheriff’s office wants to continue using a nonprofit-donated helicopter and described it as a “force multiplier” used in life‑saving missions and investigations. Ellis said the nonprofit is willing to pay for insurance and that county costs would be “the same $10,000 that we were paying to Spokane County as well as the deputy’s cost” for staffing the aircraft.
Commissioners pressed for detail about the Kootenai County Regional Air Support Unit Operations Manual and who would sign off on maintenance, training and operational currency. One commissioner said the county would change its liability posture if it accepted the aircraft…
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