Todd County emergency management seeks equipment, connectivity and training funding; commissioners approve request

Todd County's emergency management director told commissioners the county will receive a second drone through a federal/state PAD program and asked the board to approve a package of spending to support operations, training and communications.

"We are going to receive as a county another drone," Speaker 3 told the board, adding the county's existing drone and the incoming unit will require operator training and follow-up. Speaker 3 outlined a list of needs that included Wi-Fi antenna installations (about $1,500), a laptop for a deputy director (about $2,500), vehicle upkeep, supplies for an emergency operations center and travel and membership fees for training and conferences. The director said the total for the items presented was "around $9,051.64."

Speaker 3 framed the request as preparedness planning and noted recent mass‑casualty coverage in Kerr County, Texas, as a reminder of the need to keep county response capabilities current. He described plans for a small emergency operations center in the county office and additional training such as an active‑shooter tabletop with the new school superintendent and regional partners.

Speaker 2 moved to approve the package as presented; the motion received a second and passed on a voice vote with ayes recorded and no opposition noted. After the vote, Speaker 3 thanked the board and offered to provide a detailed line‑item breakdown at the next meeting.

The board did not record a roll‑call vote listing individual commissioners; the transcript records a voice vote with no recorded nay votes. The agenda item included a note that a formal budget amendment may be required later to reflect these expenditures.