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Council asks staff to clarify $300,000 drone grant and Carrollton interlocal agreement
Summary
Council members sought clarification on J3, an interlocal cooperation agreement with Carrollton related to a $300,000 drone grant; Police Chief Kevin McCoy said the grant was one year, equipment purchased, and the ILA establishes a task force and supports reimbursement requests.
Councilman Neal asked for clarification about agenda item J3—"consider approving resolution interlocal cooperation agreement with Carrollton"—focusing on whether the $300,000 referenced would be a recurring cost. Kevin McCoy, chief of police, explained the grant was a one‑year $300,000 award to purchase drones and that the city’s matching obligation was roughly $60,030 with Carrollton contributing about $30,000. "So that's a 1 year grant... that's a 1 year purchase the drones," McCoy said, adding that the ILA is separate from the grant and is intended to establish a task force with Carrollton.
McCoy told the council the equipment had already been purchased and the interlocal agreement is primarily about joint operations and legal authority for a task force. He said the arrangement would allow the city to submit for reimbursement of about $240,000. "So although it discusses the funding in there, this ILA really isn't about the funding. This is about establishing the task force," McCoy said.
No vote on the consent item was recorded in the study session transcript. The item remained on the consent agenda for later consideration; council members asked only clarifying questions during the study session.
The comment period and staff responses indicate the grant was a one‑time purchase and the interlocal agreement's purpose is operational coordination rather than establishing an ongoing funding obligation.
