Council approves $35,000 Community Foundations grant appropriation to buy UTV and trailer

The County Council voted unanimously to appropriate a $35,000 grant from Community Foundations so the county can purchase a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) and a multiuse trailer for community and public-safety use.

Ed Scott told the council the county “received a grant for $35,000 from Community Foundations to purchase a UTV and trailer and outfit that said UTV,” and asked that the funds be placed in his grant budget line so the purchase could proceed. Council members said the county solicited multiple bids; the equipment quote discussed during the meeting was $28,236 for the vehicle and $4,950 for the trailer, leaving about $1,500 available for outfitting. Scott said public-safety agencies across the county plan to contribute equipment or supplies to complete the outfitting.

Council members discussed procurement and timing: the formal bid award will be on the July agenda but the vendor pickup was described as imminent. A council member noted they had obtained multiple trailer bids and selected a local maker whose trailer has removable walls and ramps, allowing multiuse loading configurations.

Chair Herb called the motion to appropriate the grant funds to proceed with the purchase; the motion was seconded and the council recorded the vote as five in favor, none opposed. There was no county general-fund contribution required for the purchase, officials said.

The council also reported recent training for first responders on use of similar equipment, with about 70–75 participants including dispatch and multiple public-safety partners. Council members said they were pleased with interagency cooperation but expressed hope the vehicle would not be needed for the kinds of emergencies seen elsewhere.

The council expects to place the formal bid award on the July agenda and to move forward with delivery and outfitting after that meeting.