Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sagadahoc County approves $4,600 transfer to pursue public-safety drone grants
Summary
The Board of Commissioners approved transferring $4,600 to pay a firm to prepare grant narratives for a donated-drone program, after the EMA director described potential uses including thermal search-and-rescue and accident reconstruction.
At its March 25 meeting, the Sagadahoc County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to transfer $4,600 from the Deputy EMA Director line item to Professional Services to pay a firm to prepare grant narratives for the National Public Safety Drone Donation Program. The motion was made by Commissioner McPhee and seconded by Commissioner Steve August.
Emergency Management Agency Director Phil Davis told the board the donation program "will fundraise on our behalf with the stipulation that we must promote it" and that the third-party firm would handle the narrative portion of grant applications. Davis said the firm has about a "70% success rate" in securing grants and emphasized that the program's funding mix is private and public, not federal. He added that grant award is not guaranteed and the county would still submit each application.
Davis described likely operational uses for a thermal-capable drone, including accident reconstruction, search-and-rescue missions, monitoring ice jams, and providing situational awareness for spot fires. He said the county has seven certified drone pilots (Remote Pilot Certificate, FAA Part 107) distributed among local fire departments but currently owns only one non-thermal drone. The board approved the transfer to fund the grant-writing service so the county can pursue multiple grant opportunities.
The board's vote was unanimous.
