Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Technology topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County staff seek approval to apply for $240,000 federal drone grant for first-responder use
Summary
County staff said they will apply for a no‑match federal grant requesting $240,000 to add two drones for first-responder deployment; application steps are due July 15 and 17 and the county would revisit final acceptance only if federal award terms raise liability concerns.
County staff told the board on July 7 they plan to apply for a federal grant to expand a drone program for first-responder use and asked commissioners to approve submitting the application at a business meeting.
"So part of it is a grant that was put nationwide ... it is enhancing the current drone program that we have and turn into a drone first-responder program," Mark Ellis said, explaining the application request for two drones and associated stationing at the North Campus or a fire station.
Ellis said the drones would be remotely launched to provide immediate live visual coverage of incidents, with central dispatch able to monitor feeds and pilots able to take control as needed. He said the system can provide a live view and, when operators choose to, can record imagery including license plates. The grant requires periodic reporting: staff must log each flight, describe outcomes and report whether data was captured.
Littlefield said the federal request would be for $240,000 with no local match. Staff outlined a two-step application: a Grants.gov entry due July 15 and a JustGrants submission due July 17. Commissioners expressed preliminary support for applying but asked staff to confirm obligations the federal government would impose if awarded and to bring a final acceptance decision back to the board if the county receives notice of funding.
No final action was taken; staff said they will return with answers about federal reporting obligations and any liabilities associated with data capture and operational oversight if the county is awarded the grant.
