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Board adopts countywide approach requiring departmental drone policies for funding
Summary
The Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution requiring departments seeking county funding for unmanned aircraft systems to submit department-specific drone policies that meet minimum requirements rather than imposing a single countywide operational policy.
The board adopted a resolution that ties county funding for unmanned aircraft systems (drones/UAS) to department-specific drone policies meeting minimum oversight requirements. Commissioners Brendan Johnson and Anne Erickson Galt sponsored the resolution and said a single, countywide operational policy would be difficult to apply across departments with different drone uses.
"Let's dial it back," one sponsor said, explaining the approach: departments that want county funds for drone programs must present a policy that meets specified minimum standards; the board will review those policies when considering funding requests. Sponsors said the sheriff's office policy served as a launchpad but departments such as the treasurer's office and parks and recreation use drones for different functions and require tailored rules.
Commissioners emphasized balancing tool utility with privacy and data-use protections. One commissioner said the aim is to "protect people's privacy and data usage as much as possible without tying your hands and preventing you from having a useful tool."
The motion to adopt the funding-oversight policy passed with unanimous support where recorded.
Ending: The resolution places policy compliance as a condition for county funding of drone programs; departments seeking funds should prepare policies that meet the board's minimum requirements for review.
