County board votes to buy airboat for rescue services

The Alger County Board of Commissioners voted to buy an airboat to support county rescue operations, approving a motion to purchase the craft from Thousand Island Airboats with funding drawn from capital-improvement reserves and reallocated Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.

An agency official from the sheriff's department described recent rescues on Lake Superior and testified that the county's current hovercraft is difficult to maintain and operate. The official said an airboat would be easier to maneuver, safer for operators and allow teams to pull more people aboard during rescues. "I just think this is an excellent piece of equipment, for Alger County if, you know, we're able to purchase an airboat," the sheriff's rescue representative said.

Board members discussed price comparisons, parts availability and funding tradeoffs. The presenter said Delta County used COVID-relief funds to buy a similar craft and supplied a list of features and a vendor quote; he also noted a replacement fan blade reportedly costs about $4,500. Commissioners debated whether to fund the purchase from the capital-improvement account, CDBG carryover, tournament proceeds or fund balance before moving to waive a procedural policy so the item could be considered at the same meeting.

The motion to proceed and the subsequent purchase motion were approved; a roll-call vote recorded commissioners in favor (roll call recorded "yes" votes by those present). The board directed staff to complete the purchase and to arrange a public demonstration of the craft at a March event to familiarize rescue personnel and local residents.