Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Rescue Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Alger County board approves purchase of airboat for water rescues
Summary
After extended discussion of failed hovercraft parts and ice-rescue limits, the board approved buying an airboat from Thousand Island Airboats and set a funding plan that draws on capital-improvement and CDBG balances. Delivery was described as possible by the end of June.
The Alger County Board of Commissioners voted to purchase an airboat from Thousand Island Airboats after a lengthy discussion about rescue operations on Lake Superior and limitations of the county's existing hovercraft. Committee member (Speaker 3) moved the purchase in a formal motion: "I would make the motion that we move forward with the purchase of the airboat from Thousand Island airboats," which the board approved by roll call.
During discussion, the county's under sheriff (Speaker 6) described a recent cold-weather response in which hovercraft bags were damaged, ice accumulation impaired steering and the crew feared they might not get off the ice. The under sheriff said an airboat would be "a lot safer boat, a lot easier to maneuver" and pointed to Delta County and Coast Guard stations that have adopted similar craft. Board members and staff discussed multiple funding scenarios, including using capital-improvement reserves and moving a portion of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds into a related grant account. The sheriff’s office projected a possible late-June window for delivery if the county committed immediately.
The motion to purchase passed on a roll call after the board waived a policy formality to expedite consideration. Implementation steps the board discussed included a demonstration of the airboat during a March 7 tournament and follow-up work to confirm exact equipment and any accessory purchases.
