Alger County board approves purchase of airboat for search-and-rescue

The Alger County Board of Commissioners voted to buy an airboat from Thousand Island Airboats after a presentation from county rescue staff outlining recent failures and maintenance problems with the current hovercraft.

Sheriff's rescue personnel described a winter incident on Lake Superior in which the hovercraft sustained ice buildup and bag damage that hampered steering and rescue operations. The official said the airboat offered "a lot safer boat, a lot easier to maneuver," and that neighboring counties that used COVID-relief funds to buy airboats reported better reliability and more operators trained to run them. The vendor plans a public demo March 7 so the county rescue team and residents can see the craft in operation.

Board members discussed delivery timing and parts availability; the vendor said an unsold airboat could be delivered by the end of June if the county commits. The motion to purchase was made during the meeting and approved by roll call, with all present members voting yes. The board also voted to waive a procedural formality to allow the purchase to be considered that night.

The approved purchase delegates funding as described in the meeting packet: a combination of capital improvements money and available CDBG balances was cited during deliberations. Staff indicated they will return with final purchase paperwork and any required contract details.