Committee outlines Title 3 purchases: side‑scan sonar/ice kit and replacement patrol rifles

Staff told the committee that Title 3 rural schools grant funds available to counties with national forest lands will be used for search‑and‑recovery equipment and to replace patrol rifles that have reached end‑of‑life. The planned purchases include side‑scan sonar for the patrol boat plus an adapter kit that allows the sonar to be used on ice for winter recovery operations. An agency official said the purchases are intended for recovery operations following drownings and other search incidents; "we have those drowning victims, which I believe we have, what, 3 or 4 already this year, where we utilize that equipment to find, the individual, you know, underwater."

Staff said they contacted two U.S. Forest Service officials to confirm that side‑scan equipment and patrol rifles are allowable under the law‑enforcement/search‑and‑rescue category for Title 3 equipment, and both confirmed the eligibility. Staff also emphasized the county's intent to replace rifles rather than retain surplus stockpiles: "We're not building an armory, or anything like that. We're looking at replacing our current rifles. We'll then take the current bridal, and we'll sell them... and yeah. We don't intend on keeping a stockpile." Staff added the grant is "use it or lose it" and plans to meet with fire chiefs from the four jurisdictions that include national forest lands to identify additional eligible equipment.