Posted: 7/3/07
Sheriffís Department receives $48,000 grant for patrol boat
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
The Houston County Sheriffís Department will be getting a new patrol boat. Sheriff Doug Ely informed the county board at the June 26 board meeting the countyís application for a federal grant to purchase the new patrol boat for $47,880 was approved.
The grant includes a new commercial-grade boat, motor, trailer, and all of the emergency and search lights, sirens, and other rescue equipment. Ely noted at the June 26 meeting his department hopes to have the new patrol boat up and running this week.
The countyís current boat has mechanical problems, and is a "family boat," and not a commercial-grade patrol boat. The Sheriffís Office covers 25 miles of the Mississippi River and backwaters, which serve as the eastern border of the county.
The grant does not require matching dollars. The purchase of a new fully-outfitted commercial-grade patrol boat is 100 percent funded through the grant.
The county plans to put the old patrol boat up for sale during the annual county auction.
State radio system
Ely told the board he would be attending the District 6 Emergency Services meeting in Rochester July 11 where the state-wide EMS radio system would be discussed.
According to the county sheriff, there is $9 million available in government funds to improve EMS communications and representatives from Southeast Minnesota will be working hard to secure the funds to improve local radio service.
The state has picked out four potential sites in Houston County to locate towers and those property owners have been contacted. Ely said the state is looking for willing land owners and added due to the terrain in the county, it will take four towers to adequately provide reliable coverage.
"There are some blind spots in the county, because of the deep valleys," Ely said. "We have some blind spots from Hokah to Houston. But we will be able to utilize towers in Winona and Fillmore counties and also towers in La Crosse for areas along the Mississippi River."
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