Blair council approves $35,000 in bond funds for police drones and $17,230 for weapon replacements

Mayor Indie Romp and the Blair City Council on June 9 approved two public-safety bond expenditures for the police department.

Sergeant Josh Hathaway, who identified himself as Blair Police Department drone team coordinator, asked the council to approve about $35,000 from the public-safety bond to add two indoor tactical drones, two weather-rated outdoor drones, accessories, batteries and a replacement laptop. "We're seeking approval to use public safety bonds for $35,000 to modernize our drone program," Hathaway said. He described the outdoor units as thermal- and IR-capable for night search-and-rescue and said the outdoor platforms include a small drop system "commonly used to drop water... Narcan... cell phones or inflatable life vests for the river." He provided the line-item breakdown: roughly $27,000 for two outdoor platforms with accessories, $4,000 for two indoor kits and about $2,500 for a replacement laptop.

Council members asked about weather capability and payload. Hathaway confirmed the outdoor drones are weather-rated for higher winds but are not IP-rated for heavy rain. Council member Hyel moved adoption of Resolution 2026-068; the motion passed with all members present voting yes.

Shortly afterward the council approved Resolution 2026-069 to replace the department's older patrol rifles, shotguns and add pistols. Hathaway said the department's long‑service firearms "were purchased in 2010 or 2011" and had seen "thousands of rounds," and requested $17,229.70 to renew the armory and trade in old weapons to GT Distributors.

Both resolutions were adopted after committee review; council members and committee representatives said the purchases would expand capability without mothballing existing equipment. The council recorded each vote as "all council members present voting 'I.'"