Sheriff ’s grant application to buy new boat OK’d

The Lake County Sheriff ’s Department found a new way to secure most of the funding for a new boat: a grant through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security 2022 Port Security Grant Program.

In March, the sheriff’s department officials requested funds to purchase a $777,557.48 for a boat, which is slightly more expensive than the $770,060 boat department officials were requesting last year.

Lake County Sheriff Chief of Police Vincent Balbo told the Lake County Council in

March the money the council approved last year wasn’t used because the commissioners did not approve the purchase.

“As a result of that, at the end of the calendar year, the money was returned back to the council because no action was taken by the commissioners,” Balbo said. “We’re coming back to you because we believe its a critical need for public safety.”

Sheriff Oscar Martinez previously said the department has been looking to purchase a new boat because of the age of the department’s current boats — a 1994 Silver Ships 35-foot Endeavor and a 2013 Silver

Ships 29-foot Ambar. The Endeavor’s top speed is 30 mph, and the Ambar’s top speed is 50 mph, he said.

According to county emails about the port security grant, the 2022 Port Security Grant Program identified rapid response boats as an eligible expenditure to enhance protection of “soft targets and crowded place,” which includes commercial ports, shoreline industrial facilities, waterfront recreational areas and marinas.

Department officials have requested $583,168.11 in federal funds to pay for 75% of the purchase price for the boat. If the county receives the grant, the sheriff’s department will contribute $194,389.37 toward purchasing a SAFE 3812 Full Cabin Vessel, according to emails.

The Department of Homeland Security will likely announce the grant awards by Oct. 1, according to the county emails, and if the sheriff ’s department receives the funding it will have 36 months to purchase the boat.

The council has approved the funding for the boat before, and if the department gets the grant, the county would spend less, said Council President Ted Bilski, D-Hobart.

The council voted 7-0 to approvethegrantapplication.