Last month the Marinette County Board of supervisors approved contributing $43,900 to the City of Marinette towards the purchase of a new 24 ft search and rescue airboat with the caveat that the county be able to use the airboat. However, at yesterday’s County Board meeting a motion was brought forth by Supervisor Allen to reconsider action taken by the County board to transfer the $43,900 to the City of Marinette for purchase of the Airboat. Since the City of Marinette has recently allocated $500 per employee for COVID-19 vaccinations using ARPA funds when they could have used their ARPA funds towards the funding of the airboat instead of asking the County for funding. County Administrator John Lefebvre says, “the City of Marinette got $1.1 million in ARPA funding.”

Supervisor Ken Keller says, “there is a reason why the city is looking for participation in the purchasing of the airboat.”

After a lengthy discussion, the board voted, and it came in at 14 in favor of the airboat to 13 not in favor.  The expected delivery date of the airboat is mid-January.