St. Francois County Offices Applying for Homeland Security Grant

St. Francois Co., Mo. (KFMO) - Two St. Francois County offices will be applying for the same grant through the State Homeland Security Program.

The St. Francois County Sheriff's Office is asking for $50,000 to purchase approximately 40 portable radios for the department. Lt. Mike Ryan says the radios will be a big upgrade over what the department currently uses. 

At the same time, the IT Department will also ask for $50,000 through the State Homeland Security program, to go toward the purchase of a drone and licensing two pilots to fly it.

IT Director Nick Jones told the St. Francois County Commission that he doesn't believe that all of the money would be used to purchase the drone, but could be used to purchase one of higher quality. Both grants, if approved, would be non-matching.