Garfield County BOCC Approves Mill Levies and Drone Purchase Amid Potential DJI Ban

The Garfield County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) held its final meeting of 2025, where it approved the certification of mill levies for the 2026 budget, pending final numbers expected by December 18. The BOCC also discussed a request from the Garfield County Sheriff's Office (GCSO) for a new drone for search and rescue operations, funded by a $30,000 grant from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

The GCSO aims to expedite the purchase due to a potential ban on DJI drones after December 23, as mandated by the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. The meeting included updates from local nonprofits, notably River Bridge Regional Center, which announced the closing of its adult Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program at year-end due to mission misalignment and staffing challenges.