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Sheriff recommends CivicPlus and a Starlink/UCA pilot to extend radio coverage; commission approves
Summary
The sheriff recommended moving the county's mass-notification service to CivicPlus and approved an agreement with the Utah Communications Authority to pilot Starlink connectivity with new Harris radios; staff said tests at Goblin Valley improved dispatch access and estimated modest recurring savings.
The Sheriffs Office recommended switching the county's mass-notification (reverse-911) provider to CivicPlus, which staff described as cheaper and easier for dispatchers to use. The sheriff and staff said the county could save roughly $3,000 in the first year and around $4,000 per year thereafter by changing providers.
Separately, staff described a pilot agreement with the Utah Communications Authority (UCA) to test the Beyond application and Starlink terminals to extend radio coverage where conventional infrastructure is absent. The county’s newer Harris radios can operate on Wi‑Fi and be routed through Starlink hardware; deputies and EMS trialed a Starlink deployable at Goblin Valley and reported they could connect to dispatch from a remote parking lot.
"It completely is a game changer," a deputy involved in testing said, describing improved interoperability during a multi-agency rescue. Staff reported no county cost for the UCA agreement and recommended approval; commissioners moved and approved both the CivicPlus provider change and the UCA/Beyond agreement.
The actions are administrative approvals to proceed with service changes and pilot testing; commissioners asked staff to promote re‑enrollment for residents in the new mass-notification system and to return with implementation details for the Starlink pilot as it develops.
