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Public commenters and supervisors press for improved emergency communications after reports of dead zones
Summary
A volunteer firefighter and town supervisor told the board that multiple county locations lack both cellphone and radio coverage, prompting committee discussion of vendor proposals and recognition that the county needs an interim/long-term plan to restore coverage for first responders.
During the reopened budget public hearing, Steve Bingham, who identified himself as a Town of Draper supervisor and a volunteer firefighter, told the board there are multiple county locations where neither mobile phones nor emergency radios reliably work. He said gaps affect responders and public safety on county ATV routes and county lands and urged the county to remedy the problem before someone is hurt.
Bingham: "We have spots in Sawyer County in Draper where the mobile phones don't work and the radios don't work ... we really do before somebody gets hurt." (paraphrased from public comment)
Board members and committee chairs responded that the communications project has been shifted among committees and vendors (including Gencom and a private vendor referenced in the transcript as "Bug Tussle") will be invited back to provide updated proposals. Public Safety Committee members emphasized partnerships, options to co‑locate on existing towers, and the need to consider interim fixes while larger financing is planned.
The county administrator and committee chairs noted that a full debt‑financed communications build would require bonding or borrowing and timing decisions; if the board wishes to proceed it will need to identify a project and a financing plan. Several supervisors urged faster action given the public safety testimony.
What’s next: vendors will be invited back to committees for more detailed proposals; committees and administrators will outline financing options and, if the board approves a project, incorporate repayment into a future budget cycle.
