Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities Customer Service topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident complains of repeated unannounced water shutoffs; council agrees to pursue isolation valve and cost‑share with property owner
Summary
A Soda Springs resident told the council unannounced water shutoffs at his home have lasted hours and affected a special‑needs family member; council agreed staff will coordinate with the trailer‑court owner and pursue installing an isolation valve to prevent future shutoffs, with an estimated cost of about $3,000.
Soda Springs — A resident, Ben Owens, used the council’s public comment period to describe repeated, unannounced city water shutoffs at his home and to ask that the city install an isolation valve or a bypass so his household would not lose service during repairs.
Owens told councilors his house on 490 North Southeast has been left without water for hours on multiple occasions and that the interruptions are particularly disruptive because his son requires frequent bathroom access. City staff explained the affected laterals and valves for the nearby trailer court are privately owned and that the city typically does not own or maintain those private lines; staff said the contractor had to shut the main line to complete a repair and that the trailer court lacked isolation valves that would have allowed repairs without shutting other nearby customers.
Council members and staff discussed technical fixes and the allocation of responsibility. Staff described a practical fix — digging and installing an isolation valve downstream so the trailer park could isolate its units without affecting other properties — and estimated the work would cost around $3,000 and take roughly 3–4 hours if done by city crews. Council suggested attempting a cost‑share with the trailer‑court owner first and pledged to follow up with the property owner and utility staff immediately.
Why it matters: The episode highlights the limits of city authority over privately maintained service laterals and the practical consequences for residents when private infrastructure fails. Council’s agreed next step is a staff‑facilitated conversation with the trailer‑court owner to pursue an isolation valve that would isolate the trailer park service and prevent future unannounced shutoffs.
Who said what: Ben Owens described repeated shutoffs and asked for a valve or bypass; utility staff explained the City does not own the internal trailer‑court lines and recommended working with the property owner; council members asked staff to pursue a cost‑share and to proceed with installation if the owner cooperates.
Next steps: Staff will contact the trailer‑court owner and Trent (utility contractor contact referenced in the meeting), seek a cost‑share arrangement, and schedule the valve installation if agreement is reached.
