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Council moves to press landowner after Bear River Health Department orders no more burials on property
Summary
After repeated complaints and health-department involvement, the council reviewed state code on disposal of dead domestic animals and discussed giving a property owner a two-day notice to remove carcasses or face town removal and possible lien/reimbursement.
Council discussion turned to a persistent complaint about piled and decaying animal carcasses on private property that residents said produced a widespread odor and raised health concerns.
Committee member (S4) read portions of state code 4-31-102 governing dead domestic animals — including owner duty to bury or dispose within two business days and municipal authority to remove animals and seek reimbursement. "An owner or other person responsible for the domestic animal that dies shall bury or, ... dispose of the animal within 2 business days," S4 read aloud while advising the council the Bear River Health Department had indicated burial on that property was no longer permitted.
Council members said the property owner had been contacted previously and reportedly laughed at earlier suggestions. The council discussed next steps: sending a certified notice, contacting the state for enforcement assistance, and giving the owner two days to take action before the town steps in to remove carcasses and seeks reimbursement or places a lien.
Why it matters: The council framed the issue as a local health and safety problem affecting residential areas; S4 said the smell carried across multiple streets and that the piles contain many carcasses, not isolated incidents.
Next steps: Staff will forward the Bear River Health Department communication to the mayor and prepare a certified notice to the property owner. If the owner fails to remedy the situation, council discussed pursing town removal and civil remedies (reimbursement or tax lien) as allowed by the cited state code.
