Board of Health orders restoration of potable water at Wagon Wheel Apartments

The Granite County Board of Health on May 12 approved an order requiring the owner of Wagon Wheel Apartments (316 E. Front St., Drummond) to restore potable water service and ensure water testing within seven days, or face potential criminal enforcement.

County Sanitarian Chad Lanes and Public Health Officer Kira Conn described outstanding health concerns including prior accumulation of garbage and interrupted potable water. Testimony from tenant Glenda Brady and repair personnel indicated the well held an estimated 20–30 feet of water and that an air leak — not a dry well — was preventing proper pump operation.

Board members discussed enforcement options, noting that immediate closure could leave tenants homeless, and weighed remedies including closure, owner-directed repairs, or allowing tenants to deduct repair costs from rent if the owner failed to act. The county attorney said failure to comply with a Board of Health order could carry misdemeanor penalties and potential further closure proceedings.

After discussion, the Board voted to order owner Sam Martin Jr. to restore potable water service and perform bacteriological testing to confirm safety within seven days. The county attorney will draft the formal written order for signature. One board member abstained, citing insufficient legal information about the Board’s authority; the transcript does not identify who abstained.

Officials also noted that garbage removal had improved but emphasized safe water as the outstanding public-health risk for tenants. The Board recognized that enforcing a closure would present immediate housing challenges and framed the order as an interim step to protect residents while requiring the owner to act.