Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
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Lori Prichard reporting
Produced by Kelly JustIf you are one of the estimated 200,000 people renting from a landlord who's part of the Utah Apartment Association, you better listen up. A certified decontamination specialist has come forward with information he says is critical to you and your health.
Refusing to sign
Kyle Adams wants the public to know about what he's calling a "cover up." It's something this certified decontamination specialist says he wants nothing to do with.
"I don't think I'll ever do work for the Utah Apartment Association at all," said Adams, who is owner and operator of Low Cost Decontamination.
"But will you be able to sleep better at night?" asked KSL 5 News reporter Lori Prichard.
"Oh, yeah. Much better," Adams responded.
Here is why Adams will be able to sleep: He received a letter from the Utah Apartment Association (UAA) that is more of a contract, really. If he does not agree to the terms and sign it, the UAA will make sure their 2,500 landlords know and "never use" his services. [CLICK HERE to read the letter from the UAA]
"Essentially, if you do not do what they are telling you to do, you are going to be blackballed?" Prichard asked.
"Minimum, blacklisted," Adams replied. "Minimum; and to my knowledge, I'm the only one that hasn't signed their little form."
Sign it, and a specialist basically agrees that he or she will not tell health officials about meth contamination without the landlord's express permission.
"I could not believe that there was an organization out there that, number one, would put something like this in writing," Adams said. "And, number two, even consider it for something as dangerous, and that everyone knows is out there."
Following the law
"Meth is a problem, and we advocate for disclosure in the cases where it's feasible and economical," said UAA Executive Director Paul Smith.
Smith wrote the letter. He said he did it to make sure decontamination specialists are following Utah state law.
"This letter basically says the law changed," Smith explained. "We want to make sure that you are aware of it, and we would like to know if you are going to follow it."
"How many have signed it?" Prichard asked.
"I don't have that information," Smith responded.
One lawmaker's response
We showed the letter to Rep. Steve Mascaro, R-West Jordan. Mascaro is currently the sponsor of House Bill 190, which advocates for better disclosure of meth contaminated properties.
"It's reckless. It's absolutely irresponsible," Mascaro said, regarding the letter written by UAA. "They have no interest, no interest in here about public health, public concern."
Mascaro believes the letter is simply designed to protect landlords from having to disclose whether a property is or has been contaminated.
"I'm incredibly offended," Mascaro said. "I'm not surprised that they went to this extent to force the issue on an unsuspecting public."
We asked Adams what the letter meant to him, since he was the one asked to sign it.
"What does that say to you?" Prichard asked.
"Well, cover up. That's what it says to me," Adams answered.
"We wouldn't purposely endanger anyone," Smith said, insisting that was not his intent in writing the letter.
"There's nothing in here that has any concern about the welfare of the public," Mascaro countered.
Letter's tone
Smith is absolutely right that everything outlined in the letter follows current law, but Adams and Mascaro both say it is the tone of the letter that is the problem. In fact, Mascaro said he will turn it over to the Legislature's legal department to take a look at it.
"I want to turn this letter over to someone on the legal side, let them look at it, let them decide if it is, in fact, extortion or some other kind of coercive behavior," Mascaro said.
E-mail: iteam@ksl.com
