East Ridge Hotel/Motel Operators Say Ordinance Designed To Prevent Another Superior Creek Lodge Needs Tweaking

  • Thursday, June 23, 2016
Bob Dollinger discusses hotel/motel ordinance
Bob Dollinger discusses hotel/motel ordinance

East Ridge hotel/motel operators said an ordinance designed to prevent another Superior Creek Lodge needs some tweaking.

Members of the East Ridge City Council agreed and postponed action on the measure, that was passed earlier on first reading.

Bob Dollinger of the Fairfield Inn and Suites took issue with a section limiting stays to 90 days at a time and 180 days in a year. He said many hotels and motels count on long-term guests, including some currently working on the new Bass Pro Shop at Camp Jordan Parkway.

He also noted that one section says the rooms cannot have microwaves and refrigerators. He said those are standards in all rooms at the Fairfield.

Mr. Dollinger said there is no objection that says guests cannot bring their own furniture into a room.

Bruce Reed, CEO of the 3H Group of hotels, long-term guests "are a critical part of the hospitality industry." He said some chains focus on extended stays.

He said some of the sections of the ordinance could cause Fairfield and other East Ridge hotels/motels to be in jeopardy of losing their franchises as well as loan backing.

Councilman Denny Manning noted that he wants a microwave and frig when he books a hotel. He said, "I want a Frigidaire to put my Coca-Colas in. My wife likes candy bars and she does not want them to melt."

Vice Chairman Marc Gravitt said it will be beneficial for the hotel/motel officials to take part in the controversy on how to reword the ordinance.

Mike Ashley of JEH Development, said he is heading up the rebuilding of the former Superior Creek Lodge to convert it to a Budgetel. He said the group did not have a position on the ordinance, but was there to gain information. He invited council members to visit the construction site. He said it may re-open by September.

Mr. Ashley said his crew has main major structural repairs to buildings at the site. He said, once the construction started, more problems were discovered than were first known. He said the crew has gone over and above meeting fire and building code requirements. He said it is fully sprinkled.

The property is now owned by John Patel and his brothers, he said.

He said the Budgetel will be for nightly and weekly stays and not for permanent residences. He said he was advised that some people lived at the Superior Creek Lodge for many years.

Councilman Larry Sewell said with the closing of the Superior Creek Lodge last September after the buildings were condemned that "it really cleaned up that end of town. Before you had droves of people walking up and down the road all day. I don't want to see that again."

Curtis Baker, a citizen who spoke, said the former operation was "a hangout for drug addicts and prostitutes." He said, "We don't want that type of clientele in our city."

He said he has visited the site where the work is ongoing and "it looks to me like the same thing we had before."

Citizen Frances Pope asked about restrooms built near Camp Jordan Park by the developers of Jordan Crossing. She said they are continually locked, and she said the step up to them is so high that she can hardly negotiate it.

She noted the developers were given dirt for their project in exchange for the restrooms, which she said are inadequate. Stump Martin, recreation director, said work is continuing on the restrooms and they would not be opened until they are ready. He said they will have level access on one end.

Police Chief J.R. Reed introduced Caleb Cushman and Megan Crisp as new officers.

East Ridge is making some insurance changes that will make the program less rich for employees.

An insurance advisor said there would be a move from 90/10 to 80/20 - meaning the employee would pay 20 percent of the bill instead of 10 percent. She said 90/10 arrangements were rare.

Without changes, East Ridge would have faced an additional $420,000 cost.

Employees will have the option of paying more premiums to get a richer plan.

The consultant said East Ridge needs to take some steps "to get claims under control" such as wellness programs and stressing use of generics.

 

 

 

 

 

 




Megan Crisp and Caleb Cushman are sworn in as new police officers by Mayor Brent Lambert
Megan Crisp and Caleb Cushman are sworn in as new police officers by Mayor Brent Lambert
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