A judge Monday made the decision to grant former Budgetel Inn guests access to the East Ridge motel so they can retrieve their belongings. He is also giving owners the opportunity to make repairs and address code violations to reopen the motel in the future.
“The road map to reopen the Budgetel is very clear right now,” Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Boyd Patterson said in a Monday afternoon hearing, after performing an in-person walk-through last week of the extended-stay motel.
Patterson signed the temporary order that led to the sudden displacement last month of hundreds of motel residents, in response to a request from District Attorney Coty Wamp, citing excessive crime.
The judge on Monday granted access to the motel so former guests could retrieve the belongings they left behind. He also said the motel could eventually open if it met the court’s and county’s requirements.
“As stated in the last conference, the Budgetel has to abide by the city of East Ridge’s ordinances and codes,” Patterson said.