East Ridge Housing Commission members voted to temporarily close the doors to the Waverly Motel during an emergency meeting earlier this week.
The meeting was precipitated after a Tuesday call to police revealed a number of "serious" city and Tennessee state code violations, as well as "unsanitary conditions." Two people were arrested - a known drug dealer and a fugitive from Georgia - as a result of that call.
The violations that county inspectors found ranged from faulty or missing smoke detectors to expired fire extinguishers, electrical and plumping problems, East Ridge City Manager Chris Dorsey said.
At least one sink was filled with brown water, and during Wednesday's emergency housing commission meeting, a commissioner said it looked like raw sewage.
"That sink is the most disgusting thing I've ever seen in my life," said Commissioner Lynda Stephens.
Commissioners noted that, between Jan. 1 and May 8, police have been called to the motel 91 times.
Roshan Patel, the motel's general manager, and the motel's attorney, Rob Carden, were at the meeting and said they are "committed to bringing everything up to code," Carden said.
He said his clients have already replaced all smoke detectors and ensured all fire extinguishers are new.
But that didn't sway commissioners from deciding to close the motel until all repairs have been made.
"Renting to the public doesn't make sense," said Housing Commission Chairman Jim Winters.
"Most folks that live in East Ridge know that it is a hub of suspicious activity," Stephens said.
Commissioners all said the motel has seen years of neglect.
"That place has really gone downhill I wouldn't bring any of my friends or anybody from out of town to stay at that place - wouldn't recommend it," Winters said.
The four commissioners voted unanimously in favor of closing the motel and asked Patel and Carden, as well as the motel's owners, to be at Monday's regularly scheduled housing commission meeting.
Commissioners will ask for an update on the repairs. But the motel won't be allowed to reopen until East Ridge's housing official reinspects it and confirms that all violations have been rectified, East Ridge Mayor Brian Williams said.
Contact Rosana Hughes at rhughes@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6327.