The Deluxe Inn may face fines if unsafe stairs are not repaired.

Text and Photos
By Madison Hart
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — The City of Warsaw Code Enforcement continued a case with Deluxe Inn during a hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Deluxe Inn is located at 2519 E. Center St. and operated by Shivpal LLC.

Building Commissioner Ray Behling explained that the motel’s stairs were not up to code and needed repair. Firefighters responded to a medical call at Deluxe Inn, where they identified safety issues. Deluxe Inn was notified of the issue in January, and although the letter had proof of service, representatives did not respond.

No representative from Deluxe Inn appeared at the hearing.

Behling recommended fining the motel. Hearing Officer Tom Earhart inquired if there had been an inspection since the notification. Building Inspector Robert Hurford and Code Enforcement Officer Dana Hewitt were absent at the hearing, and Behling said he had not inspected the property.

“Because we don’t know what the current condition of the property is, I’ll continue it and see what the situation is there. If the property remains in that condition, fines will be appropriate,” said Earhart.

Code Enforcement also heard an update on a case with David Medina regarding his property at 419 W. Winona Ave. Medina’s property had suffered damage from a tree falling that caused structural damage that was not repaired for a few years. At the Jan. 7 code hearing, Medina said he would have the repairs completed by Feb. 18.

Medina said that the structural concerns were resolved, but there were still some cosmetic updates in progress. Earhart asked if he had an inspection, and Medina said he wasn’t aware he was supposed to have an inspection before the hearing date. Behling said he took photos of the property that morning which showed the roof and support columns were updated, the front had guard rails and the tree damage was repaired.

Earhart continued the case, telling Medina that if he scheduled and passed an inspection before the next code hearing, he would not have to attend.

The next code enforcement hearing is April 1.

The bottom exterior stair of the Deluxe Inn is missing and replaced with two bricks. Other stairs appear to be possibly damaged.