SEYMOUR – City of Seymour officials are shutting down a motel citing unsafe building conditions.
A temporary emergency order was issued to close down the Knights Inn on Sandy Creek Drive. The emergency orders state that the property presents a clear and immediate hazard of death or serious bodily injury.
This order is supported by the Seymour Fire Department, Seymour Police Department, Seymour Department of Planning and Zoning, Jackson County Health Department, Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office, and Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
The emergency order will remain in place city officials say until a long list of deficiencies and code violations are repaired, and the building passes a final inspection.
The emergency order was issued after Seymour Fire Department and Jackson County Health Department officials inspected the building and found dozens of state fire code violations and county housing code violations.
Seymour Fire Department conducted inspections on Sept. 27 and Oct. 5 of this year and observed multiple state fire code violations including broken and missing vent and electrical covers, missing or non-working smoke detectors, no history of sprinkler and fire alarm system or hydrant testing, unsecure electrical fixtures including electrical panels, broken emergency exit lights, blocked or locked exit doors, lack of maintenance of fire extinguishers, open junction boxes and wiring splices, extension cords being used as permanent wiring, and lack of workspace near electrical panels.
During the Sept. 27 inspection, Jackson County Health Department found many of the rooms to be deficient and not compliant with county housing code minimum housing standards. Issues documented included mold and water damage, broken windows, lack of ventilation, filthy conditions, roaches, odor, human feces on the floor, unsanitary conditions due to backed-up toilets, broken sinks, HVAC in need of repair, unsafe flooring, exposed plumbing, rotten wood, and exposed tack strips.
The property, built in 1988, has 95 units, and 40 people living in it under the ownership of Ashok Patel since 2018. The city has contacted the American Red Cross, Anchor House, and other motels to relocate the residents.
