Quality Inn gets second chance
Pool, spa may reopen at end of this monthBy KATIE WILLIAMS, Messenger staff writer
The Quality Inn in Fort Dodge has been given a second chance.
Gary Boerner, the Webster County sanitarian, met with the Webster County Attorney's Office Tuesday morning to discuss the possibility of legal action against the hotel, located at 2001 U.S. Highway 169 S., but it was ultimately decided to wait and see what happens next.
"The Quality Inn pool and spa area is closed, and they cannot open it legally until I have inspected it again," said Boerner.
The hotel management has been given until the end of the month to come up with a plan to correct all the health violations, he said.
During that time, the pool and spa area has to remain closed, even if the hotel passes periodical pool health spot tests conducted by Boerner. If it opens again before his final approval, the management could face punishment.
"I will meet the county attorney's office, and perhaps the state will be contacted again, to see how they would like to prosecute," he said.
Boerner said no one has reported getting sick at the establishment, but there have been a number of complaints about mold and sanitary conditions, including Kristina Paradise, of Warrenville, S.C.
"Pulling back the covers to get into bed, I found a number of small, live bugs," said Paradise during the first night of her stay on Aug. 11.
She and her husband James Paradise researched the bugs and discovered they were bedbugs.
According to the Iowa State University Extension Web site, bedbugs feed on the blood of mammals and often produce a reaction much like mosquitoes.
"I attempted to call the front desk to notify them of the situation only to discover that the phone did not work," Paradise said. "We spent the remainder of the night in our vehicle outside of the room."
The Paradises were staying at the Quality Inn during their vacation to the area and had made reservations for two nights but decided against staying longer than one night in their car.
"I personally informed the desk clerk on duty that we were canceling our reservation ... and that we were checking out," she said. "In 12 years, this was absolutely the worst experience we've had. Certainly the only one involving bugs."
Paradise said she and her husband spend a lot of time in hotels because they are both industrial pipe setters and travel a lot.
Quality Inn officials were unavailable for comment Tuesday.
Contact Katie Williams at (515) 573-2141 or katie@messengernews.net
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prettymom
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08-22-08 6:44 PM
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DODGER I see you have nothing better to do then leave comments....hahahahaahah. But like I said we all have the right to our opinions. Maybe we should go have a beer together and debate things....hahhahaha.
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Dodger
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08-21-08 1:40 PM
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PRETTYMOM: Glad the door didn't hit you on the way out of town. We really appreciate the helpful analysis from afar, though. Nothing like playing armchair quarterback from someplace else and throwing stones at a place you bailed on.
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EricPratt
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08-21-08 11:56 AM
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With blanket generalizations like these, I'm glad you aren't.
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prettymom
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08-21-08 7:49 AM
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TY Dodger.....really makes me want to move back to Dirty Dodge. We all have the right to make our own comments.
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Dodger
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08-21-08 2:15 AM
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Nice comment, prettymom. Very level-headed. I'm sure this is the first time something like this has happened at a motel. Go ahead and put the whole city under the umbrella of this monumental occasion. What happened is beyond horrible, but to drag the entire down because of it? What a joke.
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lucie1
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08-20-08 10:01 PM
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This situation is totally disgusting....not only should the owners of the Quality Inn be fined for these violations but the whole place should be shut down. This was at one time a respectable, clean establishment and now it is an embarrassment to our community and on a main avenue into our town. I am outraged by this.
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hybernation
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08-20-08 9:08 PM
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I really hope to god somebody literally watches to make sure every single box spring,matress,& all sheets,blankets, & comforters are placed in a burn pile, & burned otherwise they'll probably keep using the same beds, & beding, i'm sure they'd be expensive to replace, not only would people staying in the motel pick up the bugs, & carry them home, but so would the people who work there, & come in contact with beds/beding!I WOULDNT TRUST THAT WASHING beding would kill or get rid of them, i wouldnt chance it that's DISCUSTING!!
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prettymom
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08-20-08 8:53 PM
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Just when I think Fort Dodge can"t get any more nasty, I read this......gross. Crap like this why my whole family moved from the slums called Fort Dodge.
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NamVet
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08-20-08 7:42 PM
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"it was ultimately decided to wait and see what happens next." It would be so obvious what would be done in other counties and States in the U.S.. What's up with Webster County??? If you ran a small day care center or something of that nature do you think you would get off? Of course not!!! Another travesty. Is someone being 'bought'??? do we really have to get a petition or whatever to make County Officials do their **** job?
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BornInFD
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08-20-08 6:20 PM
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what do you mean don't take it out on BONER, he is the one who is in charge of shutting down operations if the public safety is in peril. He is the one who knows about the inspections and the pool/spa with no trace of chlorine whatsoever. It is HIS responsibility and if he is not doing his job, then yes the city needs to fire his tail and get someone in there that will do the job and do it right. To defend him is to say that you are confident that the Quality Inn is a good place to stay right now. Is this his wife/mom/brother? Tell him to get back to work and shut this roach motel down
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Xdodger76
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08-20-08 5:53 PM
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Don't take it out on Boerners vote the Co atty out!!!! He or she is the one that calls the shots.
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BornInFD
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08-20-08 4:27 PM
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you know a place is bad when the local kids still want to party at Towers and not Quantity Inn, I say that because it isn't about the quality.
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Missouriboy
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08-20-08 4:13 PM
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Close it down now. Bed bugs were probably on the breakfast buffet......
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BornInFD
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08-20-08 3:26 PM
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it is amazing, we ALL agree. Why then does BONER think they deserve more chances? I say he should have to stay there for the weekend to see if he is making the right decision. Nobody else wants to be in those conditions so the unsuspecting could be in for a bad nights stay.
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Robertwilson
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08-20-08 2:39 PM
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Gee Whiz.. We can all agree on something's..L.O.L.... Shut it down,clear it out and burn it down. That should at least take care of the bug's. Then jail those responsible..
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dmwood
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08-20-08 2:21 PM
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I personally know the manager and half the people who work there, and they don't care about the condition of the hotel. I don't believe they deserve a second chance either. I no longer live in fd, but when I come to visit I know me and my family will ever stay there. Shut it down today!!
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mythoughts
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08-20-08 11:28 AM
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With so many nice motels in FD, Quality Inn needs to go! They are a disgrace to FD!
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BornInFD
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08-20-08 10:05 AM
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I am appalled at Boerner's decision making. They have a SLAM DUNK case against a group (owner and management) that routinely spits in their face. The WCHD shows up, inspects this place and finds multiple infractions, returns three other times, finds that they were not fixed and others surfaced. Twice in one month an earlier article stated. Boerner, you need to learn how to count, my man. This is like a 5th chance, according to how you were quoted in that article. Solution is simple, get rid of Boerner and force the hiring of someone who will uphold the duties that office is compelled to oversee - PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY
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TheConservative
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08-20-08 8:41 AM
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This hotel is toast! The only way it will make it, is if it is raised and a new one built! To bad, this use to be the premier hotel in town. Shame on you for running this into the ground!
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Skippy
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08-20-08 8:23 AM
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Like I said previously, I used to stay there on my Fort Dodge visits, but that was a few years ago. I changed my motel home when I ran into the "critter" situation, as did the couple in this article. After all the warnings and chances the management has already recieved, it's time to get serious and close the entire place. And it would also be appropriate to bring legal charges against the motel's management. The situation has gone WAY past disgusting.
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momof250548
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08-20-08 6:41 AM
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I don't think they deserve a second chance. haven't they had many chances and as soon as you turn around they are breaking the rules again. This is disgusting and they need to be shut down.
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internetranger
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08-20-08 2:02 AM
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I agree, clean it up or get out of Dodge!
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NamVet
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08-20-08 1:03 AM
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You have to be joking??? A second chance? Sounds to me they have many chances. Second chance my 888!!! After putting who knows how many peoples health in jeopardy and seemingly not giving a ****, seems to me they have had their chances. Bed bugs, how gross!! Not to mention all the other things. NO WAY, NO WAY, NO WAY. A small business owner or an individual without tons of money would be held accountable, big time. I am outraged, does it show?
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