Fox Lake motel ordered to make repairs or shut down

A Fox Lake motel cited for many health, business and building code violations was ordered Thursday to make repairs, or shut down.

Joseph Wulf, the owner of the Marina Motel at 123 S. Route 12, said he's taking steps to make the required repairs, although he's concerned some may not be done by the village's deadlines.

Mayor Ed Bender didn't sound hopeful the requirements will be met.

"I honestly don't know," he said. "We've given them a tight deadline. But when you're dealing with people's lives, it can never be too tight."

The motel has been the source of numerous complaints, including drug use and domestic disturbances, in recent years, police have said.

The issues became public this summer after police responding to an emergency call found a disabled man living in squalor in one room.

That led to an inspection of the entire motel, a search that turned up more than 60 code violations.

According to the order Bender signed Thursday, the second-floor rooms cannot be occupied until the stairways and railings have been repaired based on plans prepared by a structural engineer and approved by the village building department.

Additionally, the owner has until Wednesday, Sept. 30, to correct a slew of life-safety hazards. Those repairs must be made by licensed professionals and inspected by the building department on Oct. 1.

If the problems have not been corrected properly, the motel will have its business license revoked, the order states.

Additionally, all boats and other vehicles that don't belong to the owner or patrons must be removed from the site today. If they're not, the business license will be revoked.

The owner must also pay motel taxes dating back to 2006 and prevent drug use and criminal activity at the motel.

As with the other violations, if these stipulations are not met, the motel will be shut down.

Bender said he'll be watching the motel and other sites in the village very carefully.

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