BATTLE CREEK, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — City leaders have introduced a proposed ordinance that would impact how many 911 calls hotels and motels are allowed to make.
City commissioners have set the tentative limit at one call per room, with the goal of reducing the disproportionate number of law enforcement visits made to long-term residents of the businesses.
The Battle Creek Police Department has had resources stretched as it repeatedly responds to several area hotels and motels, like the closed-down Econo Lodge on Capital Avenue where officers visited 475 times during the span of a year in 2018.
Police reports show authorities responding to 14 assaults, 67 times for fights and individuals causing trouble, 37 domestic disputes, and five overdoses along with several other incidents. Battle Creek’s police chief said in 2019 that with each call costing the city around $75, the total spent on responding to the location alone cost upwards of $35,000.
During the same period between January 2018 and February 2019 officers also made 311 visits to the Rodeway Inn and 299 visits to the McCalmy Plaza Hotel.
Initial talks by city leaders focused on enforcing code maintenance and sanitation at the buildings to prevent blight. Since the state government phased out hotel regulations in 2000, the burden of overseeing properties has largely fallen on local cities.
The new 911 ordinance is a step toward encouraging hotel-owners to prevent occupants involved in crime from using the facilities. In a 12-month period hotels would only be able to send one call to dispatchers per room. Additional regulations would require long-term stay rooms to have kitchenettes and dining equipment to prevent fire caused by outside devices and prop up sanitation.
As the proposed ordinance currently stands, businesses that exceed the call ratio could be shut down or have their license suspended.
Exempt from the restrictions are 911 calls made by hotel employees and reports of domestic abuse.
