Thunderbird hearing slated for July, motel to remain open

The Thunderbird Motel in downtown Aberdeen, subject to closure following an inspection that turned up unsanitary conditions, will remain open at least another five months, pending a hearing on the violations.

In Mayor Bill Simpson’s report at Wednesday night’s City Council meeting, Simpson read an email between himself and city building inspector Bill Sidor giving a hearing date of July 15. Motel owners will also provide the state with a timeline on their plans to address the building’s problems.

The state Department of Health revoked the West Wishkah Street motel’s Transient Accommodations License earlier this month, citing numerous code violations that included an infestation of cockroaches, broken windows, hypodermic needles found in rooms of the hotel and mattresses stained with what appeared to be blood and urine, according to court documents. Motel ownership appealed the decision, and the motel still remains in business throughout the process.

The mayor’s announcement came to the dismay of many council members, who inquired about the city’s options to declare the motel a public nuisance and have it closed earlier. Police officers, Simpson added, are called to the motel on what appears to be a daily basis.

City Attorney Eric Nelson said the state and county health departments are also meant to serve the city, and piling the city’s already-limited resources on one problem would be inefficient. He added that although the public views the motel as a hub for many of the city’s prostitution and drug problems, the city can’t take action until those problems are properly documented and the owner is notified.

“We actually have to have a pattern of documented activity and that doesn’t mean Facebook-document activity,” Nelson told the council. “That means activity where there are actual identified suspects, police officers involved, reports being made that show a pattern.”

The process, Nelson added, is one that even cities like Seattle rarely resort to.

After the meeting, Simpson said he agreed with council members’ desires to have the motel closed down as soon as possible, but understood that the city’s best option was to wait for the appeal process to run its course.

“It’s very frustrating that we have the need for that kind of housing in this community,” he said after the meeting. “To have it on the main drag of town is the part that bothers me the most.”