The Quality Inn in Fort Dodge (formerly the Holiday Inn) has failed Public health pool and spa inspections 6 times since December for lack of proper chlorine levels. (Read story below).
Poorly maintained pools and spas can be sources of serious and even deadly infections. This is a very serious matter that happens more often than the general public realizes all over the US.
FYI: The CDC recommends public pool and spa users to test the water themselves. Places like this are a prime example why they have made these serious recommendations. See the CDC healthy swimming website for more information:
cdc.gov/healthyswimming/swimmer_protection.h…
I contracted Legionnaires disease from a poorly maintained hotel hot tub in 2001. This dangerous form of pneumonia has a 15-30% death rate. This risk is not highly publicized in the US.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/spalegion.pdf
I hope this information is useful to help protect yourself and your family at public pools and spas.
Stacy Intille, RN
Quality Inn cited for health concerns
FD hotel failed pool cleanliness 6 times since Dec.
messengernews.net/page/…508091.html
By DON COGGER, Messenger staff writer
POSTED: August 14, 2008
The Webster County Board of Health met Wednesday evening to discuss, among other items on their quarterly agenda, a local hotel that may not be adhering to regulations regarding swimming pool safety.
According to Webster County Sanitarian Gary Boerner, management of Quality Inn, at 2001 Highway 169 in Fort Dodge, has failed to close their indoor pool and spa, despite failing numerous tests to determine its cleanliness. Boerner said that he has visited the establishment on at least six different occasions since December. The most recent visit was Wednesday.
%26#39;%26#39;When this really became an issue was when the softball tournament was in town,%26#39;%26#39; Boerner told the board. %26#39;%26#39;I went out to Quality Inn to make sure they were cooperating correctly. I had the state inspector with me that day as well. We walked in there, there were the young kids swimming in the pool, I took a test and discovered that there was absolutely no chlorine in either the pool or the spa.%26#39;%26#39;
After explaining the situation to management and telling them to close the pool, Boerner made two signs declaring the pool closed by order of the Webster County Public Health sanitarian. He then placed one sign at the front of the hotel and one at the entrance into the pool.
A visit the next day found the signs taken down and the pool open for business.
%26#39;%26#39;I told the manager that he needed to shut the pool down because he wasn%26#39;t running it correctly, and he needed a certified pool operator to be able to open it again,%26#39;%26#39; Boerner said. %26#39;%26#39;I came back to my office, wrote the manager a letter and I wrote the corporation (Ocean Hospitality) explaining the situation. I went to the pool yesterday and found it locked. I went back today, the door was open, and I ran another test. Once again, there was no chlorine in the pool or spa.%26#39;%26#39;
Board of Health Chairman Steve Beeghley said he was mortified at Quality Inn%26#39;s lack of concern for the welfare of its guests.
%26#39;%26#39;The solution to this problem is very simple,%26#39;%26#39; Beeghley said. %26#39;%26#39;Management is choosing not to do it. That is unacceptable.%26#39;%26#39;
Fort Dodge: Quality Inn Pool/Spa failed inspections 6 times
Update:
messengernews.net/page/…
Franchise says deal is terminated, stops booking, Web site arrangement
By KATIE WILLIAMS Messenger staff writer
POSTED: August 21, 2008
The Quality Inn in Fort Dodge will be required to change its name, according to a representative from the company that franchises the hotel.
However, Mick Trivedi, general manager of the Quality Inn, said he was not aware of losing the name and trademark.
';Everything is going according to our plan,'; said Trivedi. ';And there is no way I%26#39;ll be losing the franchise.';
The decision to pull the Quality Inn in Fort Dodge off of its list of hotels was made by Choice Hotels International, the company that franchises Quality Inn, Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn, Clarion and other hotels.
The Quality Inn, 2001 U.S. Highway 169 S., has been the subject of multiple recent allegations, including the presence of rat droppings, dirty diapers in public areas and a lack of chlorination in the swimming pool and spa.
%26#39;%26#39;They can no longer represent the Choice Hotels International name,%26#39;%26#39; said David Peikin, spokesman for Choice Hotels International. %26#39;%26#39;They have been removed from our Web site, and guests can no longer book rooms through us.%26#39;%26#39;
Peikin said the hotel was terminated for ';life safety reasons.';
%26#39;%26#39;We certainly want our hotels to comply with health regulations making it a safe and comfortable environment for guests,%26#39;%26#39; he said. %26#39;%26#39;They have not resolved problems in the past and will no longer be allowed to carry the name and trademark of Quality Inn.%26#39;%26#39;
But that doesn%26#39;t mean the hotel will have to close.
Brian Hanft, manager for the Environmental Health Services, a contracted inspector for the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, said no one has the authority to close a hotel permanently - not even the state - but it can close it for a period of time.
%26#39;%26#39;We can close it if we find a health hazard, but we have to give them time to fix the problem,%26#39;%26#39; said Hanft. %26#39;%26#39;Once they fix the problem they can ask to be reinspected and if they pass they can open again.%26#39;%26#39;
It is the same for the pool and spa area and the hotel%26#39;s food services, said Hanft.
A once-a-year inspection is required but the operator can continue to get its license if the fee is paid.
%26#39;%26#39;It%26#39;s a snapshot in time,%26#39;%26#39; said Hanft. %26#39;%26#39;We don%26#39;t go to the hotel at the same time every year. It has to be unexpected. But they could just be having a bad day that day so we have to allow them the chance to make the changes.%26#39;%26#39;
Not even reinspections brought on by complaints can lead to a permanent closure of the establishment, he said.
Trivedi said the next inspection for the hotel and kitchen will be held today and anticipates it going very well.
The pool and spa area inspection will be held on Aug. 27, Trivedi said.
Allegations were initially brought to light Aug. 13 when Webster County Sanitarian Gary Boermer told the Webster County Board of Health that the hotel was not adhering to swimming pool safety regulations. Soon after, other alleged problems surfaced.
Contact Katie Williams (515) 573-2141 or katie@messengernews.net
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