Economy Inn, the troubled motel on Bardstown Road, has passed its latest inspection by the Louisville Department of Public Health and Wellness.
The followup inspection found that the motel had corrected all violations cited during an Oct. 5 inspection, in which the facility had received a failing score of 82.
Economy Inn has been the site of rampant crime and drug use. It received a score of 48 in a health department inspection earlier this summer.
Spokesman Dave Langdon said the health department plans to keep inspecting the motel.
"The department of public health ... is going to continue to relentlessly pursue that process until the Economy Inn is either routinely found to be in compliance or until it no longer is permitted to operate," he said.
In a statement following the release of the inspection results, District 10 Metro Councilman Steve Magre — who led a successful effort to update the city's nuisance laws to target chronically troubled motels such as Economy Inn — expressed dismay at the decision to keep the motel in business.
"Clearly, this health department has no intentions of ever revoking the Economy Inn’s license, and I mean ever," Magre said. "It is obvious the state statutory process that health departments follow to assure healthy and safe motel rooms is flawed and needs the attention of the General Assembly."
During the followup inspection, inspectors investigated a recent complaint on several vacant rooms where broken tile, burn holes and stains on bedding were found. Inspectors will return in 30 days to see if those issues have been corrected.
"If they fail their next regular inspection, the Department of Public Health and Wellness will move for revocation of their permit rather than force suspension of their permit," Langdon said.
The Economy Inn has been placed on a six-month — rather than annual — inspection interval due to its repeated history of failing regular inspections.