Clock is ticking for Lake Country’s Airport Inn

KELOWNA – Lake Country's mayor and council all agree it’s time to take strong action against the notorious Airport Inn Lakeside.

It has taken more than a decade to get to this point with the infamous motel on Highway 97 after it repeatedly failed inspections and the owner did not get the proper permits.

Council, therefore, unanimously supported a staff recommendation yesterday, Aug. 20, to give owner Raif Fleihan 45 days to board up all the windows and doors and fence off the property, or they will do it for him and send him the bill.

That also means removing an unspecified number of people who are living at the motel, despite it not having an occupancy permit.

Some of the motel's residents did attend the council meeting last night but there was no opportunity for them to speak, Jamie McEwan, manager of community systems, told iNFOnews.ca.

Last spring the RCMP counted 19 people living there.

Fleihan can petition council to reconsider their decision, McEwan said. Or, in theory, he can fix up the motel so it's suitable for occupation.

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