[PREVIOUS STORY: Neighbors want police to crack down on 'hooker hotel']





A WAVE 3 News investigation in summer 2013 found Metro Police averaged more than two calls to the hotel every day over a two-year period. Neighbors know the hotel as a haven for drug deals and prostitution, which they say spills over into their neighborhood.



The state hearing officer is considering whether to suspend the Economy Inn's operating license. Metro Public Health and Wellness expects to get the recommendations this week, said Dave Langdon, a spokesman for the agency.



Health Department officials still must agree with the recommendations, a process that typically takes about two weeks, Langdon said.



Also Monday, the Louisville Metro Board of Zoning Adjustment granted a waiver to the Economy Inn's owner for a 12-foot fence that separates the hotel from neighbors behind it.



The fence is four feet taller than Metro regulations allow, but General Manager Kelly Kado made an appeal that the fence has reduced the amount of criminal activity in the surrounding neighborhood.



"Since we installed that fence, we've been coming along with the neighbors," Kado told the board. "We have no issues anymore."



But neighbors who live behind the Economy Inn said problems persist, and the 12-foot fence isn't doing enough.



"We've got hookers on this street, we've got people doing drug deals at both corners," said Fred Cogswell, who showed WAVE 3 News that the taller fence stops before his property. "It's bad."



Neighbors have signed a petition asking city officials to shut down the Economy Inn, and said Monday they welcomed progress with the case.



"Something's going to be done about it -- there's kids around here," said Brian Rauh. "At night, you're a little scared to walk somewhere because you never know what's going to pop out from behind (the hotel)."



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