The run-down, crimeridden Cheyenne Motel has been slapped with 10 fire code violations and its owner or manager must appear in Municipal Court on Aug. 12 to explain why the problems haven’t been fixed.   The Fire Department issued a summons last week containing 10 charges after the motel’s manager didn’t repair electrical lines and other hazards.   “Most of them are electrical violations,” said Capt. Mike Dalton, deputy fire marshal. “Any time we have electrical issues, improper or exposed wiring, that’s a big concern to us from a fire standpoint as an ignition source. Obviously it’s a threat to property.”   The Cheyenne came under scrutiny earlier this year after South Nevada Avenue merchants complained, saying the motel harbored prostitutes and drug dealers. The clientele discouraged patrons from frequenting surrounding businesses, including a motel, dry cleaner and restaurant, the merchants charged. Police have been monitoring the motel and were called there 79 times in the first half of this year.   City Councilman Jerry Heimlicher, who has pushed the city to use its nuisance ordinance to force the owner to comply with building and fire codes, said he’s heard tenants recently were told that when their monthly or weekly leases run out, they won’t be allowed to continue living in the motel.   That could not be verified, however. On-site manager Ted Lewis said manager Ken Brown of Denver hadn’t informed him of any plans to shut down the motel.   “He doesn’t tell me anything,” Lewis said.   Heimlicher said “it’s definitely time” to push for compliance.   “These people need to make it safe and inhabitable and try to do things to deter the crime,” he said. “It’s very appropriate to enforce those regulations. I’d like to know why they weren’t enforced before.”   Fire inspectors toured the property at 1632 S. Nevada Ave. in June and noted more than a dozen violations. Management was given until July 9 to fix the problems. The owner reportedly lives in Asia.   “At that time, they had made some minor corrections to the violations,” Dalton said, “but none of the electrical issues had been handled at all.”   Fire officials gave the Cheyenne several more days.   “Still nothing had been done,” Dalton said.   After nothing was done during an additional grace period, the summons was issued listing 10 violations, including exposed electrical wires, missing or nonfunctioning smoke detectors, no smoke detector maintenance log, improper use of an extension cord, improper installation of a light, large amounts of combustible trash near the building, padlocks and hasps on the outside of motel room doors and insufficient, out-of-date, and an insufficient number of fire extinguishers.   “Since we issued the summons, we have gone out each day to see if anything had been corrected, and nothing has been corrected since the summons was issued,” Dalton said.   Each of the violations noted in the summons carries a penalty of up to a $500 fine and 90 days in jail. Fire officials said a judge can impose additional sanctions, although it’s unclear whether the motel could be ordered closed.   It’s rare for the Fire Department to issue a summons for fire code violations, largely because property owners cooperate in fixing problems.   From 2005 through 2007, only 13 Colorado Springs businesses were issued court summonses for fire code violations, and only one was punished, records show.   The South Nevada corridor has captured the interest of developers who want to reshape it into a shopping and tourist area and something of a gateway to The Broadmoor hotel a few miles southwest of the strip of motels, pawnshops and fast-food restaurants.   Heimlicher said merchants have donated money to assign extra-duty cops to the corridor three days a week starting in August.    Contact the writer: 636-0238 or pam.zubeck@gazettedev.gazette.com

Fran and Keith Smith sea kayaked on North Catamount Reservoir recently. Pikes Peak is visible in the background. Photo by