Motel on 34th Street fined for drug activity

The Economy Inn Express Stadium was cited for 18 instances of drug-related problems in a six-month period.

By ANDREW MEACHAM

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 22, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- After hearing testimony by concerned neighbors and police, the Nuisance Abatement Board on April 11 fined the Economy Inn Express Stadium $2,250 and threatened the motel's owners with additional fines and sanctions unless improvements are made.

Police documented 18 incidents of drug sales or possession during a six-month period, said Police Department attorney Sherman Smith. Most of those incidents resulted in arrests.

The board ordered motel owner Shantia Singh to conduct background checks of current and future employees, and to provide police with the names and room numbers of any employees living on the premises at 451 34th St. N. Singh could not be reached for comment for this story.

The motel also will have to hire licensed security guards between 3 p.m. and 3 a.m., seven days a week, or face up to $100 a day in fines. The board suspended $1,250 of the $2,250 fine and suspended investigative costs and attorney's fees of $3,336, pending a status check July 11.

"It's like probation," Smith said. "Mostly we want the problem solved. If we can give them some incentive, it's helpful sometimes."

Caya Costa to vote on lowering speed limits

Residents of Caya Costa, a gated community bounded by 78th Avenue NE and Riviera Bay, will decide at their meeting Tuesday whether to lower their posted speed limit to 20 mph. The current 25 mph speed limit hasn't done enough to deter a dozen or so "frequent violators" who drive 35-40 mph, said Joe Shragge, a certified financial planner and Caya Costa's president.

The speed limits posted on private roads may not scare speeders who know they can't get ticketed by police, admitted Shragge, 35. "But if there was an accident and law enforcement saw you were doing twice the speed limit, it could make a difference from a liability standpoint."

Caya Costa meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Ramparts Properties, 10033 Dr. M.L. King (Ninth) St. N.

Garage sales

Neighbors in Eden Isle, a round patch of land abutting the northeast end of Snell Isle, will show their wares Saturday at an annual garage sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A block party follows from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the home of Eden Isle Civic Association president Barry Marshall, 980 Eden Isle Drive NE.

Greater Pinellas Point also hosts a sale Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. All residents between Fourth and 31st streets S, between 54th Avenue S and Tampa Bay, are encouraged to participate.

Meetings

EUCLID HEIGHTS: 7 p.m. Tuesday. First Alliance Church, 5000 10th St. N. American Red Cross representative on hurricane preparedness.

GATEWAY: 7:30 p.m. Monday. St. James United Methodist Church library, 845 87th Ave. N. Future of the association.

LAKE MAGGIORE SHORES: 7 p.m. Thursday. Enoch Davis Center, 1111 18th Ave. S. Financial adviser Steve Pich.

LAKEWOOD CIVIC: 7 p.m. Tuesday. Lakewood United Church of Christ, 2601 54th Ave. S. Council of Neighborhood Associations president Jim Biggerstaff.

METHODIST TOWN: 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Dwight Jones Neighborhood Center, 1035 Burlington Ave. N.

OLD PASADENA: 7 p.m. Tuesday. 345 71st St. S.

UPTOWN: 7 p.m. Thursday. The Sunshine Center, 330 Fifth St. N. Historical significance of bungalows.

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