Discussion heats up about abandoned motel on Minot's east side

Discussion heats up over an abandoned motel on Minot's east side.

Minot residents--and people currently living in what's supposed to be a vacant motel voiced their concerns at tonight's Minot City Council meeting.

A resident who lives next to the Fairview Lodge motel told alderman they've been calling police to respond to the area throughout the weekend, and say they feel no progress has been made with the issue.

“As you can see tonight, not many of my neighborhood fellow people were allowed to come due to the fact that we are still monitoring the activity that continues to go on today,” said concerned resident Tina Alexander.

Many residents claim they've been living there without knowing it wasn't a legitimate business. Some of them are disabled or have children and say they don't know if they're about to be evicted.

One current unnamed resident shared a back-and-forth with Minot Mayor Shaun Sipma.

“Maybe some answers from you guys about how we can be so shut down and pay somebody rent and you guys say it's not even a business. Where's the answers? You have disabled people and people with children up there that have no idea what's going on. It's your responsibility,” one unnamed Fairview Lodge motel resident.

Sipma said he's meeting with other city leaders tomorrow to make progress on the situation.