Illinois Atty Gen. Madigan Gets Metro East Hotel Pool Shut Down

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has obtained a temporary restraining order against an O'Fallon hotel, ordering it to keep its swimming pool closed until health officials get to the bottom of "numerous, ongoing violations" involving health and sanitation violations.

The order is against ABVI Management, Inc., owner of America's Best Value Inn, 140 Venita Dr., in O'Fallon. According to Madigan's statement, the order came after the Illinois Department of Public Health and St. Clair County public health officials found ``numerous, ongoing violations of state law that protects public health and safety and attempts to prevent the spread of infection.''

From the statement:

"One of the more glaring violations alleges an inspector with the St. Clair County Health Department observed on Feb. 11 that hotel management had reopened the swimming pool and had removed the IDPH closure order notice after the agency inspected the pool and shut it down Jan. 19 for failing to address violations found in earlier inspections.''

A hearing on the injunction will be held April 6.

"If you travel with children as I do, where's the first place they beg to go after check-in ─ the pool, of course,'' Madigan said in the statement. ``Travelers and parents shouldn't have to worry about hotel management not doing its job to keep pools safe, clean and free of hazards.''

An employee of the hotel contacted this evening said the pool is closed. A spokesman for management of the hotel wasn't immediately available.