Carson City watching Downtowner

Carson City Manager Larry Werner said Thursday that the city won't try to close the Downtowner Motor Inn or bring charges against acting owner Ralph Ahmad after the motel's electricity was cut off, leaving residents without heat for two days.

The city turned on the power Wednesday night at the 34-room motel after it had been out since Tuesday morning.

Werner said the city asked NV Energy to warn officials next time the power will be turned off. The city will determine if the motel is safe to live in if Ahmad doesn't pay the power bill again, Werner said.

"We don't want the situation like we saw (Wednesday) night with children living in the building without power," he said.

The motel was shut down in 2005 under Ahmad's ownership because the city said it was a public health hazard.

Ahmad reopened the motel in 2007, but lost his business license for the motel in November 2008 for failing to pay room taxes.

Ahmad did not return calls for comment Thursday.

The city would find a place for residents to live if the motel was closed, District Attorney Neil Rombardo said.

"We're not in the business of putting people on the streets," he said.

Dave Shearer, who has a business license for the motel, got a restraining order Wednesday to keep Ahmad away from the Downtowner until April 11.

He said Ahmad has been collecting rent and trying to prevent him from doing business.

The DiMartino family bought the motel in a foreclosure auction in February. They are going through court challenges from Ahmad to take over the motel.

"It's ridiculous the way it's been," Shearer said.

- Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.