(Shoshoni, WY) – The Shoshoni Town Council voted on Tuesday to revoke the Desert Inn motel’s business license at 505 W. Second Street.
According to Shoshoni Police Department Chief Chris Konija, the company owes the Town of Shoshoni $1,500 in unpaid water bills, which is “reason enough” to revoke their license.
However, Konija expressed “some serious concerns with (their) business practices.”
“This business, for all intents and purposes, is not operating,” Konija explained. “No one is manning it. However, five travelers have booked a room and arrived only to find it closed and no one was present.
When those individuals call the number provided for “troubleshooting,” Konija claims the person who answers the phone “hangs up” and refuses to refund their money or deal with them.
According to Konija, the SPD has “opened up a law enforcement inquiry” into the company as a result, but he also advised the council to revoke the Desert Inn’s business license.
The move may not prevent the company from advertising, but “I don’t feel that the Town of Shoshoni should be condoning that type of business practice.”
“(We should) dissociate ourselves from that business by revoking the business license … because of the conduct and behavior,” he told me. “Even if it continues, the town can state that we are not associated with this group and will not allow them. “It separates us from that behavior.”
Councilmember Jordan Whitener stated that his “first concern” was the company’s debt to the town, but he also acknowledged that it reflects poorly on Shoshoni “if they’re unethical.”
“It’s not a good painted picture for our town, (and) I don’t think it’s something we want to take lightly,” said the governor. “So, I believe we must set the precedent here. “We will not support businesses that fail to pay their bills or act ethically.”
Councilmember Mark Nordeen echoed those remarks.
“We can’t have a business like this,” he told me. “That just gives us a bad reputation.”
Councilmember Jake Stetler inquired as to what the town could do if the business continued to “promote and advertise that they have rooms but don’t have an active business license because it’s been pulled.”
Marshall stated that he will review town ordinances and provide options. However, the town may seek an injunction in court if the situation continues.
For more information, call the Town of Shoshoni at (307) 876-2515.
