OYO Hotel Owner Fined, Numerous Code Violations

oyo

The City of Brownwood’s Building and Standards Commission met Thursday to consider the matter of the OYO Hotel, located at 515 East Commerce.  The hotel was closed on August 27 after receiving numerous citations of violation by the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department.

The Commission was first addressed by Code Compliance Officer Jose Gonzalez.  He reported that an inspection of the hotel was performed in August, after numerous complaints from hotel guests.  The inspection found:

  • 60 rooms with building code violations
  • 52 rooms with cockroaches
  • 47 rooms with Fire Code violations
  • 45 rooms with bed bugs
  • 28 rooms with mold
  • 13 rooms with mice or rats

Citations were also issued for unsecured rooms, excessive vegetation, and illegal dumping.  Police Department records in 2021 show over 100 calls to the hotel for illegal acts such as thefts, assaults, and illegal drug transactions.  Also the hotel had an outstanding water bill from the City for $12,095.

Gonzalez described the hotel as “a public nuisance, Health and Safety hazard, and a blight upon the community”.

Hotel owner, Thomas Ung, addressed the Commission and answered their questions.  The Commission voted to keep the hotel closed, and  assess Mr. Ung a fine of $4,400, payable by November 20.  If the fine is not paid by then, and the violations not remedied,  additional fines  will accrue.