Rixmann Companies: Tales From The Darkside

CHASKA MAN ARRESTED IN MAN'S BEATING DEATH

The Chaska man apparently had tried to sell crack cocaine to
Duane Viggo Sorensen and two others, said Capt. James Steward
of the Anoka County Sheriff's office.

Star Tribune
Last update: March 18, 2008 - 11:13 PM

Police have arrested a Chaska man in the beating death of a
62-year-old man who had been staying at a Fridley inn.

Duane Viggo Sorensen was unresponsive and bleeding from the
mouth when police arrived shortly after midnight on Thursday.

He died that afternoon at Unity Hospital in Fridley, said Capt.
James Stewart of the Anoka County Sheriff's office.

He said the suspect, who was arrested Monday night, apparently
had tried to sell crack cocaine to Sorensen and two others
staying at the LivINN Suites at 5201 Central Ave. in Fridley.

The suspect was booked on second-degree murder and aggravated
robbery. Charges may be filed today against him and a 26-year-old
Columbia Heights woman arrested for helping him avoid arrest,
Stewart said.

He said the suspect came to the room where Sorensen, another man
and a woman had been drinking heavily. A fight broke out, Sorensen
was knocked out and the woman punched in the face. The suspect
stole some items and left. Sorensen died from blunt force injuries,
Stewart said.

JIM ADAMS

http://www.startribune.com/local/16781636.html


CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF FRIDLEY
APRIL 14, 2008

FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 14, 2008 PAGE 16

11. Approve Hotel/Motel License for LivINN Suites.

Richard Pribyl, Finance Director, stated the current hotel license period expires as of April 30, 2008. The LivINN Suites have been licensed in the Fridley location since 2003.

They have four locations across the United States, Maplewood, Burnsville, Sharonville (Ohio). The Fridley location has 134 rooms, renting on a daily and long-term basis.

This particular situation is due to the high number of police calls
for service at this location.

The Public Safety Department has voiced concerns regarding the renewal of this license. In the last two years, police calls to this location were 122 in 2007 and 131 in 2006.

Due to the nature of the calls for service, staff is recommending
the license renewal with the following provisions:

1. That LivINN Suites participate in the 2008 Action Plan prepared
by the Fridley Police Department; and

2. That LivINN Suites appear before the Fridley City Council on November 17, 2008, for possible revocation of their license.

Don Abbott, Director of Public Safety, stated the Police had concerns with LivINN Suites when it first acquired the Kelly Inn property in 2003.

At that time, staff met with hotel management representatives and discussed concerns and developed plans to reduce those concerns.

Those steps included among other things that hotel management
would conduct background checks of incoming guests, there would
be credit card charges for rooms only, and there would be no stays
for a period of less than 24 hours.

Over the past several years, the Police Department has responded
to calls for service and monitored activities.

Based on police reports, officers’ observations, surveillance,
and comments, the Police Department believes that drugs and
prostitution are both regularly present at the LivINN Suites.

Calls for service history have been increasing during the last two years from the past five years. He presented them with the numbers.

In 2007, there were 9 robbery and serious assaults, 10 other assaults 17 drug-related (mentioned or a factor) and 2 prostitution-related (mentioned in the report related to the call).

Those were some of the most concerning calls. While in the
beginning of 2008, the calls seemed to be somewhat diminished,
they also had some very serious calls.

So they have had 26 calls from January 1 to March 31.

Those include one homicide where a person was charged with
murder, and a stabbing which occurred in the back parking lot,
which was non-fatal and believed to be related to drugs.

They had four other drug-related incidents so far the first quarter
of this year.

Chief Abbott stated overall the hotel is managed at this time in such a way as to allow conditions that conflict with the values of the City of Fridley and the expectations our community holds for its business operators.

He referenced Values First sign setting forth the values the City
of Fridley which are responsibility, non-violence, self-control,
citizenship, integrity, respect, and caring.

http://www.ci.fridley.mn.us/images/article-files/councilminutes
/min080414.pdf


POLICE CHASE STARTS AT LIVINN SUITES PROPERTY
By Anne Culver Sun Focus
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 3:16 PM CDT

A Fridley hotel under scrutiny lately for its increasing number of police calls, often related to drugs or prostitution, was recently the scene of an incident involving a wanted criminal allegedly armed with a handgun.

According to Fridley Police Chief Don Abbott, at around 10 p.m. June 4, two bail bonds officers and three Fridley police officers arrived at LivINN Suites to arrest a man believed to be visiting a registered guest at the hotel.

The 31-year-old suspect, described as "a friend of a friend" of the guest, has outstanding felony warrants for narcotics, terroristic threats and a no contact order, Abbott said.

When the officers and one bail bonds officer knocked on the door
of the hotel room, the suspect allegedly jumped out the back of
the unit. The second bail bonds officer, who had been staked out
near the back of the room, began pursuing the suspect.

The suspect allegedly flashed a handgun at the unarmed bonds officer in an attempt to stop the chase, and then fled east from the hotel up the hill along 52nd Avenue.

A two-and-a-half-hour police search followed, which encompassed the neighborhood east of the hotel and south of 694, between Central Avenue and Matterhorn Drive. The suspect was not located and is still being sought.

This incident came less than two months after the Fridley City
Council passed a resolution allowing LivINN Suites to keep its
license provided the hotel stay in compliance with an "action
plan" set by Fridley Police.

While the recent episode might have added to the City Council's skepticism about the property, Abbott said it does not reflect the hotel's current situation.

"We have seen improvement over the last two months," he told
the council at its June 9 meeting. Police calls from LivINN Suites
are down since last year, from 16 to 11 during the period of April
15 to June 9, he said.

From Jan. 1 through April 14 of this year, an average of three calls was received each week, Abbott said, compared to 3.5 weekly during the same time period last year.

He added that reports of assault, drug activity and prostitution have declined in the last year.

"There has been a reduction in serious calls (aside from the June 4 incident)."

Perhaps most importantly, Abbott said, "We haven't seen a spillover of any violent conduct into the (surrounding) neighborhood."

http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2008/06/21/news/fo19livinnsuites
.txt


AGENDA ITEM
FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF NOVEMBER 17, 2008

To: William W. Burns, City Manager
From: Public Safety Director Don Abbott
Date: November 13, 2008
Re: Revocation Hearing for LivInn Suites

At the April 14, 2008 City Council meeting the City of Fridley Police and Finance Departments voiced some concerns regarding the renewal of the LivInn Suites hotel license.

The hotel was experiencing a high number of police calls for service. Due to the nature of the calls for service, council renewed the license with the following provisions:

1) LivInn Suites will participate in an Action Plan during 2008 that was prepared by the Fridley Police Department.

2) The LivInn Suites will appear before the Fridley City Council on November 17, 2008 for possible revocation of their 2008 license.

Following the April 14, 2008 City Council meeting, Captain Weierke and Lieutenant Monsrud met with management staff of LivInn Suites to present a six-month Action Plan and the expectations of the City.

Meetings were held with managers on five more occasions to review calls for service and compliance with the Action Plan.

Over the past six months there have been 58 calls for service to LivInn Suites; some of which were police initiated. The calls for service have remained unchanged.

http://www.ci.fridley.mn.us/images/article-files/councilagenda
s/agenda081117.pdf


"NEVER AGAIN - TRYING HARD TO FORGET”
By Bonjovifreak Ontario
Mar 15, 2009 | Trip type: Family

I'll start by saying that we booked through Hotwire, and maybe that's
why we seemed to get the worst room we have ever stayed in.

It started when we opened the door to the room and were greeted
by the most disgusting stench of cigarette smoke. The room was
old and outdated, and not very clean.

When we went to the desk to request a room change, we were told
that the room was supposed to be non-smoking, and there were no
other rooms with two beds available that night. I was about ready to
leave altogether. I would've just slept in the van if not for our young
children.

The "kitchenette" consisted of a microwave and bar fridge which did
not work. The heater/air conditioning unit did not work either, as
the room was stiffling hot, and would not cool down. We were able
to connect to the wireless connection but the internet did not work.

And then, imagine our surprise when one of our kids sent one of his
cars under the bed and we went to retrieve it, we found a cigarette
butt under the bed. So much for a non-smoking room.

The box spring was not covered with a bed skirt and was stained and
dirty with what looked like cigarette stains, and the part underneath
the bed was all tattered and torn.

The bathroom had a new shower curtain rod put in and the holes
from the old one were patched up over top of the wall paper that
was on the walls. It didn't look like they cared about the look
of the room.

There were stains all over the wallpaper in other areas. Altogether,
it was absolutely gross, we will NEVER ever stay there again, and
will try to forget that we ever did.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g43087-d77054-r
26229708-LivINN_Suites-Fridley_Minnesota.html#CHECK_RATES_
CONT


CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF FRIDLEY
APRIL 13, 2009

FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 13, 2009 PAGE 18

10. Consideration of Hotel/Motel License for LivINN Suites,
Located at 5201 Central Avenue N.E. (Ward 1).

Richard Pribyl, Finance Director, stated the current hotel license
period for LivINN Suites expires on April 30. Our license period
runs from May 1 to April 30 of each and every year.

LivINN Suites has been licensed at this location since 2003. They
have four locations: Fridley, Maplewood, Burnsville, and Sharonville,
Ohio. The Fridley LivINN Suites is 134 rooms on record renting on a
daily or long-term basis.

Due to a high number of police calls for service, the Police
Department voiced concerns concerning the renewal of this
license last year.

FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 13, 2009 PAGE 19

Mr. Pribyl talked about the calls for service history. Calls for service have decreased in frequency and severity.

LivINN Suites management and staff complied with the conditions placed on their 2008 license renewal by Council and complied with every request made by staff during this past year.

Due to the continuing elevated number of calls for service, staff is
recommending a license renewal with the stipulated provisions as follows:

1. The City expects continued reduction in the number of calls for police service and further reduction in the seriousness of incidents.

2. LivINN Suites will not accept cash payments for any room rental. All room stays will be charged to a credit card. Currently, overnight rentals may be paid in cash and backed up by credit card on file.

3. LivINN Suites will comply with the registration requirements of
Minnesota Statute Chapter 327. Hotel staff will gather all personal
identification information on each guest and provide that in a format
that allows Police to check registered guests for wants and warrants.

4. LivINN Suites will review websites and other media commonly
used by prostitutes to advertise and compare their photos and
other features against their current guests.

5. The City expects continued cooperation from LivINN Suites staff.

6. Staff will meet with LivINN staff on a quarterly basis.

7. Staff will provide a report to Council on a quarterly basis based
on those meetings.

8. Any significant changes in the operation of the business or in
the overall order, peace, and safety at the location could result
in immediate action by the City at that point in time.

9. Any serious crime may result in immediate license action by
the City.

Mr. Pribyl presented a review of the types of calls that occurred in 2007 and 2008. In 2009,there have been 28 calls for service in the first quarter.

We made comparisons between the Fridley LivINN Suites with 134
rooms with some other hotels, such Holiday Inn Express in Coon
Rapids, the Quality Inn which was actually the Comfort Inn until
a couple of weeks ago, the Hampton Inn in Lino Lakes, the Super
8 in Brooklyn Center, the Comfort Inn in Brooklyn Center, and the
Comfort Inn in Brooklyn Center.

Staff is recommending approval of the hotel license for LivINN Suites with the nine conditions previously identified.

Councilmember Bolkcom asked if the increase in the number of civil disputes, public assists and warrant arrests is because we were more active in that area from 2007 to 2008.

Don Abbott, Public Safety Director, replied that is correct. Both of
those categories would be the results of additional police attention
to the property.

We estimate, in viewing all of the reports, that approximately 15
of the total reports occurring last year were the results of police
self-initiated activity.

Councilmember Bolkcom stated she remembered reading in one
of the recent police reports something related to prostitution.
She asked if that could have been caught before it happened.

Chief Abbott stated that one incident occurred just a matter of
weeks ago and was reported by the hotel staff. They made two arrests.

http://www.ci.fridley.mn.us/images/article-files/councilminut
es/min090413.pdf


“NIGHTMARE”
By Lovetotravel60604 Illinois
Jun 23, 2009 | Trip type: Business

My trip at LivINN was a complete nightmare the staff was really rude. I asked to speak with a manager and she was even worse. I will never recomend this hotel.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g43087-d77054-r
32937921-LivINN_Suites-Fridley_Minnesota.html#CHECK_RATES_
CONT


“UNSAFE & SEEDY”
By Pathe3 Illinois
Aug 5, 2009 | Trip type: Business, Solo travel

Many of the other great reviews for this motel leave me astounded.

When I was there in March 2008, this establishment must have been
hosting a gangster convention. I checked into this motel about 2PM
on a sunny day.

On entering the parking lot I saw what appeared to be a lady of the
night and her pimp standing by the doorway.

When I entered the building, I saw many gangster types walking around the lobby smoking and joking around while some were playing card games at the tables.

Although slightly nervous, I went to the front desk and the individual on duty checked me in and said I should park out back and enter the room from the back door.

I drove to the back of the motel and saw more unsavory types
hanging around the parking lot. Some of them were throwing
rocks at the windows.

My car was full of travel gear and I got a load and entered the
back door, but the doorway was blocked by kids throwing dice
and gambling for candy.

When I got to my room I found out that it was completely enclosed
within the motel with no outside window. The room was dark with
all the furnishings were in black.

I immediately went to the front desk and asked for a refund. I received the refund and while going back to my car, I saw several people peering inside it.

They quickly left as I approached the car and I drove to the Budget Host Inn in Fridley, which was another disaster.

While in Fridley, I constantly heard news reports of shootings,
stabbings, and other crimes. Needless to say, I decided to leave
the next day and didn't bother showing up for a job interview that
I traveled to Fridley for.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g43087-d77054-r
36758676-LivINN_Suites-Fridley_Minnesota.html#CHECK_RATES_
CONT


2 STABBED DURING FIGHT AT FRIDLEY HOTEL

One of the men was critically hurt during the fight early
Saturday. A third was arrested.

Featured Comment

Sounds like a nice hotel.....
...to stay away from. And for the police to visit more often.

Star Tribune
Last update: March 20, 2010 - 9:45 PM

Two men were stabbed, one of them critically, during a fight early Saturday in a Fridley hotel room.

Police were called at 3 a.m. to LivINN Suites, 5201 Central Av. NE.

The two injured men were taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, where one was listed in critical condition, while the second was stable. A third man was arrested, authorities said.

ABBY SIMONS

http://www.startribune.com/local/north/88736397.html


"HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE!!!"
By Busylife47 Big Lake, Minnesota
Sep 28, 2010 | Trip type: Couples

The only good thing to say is it was clean. Nasty front desk staff, nasty GM, poor, poor maintenance.

We asked four times for our air to get fixed (right in front of the maintenance person). They said it would get done, NEVER WAS!!

Asked for extra towels was told "didn't have any" When you ask the
front desk for anything they seem as if we where making them go
out of their way to help us.

The General Manager Rick was no better. Nice cleaning staff though.

DO NOT STAY HERE!!!!!!!

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g43087-d77054-r
81342936-LivINN_Suites-Fridley_Minnesota.html#CHECK_RATES_
CONT


RIPOFF REPORT: RIXMANN PROPERTIES

Reported By: Expotera (Fridley Minnesota United States of America)
Rixmann Properties Wayne Rixmann: Deadbeat Employer Burnsville, Minnesota

Rixmann Properties
181 South River Ridge Circle
Burnsville Minnesota 55337
United States of America
Phone: (952) 646-3771
Web Address: www.livinn.com

Report: #670341

Category: Employers

Submitted: Friday, December 10, 2010

Posted: Friday, December 10, 2010

Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry
Labor Standards Division
433 Lafayette Road N.
St. Paul, Minnesota 55155

Wayne Rixmann
Rixmann Properties
181 South River Ridge Circle
Burnsville, Minnesota 55337

October 08, 2010

Dear Employer:

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Labor Standards Division, has received a claim for unpaid final wages from a former employee of your company.

Mr. Tony Whitcomb was terminated by your company, Rixmann Properties, on August 31, 2010. Mr. Whitcomb is claiming unpaid final wages totaling, $100,000.00 for the period of time covering March 01, 2008 through August 31, 2010.

Minnesota Statutes 181.13 (enclosed) requires an employer to pay all wages due a separated employee upon demand; otherwise, penalties could total an additional 15 days of wages to the separated employee.

Please forward a check made payable to Mr. Whitcomb in the amount of $100,000.00 to this office within (10) days of receipt of this letter.

Please contact the undersigned Investigator within that same time period.

Your immediate attention to this matter may relieve you of penalties as outlined in the Statutes.

Sincerely,

John Stiffin
Labor Investigator
Labor Standards Division

Copy: Minnesota Statutes 181.13

http://www.ripoffreport.com/employers/rixmann-properties/rix
mann-properties-wayne-rixma-7782A.htm


BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU RELIABILITY REPORT FOR LIVINN HOTELS

BBB Reliability Report for LivINN Hotels BBB Rating F

BBB Accreditation

This business is not a BBB Accredited Business.

BBB Rating for LivINN Hotels

Based on BBB files, LivINN Hotels has a BBB Rating of
F on a scale from A+ to F.

Factors that lowered this business' rating include:

2 complaints filed against business that were not resolved.

Failure to respond to one complaint filed against business.

BBB has not received a response from business and/or has
not been able to verify information received from business.
BBB does not have sufficient background information on this business.

BBB made at least two requests for background information
from the business. BBB has not received a response from
the business and/or has not been able to verify information
received from business.

Factors that raised this business' rating include:

Complaint volume filed with BBB for business of this size.

Customer Complaint History for LivINN Hotels

When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.

BBB processed a total of 4 complaints about LivINN Hotels in the
last 36 months, our standard reporting period. Of the total of 4
complaints closed in 36 months, 0 were closed in the last year.

These complaints concerned :

+ 1 regarding Billing or Collection Issues
+ 2 regarding Refund or Exchange Issues
+ 1 regarding Service Issues

These complaints were closed as:

+ 1 No Response
+ 1 Administratively Closed
+ 2 Unresolved

If you choose to do business with LivINN Hotels, please let them
know that you contacted BBB for a BBB Reliability Report.

ID: 96006062
Report as of December 20, 2010 11:05
Copyright© 2010 Better Business Bureau

http://www.bbb.org/minnesota/business-reviews/hotels/livinn-
hotels-in-burnsville-mn-96006062?isbureau=Y#ratingdetails