CANFIELD — Residents at a Canfield Township motel have until Monday to vacate the place due to unsafe conditions.

According to court documents, representatives of the Cardinal Joint Fire District and Colonial Motel, 7815 W. Akron-Canfield Road, met Wednesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court and agreed to a preliminary injunction that will close the motel so repairs can be completed.

Matt Rarick, deputy chief of the fire district, explained that Wednesday’s court action was to remove those “living there” until violations are repaired.

Rarick said 144 overall violations were discovered, with 21 considered “major” or “life-threatening.” Many involved fire and electrical concerns, he said.

A search warrant was obtained, and inspections were conducted Oct. 31, 2019, and then again Dec. 4, 2019, Rarick said — with none of the violations repaired.

As of Wednesday, there were eight to 10 rooms in use, he said.

Rarick also confirmed there are families with children who have been staying for an extended period, along with a woman who has “lived” at the motel — which is a 30-day stay motel — for seven years.

“You sleep better at night knowing people aren’t going to be there by Monday,” he said, noting that the decision to get courts involved is because children are on the premises.

“If adults want to (live in those conditions) it’s one thing, but there are kids involved,” Rarick said.

The deputy chief said officials don’t want the motel to cease operation “because it’s a business,” but rather want to work with ownership to “make it safe for people.”

Since May 2016, a land contract has been in place listing Arther S. and Alice M. Klein, of Canfield, and Prime Suites LLC of Fairlawn, as owners of the motel.

Rarick explained that the Kleins took over when Todd M. Cleavenger was incarcerated.

Court records show Cleavenger was previously convicted of kidnapping and assault in Summit County.

Cleavenger is currently housed at the Richland Correctional Institution in Mansfield, according to records.

Rarick said that officials “noticed a difference when there was a change in ownership,” and that the motel has “gone downhill” over the last several years.

An attempt to reach legal counsel for the motel on Wednesday was not successful.

Staff writer Ed Runyan contributed to this report.

afox@tribtoday.com