The Econo Lodge in Live Oak.

The Econo Lodge on US 129 North in Live Oak is under new interim management following a group of guests’ claims of racist treatment from management and staff.

Dean Papapetrou, a former regional director over Econo Lodge and other North Florida hotels during the 1990s, is now the interim general manager of the hotel.

“We’re here and we welcome anybody to come and stay with us,” said Papapetrou. “We’ll take care of you to the best of our abilities.”

According to Blake Odum, the head of a tour group of about 90 teens and adults from Flint, Mich., the prior Econo Lodge manager made racist remarks to the group during their stay in April after their bus broke down. Suwannee County officials responded to the incident at a press conference last month and called it “isolated,” emphasizing that the alleged behavior of a few individuals did not represent Suwannee County and Live Oak as a whole.

Florida Senator Dwight Bullard has called on the state attorney and Department of Business and Professional Regulation to perform an investigation into Odum’s claims and to take action if the alleged racist statements are proven true.