It's been awhile since the last update.  I have been trying to work with the County and do what they want.  There are, however, individuals at the County intent on throwing up every roadblock they can to block finalization of this mess.  There are also good people at the County, trying to help us through the burdensome paper shuffling.

One individual in particular in the County seems bent on stopping any progress.  That individual is the Director of Planning and Development.  This person has gone to great lengths to block any progress towards a reasonable solution.  This person continually adds more requirements as soon as we satisfy the last list.  This person has also set impossible goals--ones that are next to impossible to acheive.  This appears to be intentional.

Unfortunately, it seems that the County Commission, who is in charge of this person, has little to no control over the Director's actions.  The Director has been instructed(at least publicly) to make this happen since the Commission(publicly at least) says it supports Budget Vet.  

We built our facility in 2017.  We did much of the work ourselves after hours and on weekends.  We did this to keep care affordable.  The county is requiring now that we go back in time and fill out a building permit and have licensed contractors sign off on work we did ourselves.  The County is basically telling us, as residents of this County, that we are not PERMITTED to do our own work--that we must hire someone to do it for us at much higher cost.  This does not seem right to us.  

What we have been asking for since December of 2018 is an inspection for safety of the facility.  Even though we have been accused time and time again by the Planning Department of having potentially dangerous conditions, they have never come out to inspect us.  I have called and emailed the Fire Marshall several times.  I was told that they could NOT come out for an inspection until Planning sends them.  Does this seem right?  If we are potentially dangerous, shoudn't the County want us inspected as soon as possible?  

Only ONE County Commissioner, Dr Doreen Williams, has ever even come to see the facility.  Please let her know you appreciate her interest in the matter.  The other two commissioners have not even seen the property, NOR HAS THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING.

In December of 2018, our first meeting with the County, I asked the Director point blank, "why don't you come out and inspect us and tell us what we need and we will fix it."  The Director's reply is one I will never forget.  In a dismissive tone, not even facing me, the Director stated, 'That's not how things are done.'  

Now I find out that, not only has the license for Budget Vet been tabled on purpose, but also the license for my other business, a cattle farm, which has NO issues whatsoever.  This is now amounting to nothing less than harassment in a very passive aggressive manner.

All we want is to be able to operate without the fear of later retribution.  We have tried to pay for a business license and the County refuses to cash the checks--for both businesses.  I have tried to pay for the permit and the County has refused to cash that check as well.  I was told that employees were INSTRUCTED to NOT cash my checks and to hold all my business licenses.

I implore that you once again write or call the commissioners about this matter.  Your voices HAVE been heard.  It is an election year as well......so perhaps they will listen a little harder.

Chairman, Oz Nesbitt, Sr.:
770-278-7001
oz.nesbitt@rockdalecountyga.gov

Post I Commissioner, Sherri L. Washington.:
770-278-7014
sherri.washington@rockdalecountyga.gov

Post II Commissioner, Doreen Williams, Ph.D.:
770-278-7008
doreen.williams@rockdalecountyga.gov