Woman claims town trying to stop business
“Jay can take a step back and allow its minions to make phone calls,” was the statement made by Pace resident and Jay business owner Lori Elder to council members Tuesday night at Jay's council meeting. Elder is referring to her attempts to get the permits required by Santa Rosa County, she said she was told that 'Jay has its own way of doing things' by employees in Milton and felt she is “being railroaded” by Jay council members while she has been trying for five years to open Opie's, a coffee and ice cream shop in what was Jay Video on South Commerce Street. Elder said she is being asked to acquire permits and licenses that she does not remember being required to get in the past for other businesses she and her husband have in Jay.
Elder said that she has had problems from the start, several years ago, beginning with a fence made of pallets she put up outside the business that brought some complaints about the height and line of sight. Elder said she changed the fence to comply and then Councilman Shon Owens came to the building and said to me, 'Don't let this fence keep you from opening a business here in Jay,' which Elder told the council Tuesday night, she clearly saw as a threat. Owens explained that he did not mean the statement to be a threat, but that he was there to support her and keep her from getting discouraged.
Town Attorney Steve Cozart explained to Elder that Jay does not have its own zoning code enforcements and that the town relies on Santa Rosa County to enforce Jay's codes.
“As far as site development, the first step should have been to approach the town council,” said Jay Mayor Shon Owens “The state and city have rights-of-way at your business and Jay has particular requirements we can provide you with.”
Elder said she has gotten different answers about permits, license and other business-related aspects from Milton and Jay and she asked the council why she is getting all of these different answers when she assumed the process was streamlined for any potential business owner. Elder and her husband own other businesses in Jay and she said she was not require to do a lot of the things she has had to do to open this business.
“There is a process we have to go through,” said Cozart. “I've been the attorney for Jay for 12 years. Let's sit down, get what you need and we will get it done.”
Councilwoman Jane Hayes and Elder exchanged loud dialogue when Hayes asked Elder to listen and stop interrupting to what the council members were trying to explain.
“We'll get you a development order after the town and engineer look at the location,” said Hayes. “You will then need to get an occupational license, a city license, which you have to have from Jay, not the county.”
Elder told the council that building inspectors came and inspected the building and told her that an engineer would have to make changes to the location and she did not understand why.
“I may have experience to guide you and help you make this happen,” said Owens. “We have everything you need.”
After exchanging apologies with a tearful Elder, Councilwoman Hayes told Elder, “We're trying to do things the right way and we're trying to help Jay be better.”
In a phone interview the following day, Councilwoman Hayes was apologetic for the loud dialogue and the tempers that flared at the meeting.
“The council will work with Mrs. Elder in every way possible to help her get through the process more smoothly,” said Hayes. “We want her to be successful and will do everything we can within the boundaries of the law to assist her.”
The next JayTown Council meeting will be at 6 p.m., Monday, Feb. 5, at Jay Town Hall.
