Commissioners deny 30-day extension for New Visions Counseling lease at Old Courthouse

Whitney Bennett, who operates New Visions Counseling LLC, asked the Vandenberg County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 10 for a 30‑day extension of her lease at the Old Courthouse to allow time to finish renovations on a newly purchased facility. "We just signed the close on our new building, and we need a little bit of time to get it ready for occupancy," Bennett said. "If we are granted this next 30 days, we are already in progress with the renovations."

County staff and commissioners cited a string of recurring complaints about Bennett's tenancy that they said warranted denying the extension. The chair read a list of complaints including doors propped open, clients vaping indoors, persistent trash in restrooms and congregating in entryways. Commissioner Musgrave said she would enter into the record multiple documents — emails and law‑department letters — documenting prior attempts to secure compliance and concluded the tenant had not been able to comply. "These catalog various efforts over time to seek compliance with building policies and laws," Musgrave said as she referenced the record.

Bennett disputed the characterization and said complaints were concentrated within a short span last year and that her organization had taken corrective steps, including a signed building‑policy form for clients. She emphasized the county services her practice supports: "We work with veterans and other vulnerable populations," she said, and warned that an interruption in services would be "very damaging" to clients and to systems that refer them, including probation and court programs.

After discussion, Commissioner Musgrave moved to deny the second amendment to the Old Courthouse lease agreement; the motion was seconded and carried. The denial was recorded as the formal action of the Board. The vote followed the commissioners' review of prior notices and multiple complaints; commissioners did not adopt conditions or a shorter extension at the meeting.

The decision leaves Bennett to complete the move to her new facility on the timeline required by the county; she said she is already under way with renovations and that the closing included a contingency related to a city water‑line determination. The Board did not announce any additional enforcement actions at the meeting.