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Live Oak business owner says city relied on single fire inspector, alleges missed building inspections and lost income
Summary
At the Dec. 25 City of Live Oak council meeting, Green Ford Kitchen owner Shanice Brown accused city officials of failing to perform a formal building inspection, relying instead on a fire inspector she previously complained about, and said the city manager escalated the case to state authorities; she said the enforcement has cost her 'thousands of dollars.'
Shanice Brown, owner of Green Ford Kitchen, told the City of Live Oak council on Dec. 25 that city enforcement actions against her business have proceeded without a formal building inspection by a building official and have relied solely on a single fire inspector she previously complained about.
"I have never received a building inspection from an actual building official," Brown said during public comment, adding that she has received violations and a cease order. "Every single action taken against me, every violation, every shutdown, every delay has been based on [the fire inspector's] comments. This is the same fire inspector that I previously filed a complaint against."
Brown said she has tried to get clarity from city staff — by email, phone and attending meetings — and that she has lost "thousands of dollars" while the matter remained unresolved. She also alleged the city manager "called the state and tried to escalate the matter to get my license taken from me," and asked the council to "reevaluate some people inside of the city itself."
The council did not take formal action on Brown's complaint during the meeting; after her remarks the presiding officer moved on to the next agenda item. No city official provided a response on the record during the public-comment period captured in the meeting transcript.
Brown asked the council to consider how enforcement is being carried out and said she worried about other business owners who may not have the resources or confidence to raise similar concerns at a council meeting. Her remarks followed routine recognitions and other public comments earlier in the meeting.
