Tony Fowler, representing Tough Shed, told the council during public comment that his company has seen permitting approvals stall in Peachtree City since a change in permitting management several months ago, costing sales and causing customer returns.

Fowler said the company sells through Home Depot and estimated local sales into the city of roughly $400,000 to $500,000 for that account. He said internal permit meetings with city staff (including a meeting with a staff member named Candace) and with a Home Depot district manager have not resolved the problems and that at least one customer has waited nearly four months for a permit. "We're trying to do it the right way, but we're just struggling," he said, and asked council and staff to follow up directly.

Mayor interrupted at the end of Fowler's allotted time and said staff in the room would reach out to Fowler for follow-up. Council did not take a formal action on the comment during the meeting.

The concern raised points to a localized operational issue in the building-permit process that city staff may need to address with the permitting team and larger contractors or retailers that use the city permitting system.