Council revokes Project Success Ministries' business license after health and fire inspections find safety violations

The City Council of Center Point voted unanimously to revoke Project Success Ministries' business license after Jefferson County health and Center Point fire officials described conditions at two properties that they said posed risks to residents and violated communal‑living regulations.

Bridget Jolly Taylor, who identified herself as representing Project Success Ministries, apologized to the council and said the organization has worked in the city for about 10 years. Taylor said the group's intent was to shelter and feed people in need and that some locations had been used for day programs, emergency sheltering after fires and charitable services. “It has never been our intent to operate illegally,” she told the council.

Jefferson County environmental health supervisor HKY Bryant outlined inspection findings on two properties tied to Project Success: at 120th Avenue Northwest inspectors reported inconsistent meals, an inadequate three‑day food supply, unsecured medications, missing lease agreements, and reports that residents’ bank or insurance cards were controlled by staff; the health department also cited low indoor temperatures reported around 57°F and other minimum‑standards deficiencies. Bryant said Project Success failed to renew a communal‑living permit for one site and that a certified letter dated Jan. 6 notified the organization to respond.

Deputy Fire Marshal Chris Furry described life‑safety hazards at 1524 Huffman Road and at the 120th Avenue site: missing sprinklers and smoke‑alarm systems, blocked egress paths, exposed wiring, inadequate emergency lighting, and cooking without an exhaust hood at the Huffman address. Furry said conditions at 1524 constituted an immediate life‑safety hazard and justified a cease‑and‑desist action for that property.

Project Success disputed some characterizations, saying 1524 functioned primarily as an office and day‑program site rather than a communal living residence and that people were sometimes allowed to stay temporarily during emergencies. Representatives acknowledged they had custody of some residents’ cards in a locked location and said the practice would not continue. Pastor Morris Jolly said the group aimed to help people who had nowhere else to go.

Council members questioned why a permit had lapsed and expressed concern for vulnerable residents. City attorney and health‑department staff reiterated that if three or more unrelated residents stay for a fee, state and county rules define the use as a communal living facility that requires a permit and specific safety measures. The council also heard that two residents left during a health‑department follow‑up and that some documentation and photographs taken during inspections corroborated the agencies’ findings.

After discussion, a councilmember moved to adopt Resolution 2026‑53 to revoke Project Success Ministries' business license. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. The council recorded the vote as unanimous and stated staff and county officials would coordinate next steps for closure of the unsafe site and any transfer of services for affected residents.

Resolution 2026‑53 was adopted at the meeting; the council did not specify an immediate reinstatement process in the motion, and health and fire officials said reinspection and compliance would be required before any future licensing could be considered.