The hostility of neighbors to a proposed personal care home on Kelly Road was voiced at last week’s Board of Commissioners meeting.

The request of Emma Jean Rhynes for a conditional use to allow a personal care home was unanimously approved by the Jones County Planning and Zoning Commission Oct. 15, but the commissioners were split 2-2 following their vote on the issue Nov. 6.

Commissioners Larry Childs and Bert Liston were in favor of denying the request for the conditional use, but Commissioner Mell Merritt was joined by Chairman Preston Hawkins in voting against the denial. Commissioner David Gault was not at the meeting reportedly due to illness.

With the vote tied, Childs rescinded his motion, and it was tabled to be brought up at the first meeting in December.

County Attorney Frank Childs said he was not sure that the request could legally be denied. He said he would research the issue and report his findings back to the board members.

According to the Georgia.gov website a personal care home is defined as a facility that provides personal care services for unrelated residents who are not bedridden. A personal care home is not licensed to provide medical or nursing care. Instead, it provides meals, personal care, and companionship for people who need some supervision and help with daily personal needs.

A person will not be allowed to live in a personal care home unless he or she can live without a lot of supervision and can leave the building quickly with little help.

The U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division website includes The Fair Housing Act, which prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, financial status, and national origin. According to the statute, it is unlawful to discriminate in any aspect of selling or renting housing or to deny a dwelling to a buyer or renter because of the disability of that individual, an individual associated with the buyer or renter, or an individual who intends to live in the residence. Other included activities under the act are financing, zoning practices, new construction design, and advertising.

Planning and Zoning Officer Tim Pitrowski explained that personal care homes fall under the Department of Human Resources and are licensed through the state. He said the first step in the process is approval from the county.

Pitrowski said a conditional use is not a change in zoning and it would remain residential. He said personal care homes are limited to six people and allows individuals to live in a residential area but not on a scale that adversely affects the residential area. He said the conditional use is similar to that used for home day cares.

Rhynes was the first to be heard regarding the request. She said that a residential special needs home health service would be an asset to the community. She explained that she would provide a structured environment for individuals with disabilities, which would consist of daily chores, regularly planned meals, hygiene maintenance and planned field trips.

Rhynes said if the individuals have the potential to work she will help them seek opportunities. She said she intends to help the individuals in her care to connect to their abilities, and she has the training to accomplish her goals. Rhynes is currently employed at a facility in Macon and has 23 years of experience with the type of clients that would live in the personal care home.

She said her clients would be mentally disabled such as individuals with Down syndrome.

“There is nothing to fear, they are mild and gentle,” Rhynes said. “All they need is love.”

Rhynes said she has a four- bedroom home and plans to house four clients.

Rhynes’ neighbors speaking in opposition to the request had a common theme. They were complimentary of her wanting to help people with disabilities, but they did not want her to do it in their neighborhood.

Amy Patton said she had a petition with 28 signatures of families that did not want the personal care facility in Rhynes’ home. Patton said she was concerned with the increase of traffic and her children being exposed to mentally ill people. She also said the Alzheimer’s patients may wander and she did not want to be liable.

Barbara Holmes said she is concerned how many people will be hired by Rhynes, and Cindy Tucker said Rhynes’ property is not fenced and she does not want people wandering around.

Shannon Irwin said people hunt in the area and no one needs to be wandering the neighborhood.

Daniel Reavis said his wife is scared because their children play outside.

“I’m afraid they will scare the children, maybe even hurt them,” he said.

Marian Reavis asked why Rhynes expects people in the neighborhood to bend over backwards for her.

“We don’t want to be held liable. No one wants to live next door to a place like this,” Reavis added. “It’s not fair for her to expect the entire neighborhood to accommodate her. I have two small children, and I am scared to death that someone is going to hurt my children.”