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Tifton City Council on Monday unanimously approved a two-week extension for a Tifton wildlife rehabilitator to relocate any animals in her home that are not allowed within residential zoning.
Before the vote, Jessica Pisciotta, who has run Steadfast Wildlife Rescue Rehab Inc. out of her home in a residential neighborhood on Hall Avenue for about 20 years, told council she did not need an extension; “we’ve already relocated.”
However, City Attorney Rob Wilmot noted that Pisciotta’s photos only show the exterior of her property clear of animals. If she is still operating a wildlife rehab inside her house, then she remains out of compliance with zoning, the attorney said.
At her home, Pisciotta has been helping all manner of injured wildlife, such as deer, vultures, coyotes, foxes, beavers, opossums hit and injured by cars, and baby squirrels and owls that have fallen from their nests.
On Feb. 14, she received a letter from the city giving her 30 days to bring her property into compliance with zoning laws. Pisciotta's property is zoned as residential. Some of her neighbors have complained about the animals in the residential area.
At City Council’s workshop two weeks ago, Pisciotta requested more time to relocate her rehab operation. She said she was raising funds and working to move the operation to a site in the county. Council asked her to meet with the city attorney and city manager to devise a plan for how long it would take for the relocation.
City Attorney Wilmot said he sent her an email following the last meeting and requested “information I thought would be beneficial” to determining a “reasonable” plan. He said he was asking for such information as her number of animals, the number of enclosures needed, and the amount of her funding available for relocation.
“Unfortunately, I’ve not heard anything from Miss Pisciotta,” Wilmot said.
“It’s incredibly disappointing that Miss Pisciotta did not provide the information,” said Mayor Julie B. Smith.
Councilman Michael Franks said he “told Miss Pisciotta we would work with her; she’s not held up her end of the deal.”
Pisciotta was late to Monday’s meeting because she ran out of gas, council was told. She arrived after the public comment period, but council opted to let her speak. She said that Wilmot’s email requested “very personal information” and “much of the information demanded from me is completely irrelevant.”
She said that the requested information included her rehab’s articles of incorporation, board members and their addresses, the current funds in the nonprofit, and the projected amount expected to be fundraised.
“We asked you to provide some basic information,” Smith said. “We’ve been met with nothing but resistance.”
The mayor added that “this council treated you with the utmost respect.”
“No you didn’t,” Pisciotta interjected.
She stressed that “I’m not fighting relocation; we’ve been working very hard and made a lot of progress.”
Council asked Wilmot about the city’s recourse if the wildlife rehab remained in operation in the residential neighborhood past the two-week extension. The city attorney said the city could request an injunction and seek a court order if necessary.
Also during Monday’s meeting, council decided on a 3-2 vote to move forward with mosquito spraying in the city. Previously, the county had handled the spraying but stopped it some time ago. A resident had asked council to halt any plans to spray chemicals because it may harm other insects, wildlife, and pets. A representative from Astro Exterminating had told council that the chemicals were safe and that spraying would be done in the evening.
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