During its regular meeting Thursday evening, the Columbia County Planning Commission ultimately voted in favor of clemency for an Evans massage business.
Late last month, the county’s Code Enforcement Department investigated the employees of Oriental Massage on 4158 Washington Road and found three individuals had been performing massages without licenses. Code Enforcement cited the three workers for operating unlicensed, along with the proprietor, Jinggui Song, for failing to supervise her employees.
Planning staff recommended that Song’s massage operator license be revoked, per county ordinance Sec. 22-82, which lists employing unlicensed massage practitioners among causes for revocation or suspension.
Song, who is from China, told the commissioners via an interpreter that while she was aware her employees needed to be licensed, finding licensed employees—particularly those who could speak English—had proven especially difficult in the wake of COVID-19.
“If they were to decide that her license was to be revoked tonight, she would still have that opportunity to operate in Georgia,” explained planning director Scott Sterling. “She just couldn’t do so in that location in Columbia County; so she might be able to go somewhere else and perform the service.”
Commissioner Russell Wilder asked if any of the workers were seeking licensing. Of the three employees cited, one was licensed to practice massage therapy in the state of New Jersey, Song said, and also claimed all three were in the process of acquiring their licenses in Georgia. The state of Georgia does not have reciprocity with New Jersey in regard to massage licenses.
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Song further explained that her business, which has been in operation for approximately 10 years, was leased at its current location for another five years. She also expressed a willingness to continue operating the business by herself, despite decreased revenue, so that she could continue to afford to pay her rent and bills.
Planning Commission Chairman Al Dempsey was inclined to negotiate a means to help Song maintain her business while not violating county ordinances.
“I don’t want to sit here and do something we should not do, to not stand up for the rules,” Dempsey said. “But I have a little bit of sympathy, if we could work out where she by herself was allowed to work and put on some sort of a probationary period.”
Planning manager Will Butler told the board it has the power to either revoke or suspend Song’s license. Sterling then posited that while a suspension would be temporary, she still would not be able to operate.
Development Services Director Paul Scarbary, however, offered the commissioners one alternative.
“If you were to put the condition there that if enforcement is over there tomorrow, a week from now, a year from now, if anyone in there performing massages who is not properly licensed to do so, immediately the license would therefore would be revoked,” Scarbary said.
Commissioner Marty Jackson put forth a motion to allow Song to continue operating Oriental Massage on her own (though perhaps with administrative employees), under the condition that if anyone is found performing massage therapy, her license would be immediately revoked.
The commission voted 3 – 1 (as Commissioner Michael Carraway was absent) for the motion, with all commissioners save for Wilder voting in favor.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
