(WBIR-ROANE COUNTY) Roane County commissioners almost took legal action against a sanctuary for wild cats Monday night.
Tiger Haven built a fence reaching higher than 7 feet tall, which commissioners said is in violation of building codes. They said the fence was also built without a permit or proper inspections.
"You have to have it inspected by our local codes enforcement," Roane County Commissioner Mike Hooks said. "(The Codes Enforcement Office has) had trouble getting onto the site as far as new construction going on out there to do a proper inspection."
"They're not being treated different than everybody else in the county," he said. "Anybody that constructs anything has to have a building permit."
It's a battle that's lasted more than a year between the county and Tiger Haven officials. But county attorney Greg Leffew suggested commissioners hold off on filing suit.
"It seems like every way it goes, if it involves government, we run into a hurdle," Hooks said."I don't believe he (the attorney) would do anything or lead us down a path that wouldn't be a great benefit for the county. I'm willing to give it another 30 days. We've already given it 14 months."
The commission will decide whether to take action against Tiger Haven at its next meeting. That meeting happens Nov. 9.
WBIR also reached out to Tiger Haven and its attorney. We did not receive a comment.
