Multiple complaints revolving around a new southside nightclub have prompted Baldwin County Sheriff Bill Massee to ask the county code enforcement office to review the business license for Fahrenheit Club and Lounge.

“We have had, in the first eight to 10 times they were open, 17 calls that we responded to,” Massee said. “I wrote a letter to the county to give them a heads-up to advise them to the problems we’ve had and to ask them to review the license.”

Massee said he is concerned about public safety and the nature of the calls, as well as volume, are alarming.

“We had a shooting in the parking lot, a report of shots fired,” Massee said. “When we got down there, we made an aggravated assault arrest. We had a vehicle broken into and a gun stolen from the vehicle.”

Massee said the shots fired call was one he views as very serious. In his letter to the code office, Massee expressed his concern.

“When our deputies responded [to the shots fired call] they were informed that it was fireworks,” Massee wrote to the code office. “After working the scene, one of the bouncers informed the responding deputies that it was gunfire. He further asked that it not be in the report because he did not want to lose his employment. We made an arrest, charging an individual with aggravated assault. When the deputies were responding to the call they were amazed at the number of vehicles leaving, and the number of individuals that could be exposed to these shots.”

Fahrenheit is located just past Midway Elementary School on U.S. Highway 441 South in the Scottsboro community. Massee said complaints have come from residents in nearby neighborhoods.

He told the Baldwin County code enforcement officer Robert West that the sheriff’s office and the Georgia State Patrol conducted a safety check point in close proximity to the club in hopes of addressing complaints of noise, traffic and possible drunk drivers. During the check, officers arrested an individual with approximately 30 rocks of what is suspected to be crack cocaine. The individual also had several hundred dollars in his possession. Massee said the cocaine was packaged for selling and the individual arrested was charged with possession with intent to distribute.

“While I cannot factually prove that he was en route to Club Fahrenheit, he was in very close proximity to this business,” Massee wrote.

This is the first time in his career as sheriff in Baldwin County that Massee has asked the county to review a business license.

“We are not used to that from a business in our community,” Massee said. “I am purely looking at this as a public safety issue.”

In his letter, sent to the code office Friday, Massee requested the review.

Assistant County Manager Ralph McMullen said the county has let the business owner know about the review.

“Based on the sheriff’s letter to us, we are replying with the letter to the owner, by the advice of the county attorney, to provide him with written notice,” McMullen said. “He will have one last opportunity to take corrective measures. The county will be keeping in touch with the sheriff.”

County Commissioner Sammy Hall, District 3, said he visited the club last week and spoke with owner Jonathan Tollinson who reassured him that his aim was to run a respectable establishment. Hall visited after receiving complaint calls from constituents about the noise at the club. The two discussed county alcohol and noise ordinances.

“I’m looking for middle ground with the club and the neighbors,” Hall said. “We want both of them to be happy.”

Calls to Tollinson at Fahrenheit Tuesday and Wednesday were not answered.

The decision whether to revoke the business license will ultimately be determined by the Baldwin County Commission based on information from Massee, McMullen said. The code enforcement office operates under the auspices of the Baldwin County Commission.

“The county adopted the ordinances and the county issued the business license,” McMullen said. “Once the county commission adopts an ordinance, it becomes a law enforcement issue.”

Massee said that as he understands it, the club’s licensed owner is in the process of trying to resolve the issues that have been called into question.

“Last weekend was much better,” Massee said. “We had just one call. Upon response, we found that it was not a bad noise violation and once it was advised they immediately addressed it. I hope they are trying to resolve their problems. I hope they run a thriving business, make money and employ people.”

Massee said that his office is bound to address the calls.

“When we get complaints, we will respond to them,” he said.