By Thea Jarvis, Staff Writer

CONYERS – A long-time volunteer at the information center for Our Loving Mother’s Children expressed dismay over a zoning ordinance passed at the Rockdale County Commissions’ October meeting. Echoing remarks made at the Oct. 13 gathering of pilgrims at an alleged apparition site off Route 138 and White Road in Conyers, the volunteer maintained that the county is unfairly targeting supporters of Nancy Fowler and Our Loving Mother’s Children.

Not so, says Rockdale County Commission spokesperson Julie Mills, who explained to The Georgia Bulletin that the ordinance was initiated by the city of Conyers to regulate the Georgia International Horse Park, planned as an Olympic venue for 1996.

The ordinance calls for tighter restrictions on gatherings of over 500 people in order to protect property owners and natural resources. Expanded rest room facilities, water fountains, lighting, landscaping and signage are mandated by the ordinance. Pedestrian walkways and parking facilities will be more carefully regulated under the new rules, which were incorporated into the existing county zoning code as an overlay ordinance.

Although numerous public hearings were held before the ordinance was passed during the October commissioners’ meeting, Ms. Mills pointed out, no representatives of Our Loving Mother’s Children came to the hearings to express opposition.

The ordinance was “drafted and redrafted” over a period of several months, she said, before being enacted as a text amendment to the county zoning code.

“We’re doing this with the safety of the people in mind,” said Ms. Mills, who was on the White Road site Oct. 13. Fifty-four people required medical attention that day, she said, and four were taken to a local hospital.

The Rockdale County Sheriff’s Department officially counted 23,500 people in attendance, a number considerably lower than the 100,000 expected to arrive for the anniversary date.

Rockdale County is reimbursed by Our Loving Mother’s Children for use of emergency equipment and manpower at the alleged apparition site. Last week, over 30 off-duty sheriff’s deputies, some 15 fire department personnel and 12 emergency medical people were on hand for the influx of pilgrims, in addition to county zoning overseers and workers who hauled gravel to fill washed out grounds and walkways.

“It does mean extra work for the county,” Ms. Mills said.

“Officials don’t expect Our Loving Mother’s Children to comply with the new zoning regulations overnight. In the past, said Ms. Mills, there has been “a lot of communication between the city and the event organizers.”

“We’ll be working with them” during the transition, she said.

At Our Loving Mother’s Children information center, plans are to pray the rosary Nov. 13, though public messages and large crowds are not expected. The Blessed Mother continues to appear regularly to Mrs. Fowler, said a volunteer, but she is silent.