ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA. – Calls are growing for Rockdale County leaders to revoke BioLab’s business license after a a September fire sent chemical-filled smoke into the air for days. THE the establishment partially reopened its doors earlier this month. Today, a new petition renews the call for their permanent closure.

“Are pool cleaning products really worth so many millions and millions of dollars wasted?” asked Paul Glaze of the Shut Down BioLab Coalition.

Galze lives in south DeKalb, but is one of several people who experienced physical side effects from the plume following a fire at the BioLab plant on September 29. Officials say work to remove debris and shock from the pool below has released chemicals, such as chlorine. , in the air for days. Thousands of people were evacuated and forced to shelter in place

“We were all sick for several days. After about a week we ended up with coughs and general fatigue,” Glaze said.

On November 4, BioLab representatives said the center had been cleared by relevant authorities to reopen its distribution center, but manufacturing had not yet begun.

THURSDAY, Glaze started a petition to remove BioLab’s commercial license. He said part of the county’s code of ordinance requires commissioners to revoke the license of any business that impacts the public’s health.

“Starting this new petition is really more about educating the community to let them know that we know there’s a lawsuit. We know there’s all this discussion, but it’s very simple. The law already requires let the commission do it,” Glaze explained.

Commissioners announced lawsuit against BioLab last month, citing the physical and emotional toll the business has caused on the community and called for its closure. The law firm Morgan & Morgan said all lawsuits against the company were consolidated into one case. Glaze hopes the commissioners continue to act.

“One time is an accident, three times is a pattern, and four times is just negligence and suspicion,” he said. “So at this point we think they shouldn’t be in business at all.”