It's not every day that a church shows up in force at a Columbia County Commission meeting, demanding money back from government officials.

It's equally rare for a county commissioner to warn a church member against bullying. But in Columbia County, a zoning fee charged to a Grovetown church recently sparked a debate about whether churches should be exempt from certain county fees.

County commissioners say they're now considering what action to take on a practice they admit hasn't been totally fair.

"There has been inequity in the system over the past, and we'll make a decision at the next meeting as to whether there will be a program to exempt certain uses or whether there will be no exceptions for the rezoning fee," Columbia County Commission Chairman Ron Cross said at the commission's recent meeting.

At issue is how exemptions of some county fees have been applied to nonprofit organizations. Sometimes the fees are charged; other times they're waived. Water Branch Baptist Church in Grovetown recently was rezoned from Residential-Agriculture to Special-1, a typical zoning for churches, and charged a rezoning fee of $535. The rezoning was required by the county because the church was looking to enlarge its facility.

The problem is that the church had been zoned R-A since the 1980s, and members said they were never notified of that incorrect zoning.

They contend the church should have been zoned S-1 from the beginning, and that it's a mistake that should have been corrected by the county at no charge.

The church also learned that some churches - those that know how to request an exemption - are not charged a rezoning fee. Water Branch members realized this after paying their fee, and now they're requesting a refund, which hasn't been given yet.

"Now we're penalized because we like to pay our bills on time," said Water Branch member Luther Wilson Jr., who spoke at the recent commission meeting. "We paid and found out that we didn't need to pay, so we are expecting our money back."

Mr. Wilson then asked a large group of church members in the audience to stand.

"We are together, and we will not settle for anything other than $535 cash," he said.

Commissioner Tommy Mercer responded, saying, "I just want you to know that this commission will not be bullied into any decisions. We will do what's right."

"$535!" Mr. Wilson shot back from the audience.

Mr. Mercer later said he was considering paying the church out of his own pocket until the demand was made.

Now the commission is considering whether an overall policy change is needed, either to exempt all churches from such fees or to require them all to pay it. That decision could come as early as the commission's next meeting July 17.

Either way, Mr. Wilson says his church should receive a refund.

"That's our contention, that we deserve to be given the money back, and I think we deserve an apology," he said.