I don't doubt anything you have said.
Just realize this. storage building permit and production facility permits are two completely different permits. The latter requires electrical, plumbing and HVAC contractors to all be listed. Without this permit, as you verified yourself from the permit officer, NOTHING can be built inside the barn. I can't deny that they may have put a concrete floor in there since January. If they have poured a concrete floor, don't you think they would have shown everybody pictures of that?