Proposed county discrimination‑complaint process prompts debate over scope and enforceability

County Attorney Debbie Blair presented a draft local ordinance enabling someone who believes they were discriminated against in a public‑serving facility to file a complaint with the county clerk; the clerk would forward the complaint to the respondent and a mediator, and unresolved matters could proceed to magistrate court with a fine of up to $1,000 for discrimination violations under the draft.

Blair said the draft does not displace state or federal law or private remedies; it is intended as an additional route for complaint resolution, relying on the county’s police powers and modeled on ordinances used by other Georgia jurisdictions. "There are several jurisdictions in Georgia that have a similar ordinance," Blair said, noting Smyrna and DeKalb County as examples. Commissioners raised numerous concerns: cost and budgeting for outside mediators, who would pay mediator fees, whether the process would constitute government overreach into private business operations, and whether the ordinance would simply duplicate existing state/federal remedies.

Some commissioners advocated for the deterrent and signaling functions of such an ordinance, arguing it shows the county intends to be an inclusive community; others cautioned about unintended consequences, administrative costs and legal vulnerabilities. Blair said staff would follow up with drafts that clarify funding, screening procedures and appeal rights.