Local businessman and farmer, Brutz English filed a lawsuit against Lamar County in Macon Thursday, August 15, at the U.S. District Court. English is the owner of an agritourism business, Liberty Hill Enterprises, LLC. This business is on English’s farm in the Liberty Hill community at the intersection of High Falls Park Road and Chappell Mill Road where he specializes in quarter horse racing, honey production, and hosting cultural events, especially those catering to the Hispanic community. This Lamar County farm has become a popular site, recognized not only for its agricultural production but also for its events that draw in people from across the region. Brutz English’s efforts in his business and the Barnesville-Lamar County community have made him an influential figure in our local economy.
Brutz English said he began his focus on quarter horse racing in 2012. In that same year, Lamar County granted him a special exception to the zoning of his property, allowing him the opportunity to seek to host these events with the full knowledge and approval of county officials. Since then, English expanded his business and operations, obtaining multiple construction permits. This expansion included the race track, grandstands, and concert stages. For nearly a decade, his business operated without issue, with English routinely enlisting the help of county officials and law enforcement to ensure his events were orderly and safe.
However, the relationship between English and the Lamar County Board of Commissioners became contested in 2022. According to English, despite years of smooth operations and county support, English’s business came under intense criticism from the Board of Commissioners. The first signs of trouble showed when the county, citing noise ordinance violations, began to disrupt the events that had been central to English’s agritourism business. English noted that he was cited in 2014 for a noise violation, but this citation was dismissed before it ever went to trial, suggesting that the county had previously been inclined to address such matters cooperatively.
English said the Board of Commissioners’ position shifted a few years ago, when his applications for permits, including those for alcohol sales, were summarily denied without the customary hearings or due process. Around the same time, the county granted a special exception to another landowner to open and operate an identical racing facility, even issuing a liquor license for alcohol sales during horse races. Noting that he was denied such licensing, Brutz English argues that these actions were not only inconsistent with how similar local businesses have been treated but are also signs of unfair and discriminatory practices, especially since the rival facility continues to operate without interference.
Brutz English views the county’s recent actions as not only a direct attack on his constitutional business rights but also as a form of targeted discrimination against the Hispanic community that his events cater to. According to English, the sudden change in the county’s stance was a disguise to shut down his operations, which have long provided a sanctuary of culture for the Hispanic population. He said that he has personally been informed by county officials that his business was being targeted because it specifically provides a space for Hispanics. English said that no more than four individuals have made complaints about noise at his establishment, and one or more of the complaints mentioned racially-motivated purposes for their actions. There is no formal record of such statements. English added that those complaining were not in the direct vicinity of his farm.
English’s lawsuit against the county cites several instances in which he believes the county government is violating his constitutional rights. He claims that the county has made decisions affecting his business outside of publicly announced meetings, including filing a lawsuit against him in the Lamar County Superior Court in September of 2022, in direct violation of Georgia’s Sunshine Law. This law mandates transparency in government decisions. English argues that these actions have denied him opportunity to defend his operations, thus denying him due process, a right guaranteed by both the United States and Georgia Constitutions, by selectively enforcing vaguely worded and ambiguous ordinances against him. He further asserts that the Board of Commissioners’ conduct has infringed on his property rights and right to fair compensation, as well as his rights to free speech, equal protection, and peaceful assembly. English contends that he has been unfairly singled out and treated differently from other similar businessmen, suffering loss and personal distress as a result of the county’s discriminatory practices.
English’s lawsuit does not include a specific dollar amount in terms of damages. Instead, his focus is on addressing what he perceives as unfair treatment by Lamar County, not financial compensation. “I am not trying to hurt my county,” English said, “I am trying to protect my business.” English is optimistic that they will come to a resolution without going through the legal process, but the lawsuit underscores the depth of his concerns about the county’s treatment of his business. As the case progresses, it will be closely watched by both the local community and other small business owners, as it could set a precedent for how local governments enforce ordinances and interact with similar businesses in the future.
Grant Turner is the editor of the Barnesville Buzz and an educator, coach, and writer based in Barnesville, Georgia. He shares stories that bridge community, faith, and personal growth. In addition to teaching and coaching, Grant is Director of Musical Worship and a Sunday School teacher at New Hope Baptist Church in Zebulon, Georgia. He lives in Barnesville with his wife, Haley.
