Demorest The Hearl ofHabersham  Special Called Demorest City Council Work Session  Demorest Municipal Conference Center . 250/ Alabama St Demorest, GA. 30535  Tuesday, Apnl9,2024-G0OPM.  ATTENDEES:  Shawn Allen, Councilman Donnie Bennett, Councilman Jerry Harkness, Mayor Jimmy Davis, Councilman  Andrew Ferguson, Councilman Megan Chastain, City Clerk Thomas Mitchell, City Attorney Mark Musselwhite, City Manager  The April 9, 2024 Special Called Work Session was held int the Demorest Municipal Conference Center  located at 250 Alabama Street.  1. INVOCATION  Mayor Harkness opened the meeting by leading in prayer.  2. CALLTO ORDER  Mr. Rhett (student from Demorest Elementary School) called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  3. PRESENTATION OF DEMOREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROCLAMATION  Mayor Harkness presented Demorest Elementary! School with a proclamation. The students read an average of seventy-seven thousand minutes per week for four weeks which ranked them as number  one int the state of Georgia and number two in the nation. 4. CONSIDERATION OF EXTENDING LAND USE MORATORIUM  Mr. Mitchell presented a modified land use moratorium that would expire October 30, 2024. The difference between the current moratorium and the previous is a third of an acre or more and platted inas subdivision to protect while we are updating the rules and regulations. Mayor Harkness requested  we continue with the one acre minimum we've had in place.  5. CONSIDERATION OF. JOHN BERRY AGREEMENT FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY  Councilman Ferguson presented a. John Berry agreement for the fourth of July entertainment. Mr. Berry is not the opening act, but he will allow the opening act of our choice to use his sound that will be set up. Councilman Ferguson said he was asking for at two-night accommodation which in not listed  int the contract.  1IPage    6. CONSIDERATION OF CEMETERY ORDINANCE (1*READING)  Mr. Mitchell presented an ordinance from the City of Monroe. Councilman Allen asked ift the ordinance discussed cremation/burial burns and the difference between what is required? Mr. Mitchell indicated that this ordinance did not, but he could make the change. Councilman Davis questioned if you are required to purchase a plot which is consisting oft two spots VS one single spot. Mr. Davis would like to see the ordinance changed to having the option to sell single grave spots. This is a first reading.  7. DISCUSSION OF S.W.M. LAND HOLDING PLAT  Mr. Musselwhite presented the S.W.M. Land Holding plat. In 2020, the previous City Manager approved a plat for a piece of property that was broke into multiple parcels but did not pass city ordinance to be approved. Thomas indicated that the ordinance says every lot is supposed to have access to a public street and an easement that is shared between the four different parcels is not the intent of what our ordinance is saying. However, in this case, the prior City Manager had already approved it and although there is no indication the council approved it, Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Musselwhite think that it doesn'ts seem right to refuse to allow it. Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Musselwhite proposed changes to S.W.M. Land Holding and the changes were reflected on the plat and Mr. Mitchell indicated that they could not move forward with permits unless they use the presented plat stamped  and approved by Mr. Musselwhite. 8. CONSIDERATION OF LMIG BID  Mr. Musselwhite presented the only LMIG bid we received for our 2024 LMIG projects. The bid total is $68,100. Mr. Musselwhite indicated that there was supposed to be another bid from another company, and he gave them a few extra days to submit it but never received it. Musselwhite stated we received $37,000 in LMIG funds and we will use! SPLOST funds for the remaining balance. 9. DISCUSSION OF RECOMMENDATION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Mr. Musselwhite explained that we have an applicant on Sosebee/Holly and N Hazel who is ready to build a house. The applicant was given a permit but the city has since pulled the permit after realizing the location is within the historic district. The builder has submitted an email with his plans to move forward and requested it be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission. The Historic Preservation Commission has 45 days to review the application and respond. After the 45 days, he gets his permit on the 46th day being that we do not have a Historic Preservation Commission.  10.BATES & CARTER INVOICE  Mr. Musselwhite presented the first invoice in the amount of $15,000 of the audit for approval.  2Page    11.DISCUSSION OF USE OF OPIOID FUNDS  Mr. Musselwhite reminded Mayor and Council that we: still have $8600 from 2023 that Council approved for Chief Knight to spend on turnout gear butt there was a mistake made andi the money' was spent from the general fund instead of the opioid fund. We received $5600 in March 2024. Chief Scheuerer presented al breakdown of how much it cost for one set of turnout gear which comes out to roughly $5500 per person. Chief Scheuerer is requesting to use the funds to purchase more turnout  gear.  12.GMA RETIREMENT (2ND READING)  Mr. Mitchell explained that GMA updated terminology on the Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System Defined Benefit Retirement Plan to reflect recent amendments to comply with changes in federal tax law. To ensure continued tax-qualified status for all GMEBS-member retirement plans, all participating employers must readopt their plans using the most recent IRS approved Adoption  Agreement.  13.CONSIDERATION OF MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION (if needed)  A motion was made by Councilman Bennett and was seconded by Councilman Davis to adjourn and reconvene in Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of personnel. This portion oft the Work  Session adjourned at 6:50 p.m.  A motion was made by Councilman Bennett and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson to come out of Executive Session and reconvene in Work. Session. The motion was unanimously carried, and the Work  Session reconvened at 7:07 p.m.  14.ADJOURN  The meeting adjourned at 7:07 p.m,  DEMORES SEAL)  Mayor of Demorest  BERS  VA  Demorest City Clerk  3Page