Demorest The Heart ofHabersham  Special Called Demorest City Council Regular Session  Demorest Municipal Conference Center . 250 Alabama St Demorest, GA. 30535  Tuesday, April9, 2024-7:00P.M.  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 Regular Session was held in the Demorest Municipal Conference Center  located at 250 Alabama Street.  1. INVOCATION 2. CALLTOORDER  Mayor Harkness opened the meeting by leading in prayer. Mayor Harkness called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m.  3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Mayor Harkness called for a motion to approve the agenda as presented. A motion was made by Councilman Bennett to accept the agenda as amended and was seconded by Councilman Davis. ACTION: The motion to approve the agenda as presented was unanimously approved (4-0). 4. APPEARANCE & PUBLIC COMMENT (please limit your comment to 2 minutes)  Cadet Brody from Troop Five of Clarkesville is requesting the city allow him to put up ai flag retirement box fori the VFW at the City Hall building for his eagle project in honor of his Great Grandpa, Paul Allen.  Council agreed.  5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: March 5, 2024  Mayor Harkness called fora a motion. A motion was made by Councilman Davis to accept the minutes as ACTION: The motion to approve the minutes as presented was unanimously approved (4-0).  presented and was seconded by Councilman Allen.  6. - CONSIDERATION OF EXTENDING LAND USE MORATORIUM  After the discussion made during the Work Session and the changes made on the moratorium printed and provided, Mayor Harkness called for a motion. A motion was made by Councilman Allen to extend  1/Page    the land use moratorium through October 30, 2024 as per the changes just received and was seconded ACTION: The motion to extend the land use moratorium through October 30, 2024 as pert the changes  by Councilman Ferguson.  just received was unanimously approved (4-0).  7. CONSIDERATION OF JOHN BERRY AGREEMENT FOR THE FOURTH OF. JULY  After the discussion during the Work Session, Mayor Harkness called for a motion to allow the City Manager to sign the contract presented. The motion was made by Councilman Ferguson and was ACTION: The motion to allow the City Manager to: sign the contract presented was unanimously  seconded by Councilman Allen. approved (4-0).  8. DISCUSSION OF S.W.M. LAND HOLDING PLAT  After the discussion during the Work Session, Mayor Harkness called for a motion to allow the City Manager to approve and stamp the plat presented. The motion was made by Councilman Ferguson ACTION: The motion to allow the City Manager to approve and stamp the plat presented was  and was seconded by Councilman Allen. unanimously approved (4-0). 9. CONSIDERATION OF LMIG BID  Mayor Harkness presented al bid from Precision Paving and Sealing in the amount of $68,100 to pave a portion of Alabama Street, Georgia Street and Arizona Street. Mayor Harkness called for a motion to accept the bid. A motion was made by Councilman Bennett to accept the $68,100 bidi from Precision ACTION: The motion to allow the City Manager to approve and stamp the plat presented was 10.DISCUSSION OF RECOMMENDATION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION  Paving and Sealing and was seconded by Councilman Davis.  unanimously approved (4-0).  Mayor Harkness asked if council wanted to table this item for a month to see if anyone applies fori the Historic Preservation Commission. A motion to table was made by Councilman Davis and was seconded  by Councilman Allen.  ACTION: The motion to table was unanimously approved (4-0).  11.BATES & CARTER INVOICE  Mayor Harkness called for a motion to pay the $15,000 invoice from Bates & Carter. The motion was ACTION: The motion to pay the. $15,000 invoice from Bates & Carter was unanimously approved (4-0).  made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Davis.  2/Page    12.DISCUSSION OF USE OF OPIOID FUNDS  Through a class action lawsuit, the city received a little over $14,000 in opioid funds. Chief Scheuerer would like to use the: funds to purchase three sets oft turnout gear. Mayor Harkness called for a motion to utilize the opioid funds to purchase three sets of turnout gear. The motion was made by Councilman ACTION: The motion to utilize the opioid funds to purchase three. sets of turnout gear was unanimously  Davis and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson.  approved (4-0).  13.GMA RETIREMENT (2ND READING)  GMA has updated terminology on the Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System Defined Benefit Retirement Plan to reflect recent amendments to comply with changes ini 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. Mayor Harkness called for a motion to accept the GMA retirement as written. A motion was made by Councilman Bennett to accept the GMA retirement as written and was seconded by Councilman Allen. ACTION: The motion to accept the GMA retirement as written was unanimously approved (4-0).  14.MANAGER'S REPORT & REVIEW OF FINANCIALS  Update on wall and handrail Georgia Cities Week is April 21-27 Update on Old City Hall restaurant opening Mark graduates on May 23  Land Use meetings are on April 15 and April 22 at 6:00 PM  The monthly' Water Department, WWTP, Fire Department and Police Department report  Areview oft the February financials  15.APPEARANCE & PUBLIC COMMENT (please limit your comment to 2 minutes)  There were no comments.  16.CONSIDERATION OF MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION (ifr needed)  No executive session. 17.MOTION TO ADJOURN  Ar motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Davis and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. The  motion was unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.  3Page    SENI) EETSIANS  Demorest'City Clerk  54  4IPage