Demorest The Heart ofHabersham City of Demorest City Council Regular Session Regular Session Minutes Demorest. Municipal Building Tuesday, May 2, 2023,7:00P.M.  ATTENDEES  Shawn Allen, Councilman John Hendrix, Councilman Jerry Harkness, Mayor  Donnie Bennett, Councilman Mark Musselwhite, City Manager Thomas Mitchell, City Attorney Megan Chastain, City Clerk  Andrew Ferguson, Councilman (via zoom)  The May 2, 2023, Demorest Regular Session was heldi int the Demorest Municipal Building located at: 125  Ivy Street.  AGENDA ITEM 1:1 INVOCATION by leading in prayer. AGENDA ITEM 2: CALLTO ORDER Mayor Harkness called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. AGENDA ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Cadet First Lieutenant Noah Stephens from Habersham Central High School's. JROTCopened the meeting  Mayor Harkness asked ift there were changes or additions to be made to the agenda. Councilman. Allen requested that we change agenda item 11 to CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTING FEDERALHOUDAYS. A motion was made by Councilman Bennett to approve the agenda as amended and was seconded by ACTION: The motion to approve the agenda as amended changing agenda item to CONSIDERATIONOF  Councilman Allen.  ADOPTING FEDERAL HOLIDAYS was unanimously approved (4-0). AGENDA ITEM 4: APPEARANCE AND PUBLIC COMMENT  There were none.  AGENDAI ITEM! 5: CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF MINUTES:! September 27, 2022, March 29 & April4 4 Minutes were presented for approval from September 27, 2022, March: 29 & April 4. Mayor Harkness asked if there were suggested changes to the minutes as presented. On the April 4 meeting, Mayor Harkness stated that on agenda item 7C, Carrol only has one 'r. Mr. Mitchell pointed out that also on agenda item 7C, Mark and. Jennifer Harris should state Carol Lovell instead. AI motion to approve the September 27, 2022 and April 4 minutes as presented and the changes as discussed for April 4 was  made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson.  1Page    ACTION: A motion to approve the. September 27, 2022 and April4 4 minutes as presented and the changes  as discussedj for April 4 was unanimously approved (4-0). AGENDAI ITEM 6: CONSIDERATION OF GDOT NO COSTI LETTER  Mayor Harkness presented a no cost letter from. Mayor Harkness called for ai motion to give Mr. Musselwhite the authority to sign the GDOT no cost letter. A motion was made by Councilman Bennett ACTION: A motion to give Mr. Musselwhite the authority to sign the GDOTI no cost letter was AGENDA ITEM7: CONSIDERATION OF HABERSHAM PARTNERSHIP FOR GROWTH INVOICE Mayor Harkness presented the yearly Habersham Partnership for Growthi invoice for $5000.00. He asked ifthere was any further discussion. Councilman. Allen stated this not only benefits usi fore economic development but also because of all of the water lines we have throughout the county. Councilman Allen made ar motion to approve the payment to continue the partnership with Habersham Partnership ACTION: A motion approve the payment to continue the partnership with Habersham Partnership. for  and was seconded by Councilman Allen. unanimously approved (4-0).  for Growth and was seconded by Councilman Bennett. Growth was unanimously approved (4-0).  AGENDA ITEM 8: CONSIDERATION OF TALLULAH FALLS WATER RATE INCREASE  The City of Toccoa is going up on our water rates which means we have to go up on our water rates for Tallulah Falls to cover the cities operating cost. Mayor Harkness announced that this rate change will be effective. July 1, 2023. AI motion to increase the water rate for Tallulah Falls effective. July 1, 2023 was ACTION: A motion to increase the water. rate for Tallulah Falls effective. July 1, 2023 was unanimously  made by Councilman. Allen and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson.  approved (4-0).  AGENDA ITEM 9: CONSIDERATION OF WEAPON UPGRADE  As per the discussion made during the work: session, Chief Krockum is asking council to authorize him to purchase new weapons as well as authorize him to surplus the old weapons at al later date. Mayor Harkness called for a motion.. A motion to purchase the weapons with seizure funds and to allow them surplus the old weapons at al later date was made by Councilman Bennett and was seconded by ACTION: A motion to purchase the weapons with seizure funds and to allow them. surplus the old  Councilman Allen.  weapons at a later date was unanimously approved (4-0).  AGENDA ITEM: 10: CONSIDERATION OF EXPENDITURE OF OPIOID FUNDS  As per the discussion made during the work session, Chief Knight is wanting to use the opioid funds to purchase two sets of turnout gear. Mayor Harkness called for a motion.. AI motion to approve the  2IPage    purchase oft the two sets of turnout gear with the opioid funds was made by Councilman Bennett and ACTION: A motion to approve the purchase of the two sets of turnout gear with the opioid funds was  was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. unanimously approved (4-0).  AGENDA ITEM: 11: CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTING FEDERAL HOLIDAYS  As discussed in the work session, council is adopting all federal holidays plus the holidays already adopted in the past which include Good Friday, Day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve. Mayor Harkness called for a motion to accept those changes. The motion was made by Councilman. Allen and ACTION: A motion to adopt allj federal holidays plus the holidays already adopted in the past which include Good Friday, Day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve was unanimously approved (4-0). AGENDA ITEM 12: CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS TO LAND USE ORDINANCE Mr. Mitchell presented an ordinance that makes changes to a number of provisions in our land use ordinance to bringi it into compliance with state law. The most substantial change is the terms conditional use has been changed to special use and there are additional notices and special hearings for variances and administrative type of appeals. Mayor Harkness called fora a motion. AI motion was made to wave the first reading of thel land use amendments and was seconded by Councilman Bennett. ACTION: A motion to wave the first reading of the land use amendments was unanimously approved (4-  was seconded by Councilman Hendrix.  0).  AGENDA ITEM 13: CONSIDERATION OF BANK ACCOUNT: SIGNERS  AI motion wasi made to add Mark Musselwhite as an account signer on accounts ending in 0348, 7898, 9210, 9202, 9244, 9194, 9236, 9269, and 9228 and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. ACTION: A motion to add Mark Musselwhite as an account signer on accounts ending in 0348, 7898, 9210, 9202, 9244, 9194,9236, 9269, and 9228 was unanimously approved (4-0). A motion to add Mark Musselwhite as a signer for the opioid and seizure account at Rabun County Bank was made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. ACTION: A motion to add Mark Musselwhite as a signer) for the opioid and seizure account at Rabun Amotion to name Megan Chastain as the Account Administrator at United Community Bank was made ACTION: A motion to name Megan Chastain as the Account. Administrator at United Community Bank  County Bank was unanimously approved (4-0).  by Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson.  was unanimously approved (4-0).  3Page    AGENDA ITEM: 14: MANAGER'S REPORT & REVIEW OF FINANCIALS Mr. Musselwhite made a report to Mayor and Council that included the following: Areview of the successful Georgia Cities Week Cade Lancaster achieved his Drinking Water Laboratory Analyst certificate. The Fire Department, Water Department and' WWTP monthly report. Ar review of the auditorium update employee handbook Areview of the March financials  Notified council that he has started working with someone at Carl Vinson on updating the Discussed and confirmed with council that the parade willl begin at 4:00 PM  AGENDA ITEM 15: APPEARANCE AND PUBLIC COMMENT  There was none.  AGENDA ITEM1 14: CONSIDERATION OF MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE! SESSION (if needed) AI motion was made by Councilman Bennett and was seconded by Councilman Allen to adjourn and reconvene in Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of personnel and real estate. This portion  of Regular Session adjourned at 7:43 p.m.  Amotion was made by Councilman Bennett and was seconded by Councilman Hendrix to come out of Executive Session and reconvene in Regular Session. The motion was unanimously carried, and Regular  Session reconvened at 8:51 p.m.  AGENDAI ITEM 15: CONSIDERATION OF CITY MANAGER CONTRACT  Mayor Harkness announced that the city had decided on a City Manager contract. A motion to accept the City Manager contract was made by Councilman Bennett and was seconded by Councilman Allen. ACTION: A motion to accept the City Manager contract was approved (3-0 Councilman Ferguson was  having technical diffculties) AGENDAIFEM: 15: MOTIONTOADDURN  Amotion to adjourn wasmade! by oumdmanpl--macten was seconded by Councilman Bephett. The motion) was unanimglsiapproya: The meeting adjourned at 9:51 p.m.  DEMORES SEAL)  Demorest City Clerk  4  4/Page