Demorest The. Hear! ofHabersham  Demorest City Council Special Called Regular Session  Demorest Municipal Conference Center . Tuesday, September. 12, 2023 . 7:00P.M.  ATTENDEES  Shawn Allen, Councilman Donnie Bennett, Councilman Jerry Harkness, Mayor John Hendrix, Councilman  Andrew Ferguson, Councilman Megan Chastain, City Clerk Thomas Mitchell, City Attorney Mark Musselwhite, City Manager  The September 12, 2023, Demorest Work. Session was held in the Demorest Municipal Conference  Center located at 250 Alabama Street.  1. INVOCATION  Thomas Burnett, Director of Habersham FCA, opened the meeting by leading in prayer and Cadet  Wallace lead the pledge. 2. CALLTO ORDER  Mayor Harkness called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Mayor Harkness requested to add CONSIDERATION OF DEIB RESOLUTION as number 12, CONSIDERATION OF NEW DDA MEMBER as number 13, and remove agenda item 7 PROPOSAL FOR BUSINESS INCUBATOR BETWEEN PU AND CITY OF DEMOREST. A motion was made by Councilman Hendrix to approve the agenda as amended and was seconded Councilman Ferguson. ACTION: The motion to amend the agenda as requested was unanimously approved (4-0). 4. APPEARANCE & PUBLIC COMMENT (please limit your comment to 21 minutes)  There were none. 5. 2022 Audit Review  Amanda with Bates & Carter gave a review of the 2022 Audit. Amanda recommends the city look at the support that is going into the general fund and how that is being maintained and looked at independently of the other the funds the city is also maintain. A motion was made by Councilman Allen to accept, sign off and submit the audit to the state and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. ACTION: The motion to accept, sign off and submit the audit to the. state was unanimously approved  (4-0).  1Page    6.A APPROVAL OF MINUTES:. July 13, July 20 & August 1  An motion was made by Councilman Bennett to accept the minutes as presented and was seconded by ACTION: The motion to approve the minutes as presented was unanimously approved (4-0).  Councilman Allen.  7. CONSIDERATION OF ZONING ORDINANCE PROPOSAL  After the discussion made during the Work Session, Council agreed to table this item until next month when Mr. Mitchell has his proposal to present. A motion was made by Councilman Bennett to table and ACTION: The motion to table CONSIDERATION OF ZONING ORDINANCE PROPOSAL was unanimously  was seconded by Councilman Ferguson.  approved (4-0).  8. DISCUSSION OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION  Mayor Harkness recommended council table this item for six months. A motion was made by Councilman Allen to table for six months and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. ACTION: The motion to table DISCUSSION OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION) for six months  was unanimously approved (4-0).  9. FINALIZED LEAD & COPPER RULE REVISIONS  Mayor Harkness stated that we have to do an audit of any lead and copper pipes that we have in our system. An inventory list is mandated by EPA. Due to the mandate, we have a quote presented ini the amount of $7500 from EMI. Mayor Harkness called for a motion. A motion was made by Councilman Hendrix to contract with EMI and move forward and was seconded by Councilman Allen. ACTION: The motion to contract with EMI and move, forward was unanimously approved (4-0).  10. RESIGNATION OF DONNIE FROM DDA & THE PARK COMMITTEE  Mayor Harkness stated we needed to accept Donnie's resignation from DDA and the Park Committee. AI motion was made by Councilman Allen to accept Donnie's resignation from DDA and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. A motion was made by Councilman Allen to accept Donniesresignation from ACTION: The motion to accept Donnie's resignation from DDA was approved (3-0 Councilman Bennett ACTION: The motion to accept Donnie's resignation from the Park Committee was approved (3-0  the Park Committee and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson.  did not vote).  Councilman Bennett did not vote). 11. CONSIDERATION OF LISTING AGREEMENT  Chief Knight proposed that the city list Engine 55 with Brindlee Mountain for $30,000. The company will charge 10% of the sale or $500 ifi it is sold for less than $150,000. They are listing the truck for $500 and if they bring us a buyer, the city will have to vote to surplus the firetruck. Chief Knight requested  2/Page    that whatever the fire truck is sold for that the funds be used for fire departments use. A motion was made by Councilman Bennett to move forward with Brinlee Mountain to list the truck for $30,000 and ACTION: The motion to move forward with Brinlee Mountain to list the truck) for $30,000 was  was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. unanimously approved (4-0). 12. CONSIDERATION OF DEIB RESOLUTION  Councilman Hendrix stated this resolution is declaring intent to seek the GMAI Diversity, Equity, Inclusion &B Belonging certification and with that, we as they City recognize that these principles are important to us and we are going to work toward making everyone feel like they belong to our community and recognize diversity and equity and include everyone. Mr. Musselwhite has been designated as our spokes/contact person who will coordinate the steps as we go through. A motion was made by Councilman Hendrix to move forward the DEIB resolution and was seconded by Councilman Bennett. ACTION: The motion to move, forward with the DEIB RESOLUTION was unanimously approved (4-0).  13. CONSIDERATION OF NEW DDA MEMBER  DDA is recommending the city accept Rebecca Brantley as a member of the DDA. A motion was made by Councilman. Allen to accept Rebecca Brantley as a member of the DDA and was seconded by ACTION: The motion to accept Rebecca Brantley as a member of the DDA: was unanimously approved  Councilman Ferguson.  (4-0).  14. MANAGER'S REPORT & REVIEW OF FINANCIALS  Mr. Musselwhite made a report to Mayor and Council that included the following:  Welcome and appreciation of New Demorest Municipal Conference Center & Court building The Fire Department, Police Department, Water Department and' WWTP monthly report.  Areview of the. July financials Post Office & Park progress update  Old Municipal Building to possibly be used for classroom for FD &PD Hazel Creek Bridge is to be completed on. January 1, 2026 Garbage truck is out of service but will have more updates to come  20. CONSIDERATION OF MOTION' TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION (if needed)  There was not an executive session. 21. MOTION TO ADJOURN  A motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Allen and the motion was seconded by Councilman Hendrix. The motion was unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m.  3Page    DEMOR SEAL  Mayoropbemoreit  RSHAM  Demorest City Clerk  4/Page