Demorest The Heart ofHabersham Demorest City Council Special Called Regular Session Demorest Municipal Conference Center . Thursday, October 12, 2023 . 7:00P.M. ATTENDEES Shawn Allen, Councilman Donnie Bennett, Councilman Jerry Harkness, Mayor Andrew Ferguson, Councilman Megan Chastain, City Clerk Thomas Mitchell, City Attorney Mark Musselwhite, City Manager The October 12, 2023, Demorest Regular Session was held in the Demorest Municipal Conference Center located at: 250. Alabama Street. 1. INVOCATION Mayor Harkness opened the meeting by leading in prayer. 2. CALLTOORDER Mayor Harkness called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. Assistant Police Chief Chastain announced the promotion of James Minutello to lieutenant. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Harkness requested to strike CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSAL OF CITY HALL, under 10 add ACG PROPOSALS, and modify 12B to request quotes. A motion to approve the agenda as amended was ACTION: The motion to amend the agenda as requested was unanimously approved (3-0). 4. APPEARANCE & PUBLIC COMMENT (please limit your comment to 2 minutes) made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. Mayor Harkness announced early voting is starts Monday, October 16 at the registrar'soffice Mayor Harkness thanked Bryan Popham and crew, Rick Barron with MPE, Bill Lewellen, CCS Audio and Sound, Jeremy Cooper with Tech and Audio Sound, ACG, Kerry Payton with Chattahoochee Air, City Plumbing, Lisa Hooper Cleaning Services, Recardo with Prada's Painting, Mike Duncan with Traditions Bank, and Mark Musselwhite for all the hard work put Bobby Sebert from 275 Main St expressed her issues with exiting Palmer Ally. Emergency vehicles/buses cannot turn. She and her neighbor across the street are willing to allow the city to use their property to widen the street and allow it to be al legal two-way street VS a one-way and voting dayi is November 7 at 125 Ivy Street. forth int the new Demorest Municipal Conference Center & Court. 1Page street. She also stated that Maine/Arizonia is a dumping site. Mark, Robin & Bryan will work on Mr. Musselwhite announced the Downtown Halloween event is October 31 from 5-8PM Councilman Ferguson announced the community yard salei is October 21. thei issues presented. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: September 12 Mayor Harkness called for a motion. A motion to approve the minutes as presented was made by Councilman Bennett and was seconded by Councilman Allen Approved as presented. ACTION: The motion to accept the minutes as presented was unanimously approved (3-0). 6. CONSIDERATION OF EXPANDING THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT Jamie Allred requested expanding the entertainment district to be able to serve on his patio. Mayor and Council discussed expandingi the entertainment district to cover crossing through Georgia Street as well as parcels 078 050, 078 051, 078 052 and 078 053. A motion to expand the entertainment district from Hazel toi the middle of Georgia Street in front of where it ist now all way to 441 was made by ACTION: The motion to expand the entertainment district) from Hazel to the middle of Georgia Street in Councilman Bennett and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. front of where it is now all way to 441 was unanimously approved (3-0). 7. CONSIDERATION OF MULTI-UNIT RATES On the multi-unit rate presented in councils packet, Mr. Mitchell made changes primarily to subsection Subsection A: All existing multi-unit buildings (including but not limited to apartments, townhomes, condominiums, and commercial buildings containing multiple tenant spaces) with a utility-owned master meter shall be billed a monthly base fate-thatis water and sewer rate that are equivalent to the established monthly base rate for a single unit times the number of units within thel building as indicated by planning and zoning approved plans, whether occupied or not, plus any excess water used Subsection D: If an owner of multi-family dwelling or complex, or non-residential building fails toi install as separate water meter for each individual dwelling unit or separately ewned occupied non-residential unit, the water service to customer or customers at that address shall be discontinued until the property owner complies with the requirements of this section. In addition to any required reconnection fees, the owner shall payt two times thei tapi fee for each separate meter and two times the base charge for each month that separate meters should have been in use. Mayor Harkness mentioned that he felt like the way this multi-unit rate reads isn't clear on how many meters are required at your house if fori instance you had al house and a shop and he would like Mr. Mitchell to make a change to make it clearer. Mr. Mitchell agreed to make the changes and asked Mrs. Chastain to add this to the next meeting agenda. Mayor Harkness called for a motion. A motion was made by Councilman Allen to wave the first reading and was seconded by Councilman Bennett. ACTION: The motion to wave the first reading was unanimously approved (3-0). Aand subsection D: above the calculated minimum charge. 2Page 8. CONSIDERATION OF ZONING ORDINANCE PROPOSAL Mayor Harkness stated council has three proposals ini front oft them and the moratorium expires tonight at midnight. Mr. Musselwhite recommends moving forward with Carothers & Mitchell and have David Elder with Valiant review it as a second opinion. A motion was made by Councilman Bennett to accept Carothers & Mitchell's bid as well as extend the moratorium until April 30, 2024 and ACTION: The motion to accept Carothers & Mitchell's bid as well as extend the moratorium until April was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. 30, 2024 was unanimously approved (3-0). 9. CONSIDERATION OF FLAKE FLOOR SYSTEM QUOTE FOR PARK PAVILION Mayor Harkness presented a proposal in the amount of $11,1851 from Enterprise Inc for a flake floor system and as Mr. Musselwhite had mentioned, this type of flooring is easy to clean andi isn't slippery. Mr. Popham recommended moving forward with the flake floor system as he felt like it would help prevent falling. AI motion to approve the bid presented was made by Councilman Allen and was ACTION: The motion to approve the bid as presented was unanimously approved (3-0). seconded by Councilman Ferguson. Amendment: ACG PROPOSALS The first proposal ini the amount of $8266.45 is for automatic lock/unlock controls on the bathroom doors. Mayor Harkness loves the idea of automatic locks but would like for our Police Departmentto visually look at the bathroom each day vs looking at a camera. The second proposal in the amount of $17,985.47 is to install cameras on the outside oft the Police Department for safety purposes. Mayor Harkness stated he would like to explore other cameras options because he feels like we need to be price conscientious. Councilman Bennett stated the video is super important and he agreed that we needed to be price conscientious. After a lengthy discussion on cost, safety, camera visual Mayor Harkness called for a motion. A motion was made by Councilman Bennett to accept the bid from ACG ACTION: The motion to accept the bid from ACG in the amount of $17,985.47 was unanimously int the amount of $17,985.47 and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. approved (3-0). 10. CONSIDERATION OF OFFER TO PURCHASE E5 TRUCK Mayor Harkness announced an offer from Irwin County in the amount of $15,000 for Engine 55.A motion was made by Councilman Bennett to surplus Engine 55 and was seconded by Councilman Allen. A motion was made by Councilman Allen to accept the offer and sell Engine 55 to Irwin County Georgia ACTION: The motion to accept the offer and sell Engine. 55 to Irwin County Georgia for the sum of for the sum of $15,000 and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. $15,000 was unanimously approved (3-0). 3Page 11. CONSIDERATION OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT EXPENDITURES A. Utility Vehicle Quote(s) Two quotes for al bobcat utility vehicle that the sewer department budgeted for were presented. A motion to accept the bid from Bobcat in the amount of $19,168.73 and was seconded by ACTION: The motion to accept the bid from Bobcat in the amount of $19,168.73 was unanimously Councilman Ferguson. approved (3-0). B. Roofing Quote Mr. Mitchell stated that the city would need to obtain more bids with it being over $10,000. A motion to authorize the City Manager to obtain three bids was made by Councilman Bennett and ACTION: The motion to authorize the City Manager to obtain three bids was unanimously approved was: seconded by Councilman Allen. (3-0). 12. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION TO TRANSFER ALL BANK ACCOUNTS TO TRADITIONS BANK (RCB) Mayor Harkness stated it was a requirement to move all our accounts including a CD at Pinnacle Bank to Traditions Bank as part of the lowi interest rate on this building (City Hall). A motion was made by Councilman Allen move all our accounts including a CD at Pinnacle Bank to Traditions Bank and was ACTION: The motion to move all our accounts including a CD at Pinnacle Bank to Traditions Bank was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. unanimously approved (3-0). 13. REVIEW OF 2024 DRAFT BUDGET Mr. Musselwhite presented two budgets (Budget 1/Budget 2) and reviewed each line item in both proposed 2024 budgets. Both budgets reflected the millage rate at 6.16a and a 14% increase on water/sewer rates. Each item was addressed, questions were answered, and comments were made. Mr. Musselwhite recommended Mayor and Council review both and email or call with any recommended changes before the next scheduled meeting. 14. MANAGER'S REPORT & REVIEW OF FINANCIALS The Fire Department, Police Department, Water Department and WWTP monthly report. Presented a VFW wreath proposal and recommends the city move forward with the donation. Clinton agreed toi take over code enforcement for the City. Mayor and Council agreed that canceling the contract with Bureau Veritas and moving code enforcement in house isa an Areview of the August financials Council agreed. Post office update administrative matter. 4IPage 15. APPEARANCE & PUBLIC COMMENT (please limit your comment to 2 minutes) Jim Welborn questioned council about repairing the garbage truck VS buying a new one. 16. CONSIDERATION OF MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION (ifneeded) Amotion was made by Councilman Allen and was: seconded by Councilman Ferguson to adjourn and reconvene in Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of personnel and potential litigation and acquisition of real estate. This portion of Regular Session adjourned at 9:06 p.m. An motion was made by Councilman Ferguson and was seconded by Councilman Bennett to come out of Executive Session and reconvene in Regular Session. The motion was unanimously carried, and Regular Session reconvened at 9:20 p.m. 15.ADJOURN Amotion to adjourn-was-made by Councilman Bennett and the motion was seconded by Councilman Ferguson-The motion was unanimousW approved. The meetingadjourned at 9:22 p.m. Mayor of Demorest SENI) N Demorest City Clerk 5Page