Demorest City Council Millage Rate & Budget Public Hearing Demorest Municipal Conference Center . 250, Alabama St Demorest, GA. 30535  Thursday, October. 19, 2023-6:00P.M.  Shawn Allen, Councilman Donnie Bennett, Councilman  Andrew Ferguson, Councilman Megan Chastain, City Clerk Mark Musselwhite, City Manager  Jerry Harkness, Mayor via telephone Thomas Mitchell, City Attorney via zoom  The October 19, 2023, Demorest City Council Millage Rate & Budget Public Hearing was heldi in the  Demorest Municipal Conference Center located at 250. Alabama Street.  1. INVOCATION  Mayor Harkness was attending via telephone sO Councilman Allen led the meeting as a Councilman  and not as Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Musselwhite led the meeting in prayer.  2. CALL TO ORDER  Councilman Allen called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.  3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Councilman Allen asked if there were changes or additions to be made to the agenda. A motion was made by Councilman Ferguson to approve the agenda as presented and was seconded by Councilman ACTION: The motion to approve the agenda as presented was unanimously approved (3-0).  Allen.  4. PUBLIC HEARING FOR 2023 MILLAGE RATE  Mr. Mitchell announced, "The Demorest City Council has tentatively adopted a millage rate which will require an increase in property taxes by 16.51% percent. All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this taxi increase to bel held at Demorest Municipal Conference Center, 250 Alabama Street, Demorest, Georgia on October 26, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. Times and dates of additional publicl hearings are as follows: October 19, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. and October 26, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. also located int the Demorest Municipal Conference Center. This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of6 6.16 mills, an increase of. .873 mills. Without this tentative increase, the millage rate will be no more than 5.287 mills. The proposed taxi increase for al home with at fair market value of $175,0001 is approximately $61.11 and the proposed taxi increase for non-homestead property with ai fair market value of $225,000 is approximately $78.57" and opened the public hearing for Mr. Musselwhite, Mayor  1Page    and Council and all citizens. Mr. Musselwhite presented the options council had with the three tax options (rollback rate of 5.287, we should collect $295,520; % rollback 5.72; we should collect $319,723 and current millage of6.16, we should collect $344,317). No one from the public spoke. The public hearing was closed. Councilman Allen announced the second hearing is October 26 at noon and the  third hearing is October 26 at 6:00 p.m. 5. PUBLIC HEARING FOR 2024 BUDGET  Mr. Mitchell announced, The Mayor and Council of the City of Demorest shall conduct public hearings regarding the proposed fiscal year 2024 budget for the City of Demorest on October 19, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. and October 26, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at the Demorest Municipal Conference Center, 250 Alabama Street, Demorest, Georgia. A draft of the proposed budget has been available for inspection and review at City Hall, 250 Alabama Street, Demorest, Georgia since October 12, 2023. Any person wishing to be heard on the budget may appear and be heard during the public hearings. (OCGA 36-81-5). Mr. Mitchell opened the public hearing to Mr. Musselwhite, the public and Mayor and Council. Mr. Musselwhite reviewed the changes he made tot the budget since the October 12, 2023. Initially, there were two budgets and he combined Draft Budget #1 and Draft Budget #2 and made a few changes. Mr. Musselwhite explained that if we keep the millage rate at 6.16, increase the transfer to water, that gives us a completed balance budget. He explained that if council wanted to remove any expenses, we would then decrease the amounts to be transferred out of water. Each item on Draft Budget #3 was addressed, questions were answered, and comments were made. No member oft the public spoke. The  public hearing was closed.  6. CONSIDERATION OF MULTI-UNIT RATES (2ND READING)  Mr. Mitchell presented the updated multi-unit rates. Mayor Harkness had expressed concern at the last meeting about what a master meter is. Mr. Mitchell updated the multi-unit rate and Harkness spoke to say he reviewed the rate and is okay with the changes made. A motion to adopt the new section in the ordinance (Sec. 74-8a) as presented was made by Councilman Bennett and was ACTION: The motion to adopt the new: section in the ordinance (Sec. 74-8a) as presented was  seconded by Councilman Ferguson. unanimously approved (3-0).  7. CONSIDERATION OF EXTENDING LAND USE MORATORIUM  Mr. Mitchell stated that council voted to extend the moratorium last week but it was a special called meeting soi it was problematic to amend the agenda so Mrs. Chastain added it to this week's agenda. The moratorium will be extended through April 30, 2024. The effective adoption date will be October 19, 2023. A motion to approve the resolution to extend the land use moratorium was made by ACTION: The motion to approve the resolution to extend the land use moratorium was unanimously  Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson.  approved (3-0).  2/Page    8. SURPLUS OF OLD WEAPONS  On May, 2 2023, Council voted to authorize Chief Krockum to purchase new weapons as well as authorize him to surplus their old weapons at al later date. Chief Krockum requested Council to approve the resolution presented as Mr. Mitchell recommended. A motion to accept the resolution as presented was made by Councilman Bennett and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. ACTION: The motion to accept the resolution as presented was unanimously approved (3-0).  9. CONSIDERATION OF WWTP ROOFING BIDS  Mr. Musselwhite presented three bids to repair multiple roofs at the WWTP with United Contracting & Roofing being the lowest at $16,600.73. Mr. Musselwhite recommended United Contracting & Roofing. A motion was made by Councilman Allen to accept the bid from United Contracting & Roofing in the ACTION: The motion to accept thel bid from United Contracting & Roofing in the amount of $16,600.73  amount of $16,600.73 and was seconded by Councilman Bennett.  was unanimously approved (3-0).  10.CONSIDERATION OF USE OF ENGINE 55 PROCEEDS  Mr. Musselwhite stated Irwin County took possession of Engine 55 today. Assistant Chief Palmer presented al breakdown of what he would like to: spend the $15,000 on as well as what should be budgeted fori in the future. Mr. Musselwhite recommended tabling this item and stated he would like to sit down with. Assistant Chief Palmer to get a presentation together with a more precise number and present it next Thursday night. A motion to table was made by Councilman Ferguson and was  seconded by Councilman Bennett.  ACTION: The motion to table was unanimously approved (3-0).  11.CONSIDERATION OF MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION  There was not an executive session. 12.MOTION TO ADJOURN  A motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Bennett and the motion was seconded by Councilman Allen. The motion was unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.  3Page    DEMOR SEAL)  Mayor ofDemorest  Demorest City Clerk  4IPage