Demorest The Hearlo ofHabersham City of Demorest City Council Meeting Regular Session Minutes Demorest Municipal Building Tuesday, June 7, 2022,7:00P.M.  ATTENDEES  Shawn Allen, Councilman John Hendrix, Councilman Jerry Harkness, Mayor Andrew Ferguson, Councilman  Megan Chastain, Interim City Clerk Thomas Mitchell, City Attorney Kim Simonds, City Manager  The. June 7, 2022, Demorest City Council meeting was heldi in the Demorest Municipal Building located  at 125 Ivy Street.  AGENDA ITEMI !: INVOCATION AND PLEDGE TO THE FLAG  Mayor Harkness opened the meeting by leading in prayer and the pledge to the flag.  AGENDA ITEMI Il: CALLTO ORDER  Mayor Harkness called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. AGENDA ITEM Il: APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Mayor Harkness asked that an item, 'entertainment district," be added to the agenda. He asked if there were other changes or additions to be made to the agenda. A motion to approve the agenda as amended was made by Councilman Allen and seconded by Councilman Hendrix. ACTION: The motion to approve the agenda as amended (adding entertainment district) was  unanimously approved (3-0).  AGENDA ITEM IV: APPEARANCE AND PUBLIC COMMENTS  Councilman Hendrix gave a "hats off" to the Publics Works department. Duei to their hard work and diligence, they were designated as an outstanding performer at a recent EPD inspection. Theyare currently working on a massive project on Georgia Street and are working hard to complete it as soona as Philip Smith owns property on the corner of Wisconsin Street and Central Ave. There is al house on one of the lots that is approximately 6 inches from the property line oft the other lot he owns. He is requesting a variance to build another house on that lot. He: said he would be able to meet the set back requirements. Hei is requesting a variance because the property thati is already there is 5%1 ft from the line instead of6 61 feet. Mr. Mitchell said it will have to go through the advertising process and thent there  possible. Hopefully it will be completed by early August.  1Page    would need to be a public hearing at the next City Council meeting. He also said that after reviewing the survey, iti is not clear if that iti isa al lot of record. Ift thati is the case, it would be creating a non-conforming lot which generally cannot be done. Mr. Mitchell said he will review it before the public hearing.  AGENDA ITEM V: PUBLIC HEARING FOR ARLINGTON ST unit buildings on the medium intensity lot (077-058).  Dave Sleppy and. Joe Sleppy presented a map of the general layout ofa 48-unit apartment complex they are hoping to build. It would include two 16-unit buildings on the high intensity lot (077-064) and two 8- The following residents voices their concerns and spoke against the 48-unit apartment complex: Don Simpkins, Frank Dean, Betty Gragg, Bobbie Seibert, Ed Hendrix, Jimmy Smith, and Scott Quillian. The developers addressed all concerns and said they are open to anyi ideas but that they wanted to Attorney Mitchell said the older plat shows there is a 50-foot right-of-way which means there is room to improve Arlington St. He said council can vote to denyi it or approve it, table it, or ask for additional information. He recommended that council tablei it with direction fort the City Manager and attorney to  move forward and do the best they can for the community.  get additional information before making a decision.  AGENDA ITEM VI: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MARCH 12, 2022/MAY3, 2022  Mayor Harkness asked if there were changes to be made to the minutes as presented from the March 12, 2022 and May 3, 2022 minutes. A motion to approve the minutes as presented was made by ACTION: The motion to approve the agenda as presented was unanimously approved (3-0).  Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Hendrix.  AGENDA ITEM VII: MANAGER'S REPORT  Ms. Simonds made a report to Mayor and Council that included the following: Claire Rogers won the Fourth of July t-shirt contest. Staff is working hard on the up coming Forth of July Celebration.  The grant application for the rural development program was submitted on Thursday. Demorest is working with other municipalities in the county to produce standardized  development guidelines. Ar review oft the May financial report. AGENDA ITEM VII!: MAINE STTRAFFICISSUES  Councilman Ferguson reviewed the multiple traffic concerns that council and residents have been talking about during the last few meetings. Aftera lengthy discussion, Councilman Ferguson made a motion that traffic flows on Maine! St from Long St towards Palmer Allya and from Maine St to Demorest- Mt. Airy Hwy. The motions died due to lack ofa a second. Councilman Allen reiterated that this issue can  always be revisited in the future.  2IPage    AGENDA ITEMI IX: ETHICS COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS  Mayor Harkness asked fora a motion to table the Ethics Committee appointments as discussed in the Work Session. A motion was made by Councilman Allen and seconded by Councilman Ferguson. ACTION: The motion to table the Ethics Committee appointments was unanimously approved (3-0). Mayor Harkness asked for a motion to pass both IGAS. Councilman Allen made a motion to approve both ACTION: The motion to approve both IGAS simultaneously was unanimously approved (3-0).  AGENDA ITEM X: WATER TOWER IGA  IGAS simultaneously and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson.  AGENDA ITEM XI: PURCHASE OF OLD DEMOREST ELEM SCHOOL BUILDING  As discussed in the Work Session, there is a bond hearing on. June 30th at 9:00 am. Attorney Mitchell said a motion was needed to authorize the Mayor and City Manager to execute the necessary documents sO that he can present them to the DA. Mayor Harkness called for such a motion. A motion was made by ACTION: The motion to authorize the Mayor and City Manager to execute the necessary documents for the purchase of the old Demorest Elementary School was unanimously approved (3-0). AGENDA ITEM XII: CONSIDERATION OF AGREEMENTS & DOCUMENTS RELATED TO PURCHASE OF ODE  Councilman Hendrix and seconded by Councilman Allen.  This agenda item was covered in with agenda item XI. AGENDA ITEM XIII: BIDS FOR OLD DEMOREST ELEM ROOF was made by Councilman Allen and seconded by Councilman Hendrix. ACTION: The motion to table this agenda item was unanimously approved (3-0). AGENDA ITEM XIV: CONSIDERATION OF STORM WATER/EROSION CONTROL ORDINANCE Mayor Harkness said this was the 1st reading of the ordinance brought by Attorney Mitchell. All agreed to review carefully before the next meeting for needed changes or edits. AGENDA ITEMXV: POLICE DEPARTMENT PROPASALS  Mayor Harkness said as discussed in the Work Session, Council would table this agenda item. Ar motion  Mayor Harkness asked for a motion to approve the $25 a month for the extra retirement for seven full time officers. A motion was made by Councilman Hendrix and seconded by Councilman Allen. ACTION: The motion to approve the $25 a month, for the extra retirement, for seven) full time officers Mayor Harkness asked for a motion to pass the pay raise increases based on their completion of education. A motion was made by Councilman Hendrix and seconded by Councilman Allen. Chief Krockum asked when it would be in effect and asked about the percentages and Mayor Harkness said  was unanimously approved (3-0).  3IPage    immediately and they would leave the range gap up to Chief and the City Manager due to budgeting purposes. A motion was made by Councilman Hendrix and seconded by Councilman Allen. ACTION: The motion to pass the pay raise increases based on their completion of education was  unanimously approved (3-0).  AGENDA ITEM XVI: ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT  Thomas suggested there be a motion that during the city-sponsored. July 4th activity from 4 p.m. to9 p.m. on July 4, 2022, persons who have lawfully purchased alcoholic beverages from a properly licensed vendor may have an open container on Georgia St (park not included) from N. Hazel to Laurel so long as inc compliance with the city's alcoholic beverages ordinance. Councilman Ferguson requested that anyone who purchases an alcoholic beverage have a wrist band of some sort. Mr. Bridges assured that he would provide wrist bands. Mayor Harkness called for such a motion. The motion was made by ACTION: The motion that persons who have lawfully purchased alcoholic beverages from a properly licensed vendor at the. July 4th celebration be allowed to have an open container on Georgia St (park not included) from N Hazel to Laurel Ave so long as in compliance with the city's alcoholic beverages AGENDA ITEM XVII: CONSIDERATION OF MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION (if needed) A motion was made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Hendrix to adjourn and re- convene in Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of personnel, pending litigation and the acqustion/dispostion of property. This portion of Regular Session adjourned at 8:22 p.m.  Councilman Allen and seconded by Councilman Hendrix.  ordinance and with an added wrist band was unanimously approved (3-0).  AI motion was made by Councilman Allen and 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 9:12 p.m.  AGENDAITEMAHI-MOTONTOADIÇUEN  AJ metiont to adjournwasnaeby Coyhcilman Hendrix and the motion was seconded by Councilman  Allen.  The meeting adjourned at 9:14 p.m.  SEAL)    Demorest City Clerk  4IPage