Demorest The Hearl ofHabersham City of Demorest Work Session Regular Session Minutes Demorest Municipal Building Tuesday, June 7, 2022,6:00P.M.  ATTENDEES  Shawn Allen, Councilman John Hendrix, Councilman Jerry Harkness, Mayor Andrew Ferguson, Councilman  Megan Chastain, Interim City Clerk Kim Simonds, City Manager Thomas Mitchell, City Attorney  The. June 7, 2022, Demorest Work Session was held in the Demorest Municipal Building located at 125  Ivy Street.  AGENDA ITEM I: INVOCATION AGENDA ITEM I: CALL TO ORDER  Mayor Harkness opened the meeting by leading in prayer. Mayor Harkness called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. AGENDA ITEM II: MAINE STREET TRAFFIC ISSUES  Councilman Ferguson said the concern is making the turn from Demorest-Mt. Airy and makingi it a one way would stop something from happening. Ms. Simonds asked about making ita' "no left turn" from Demorest-Mt. Airy onto Palmer Alley and Maine St. Councilman Ferguson said it would stop the speed on Maine buti it would push all thet traffic to Palmer. Mayor Harkness suggested rumble strips ori try to increase police presence. After a lengthy discussion, multiple maps drawn and various opinions, no  specific decision was made.  AGENDA ITEM IV: ETHICS COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS  Mayor Harkness asked if Council had decided on any names for nomination. He asked about expanding selection to the County. Councilman Hendrix said Council is responsible for the 2.2 square milesi in Demorest and nominating someone outside Demorest might result in giving away authority to someone outside of those 2.2 square miles. Councilman Allen said that was a valid point, but it might be hard to find someone thati is not biased or doesn't know individuals connected with the city. Council agreed to  table.  AGENDA ITEMV V: WATER TOWER IGA'S  Ms. Simonds said that Attorney Mitchell added the additional paragraph in the IGA stating that the County would make provisions for maintenance when needed and the County agreed to it. Mayor  1/Page    Harkness asked if Bryan had been made aware and Ms. Simonds said that she and Bryan had met with the County Manager. Councilman Allen said this was going to improve communications for public safety  for the whole county.  AGENDA ITEM VI: CITY CLEAN UP DAYS  Councilman Ferguson would like to see a city clean-up day where the city tackles a small project or an area or even help a neighbor in need. Ms. Simonds mentioned doing ai free haul off weekend. Mayor Harkness said GMA does a city clean-up day and asked Megan to call and see when that dayi is. AGENDA ITEM VII: PURCHASE OF OLD DEMOREST ELEM SCHOOLI BUILDING  Mr. Michell said the DDA met yesterday (06/06/2022) and approved the financing instruments and they have all been signed. He has a meeting tomorrow (06/08/2022) with the DA1 to present them and to sign a petition. Mr. Mitchell said the hearing is. June 30 at 9:00 am with. Judge Caudell. Thomas asked Mayor Harkness, Ms. Simonds and Ms. Chastain to sign documents related to the purchase of ODE. AGENDA ITEM VII: CONSIDERATION OF AGREEMENTS & DOCUMENTS RELATED TO PURCHASE OF  ODE  Mr. Mitchell covered this agenda item with agenda item VII. AGENDA ITEM IX: BIDS FOR OLD DEMOREST ELEM ROOF  Ms. Simonds said when the financing is complete, she would like the city to bei inj position to have the roofr repaired quickly, and presented three bids. Mayor Harkness asked Ms. Simonds which bid she preferred. She preferred Blue Ridge. Mayor Harkness pointed out that all three bids featured vastly different materials and recommended consulting with commercial contractors. Mr. Mitchell said that he has a client that does residential roofing that he could aski ift they know a commercial roofert fora advice. AGENDA ITEMX X: CONSIDERATION OF STORM WATER/EROSION CONTROL ORDINANCE Mr. Mitchell presented an erosion control ordinance that a number of small cities have adopted. Mayor Harkness said that with development coming, such an ordinance is needed. This was the first reading. Chief Krockum presented two proposals. The first was the Peace Officer Annuity and Benefit Fund which provides supplemental insurance to law enforcement. 10% of certain fines go into this fund and officers can pay monthly dues of $25 up to a maximum of 30 years. The retirement fund pays $900 per month for an officer who has participated int the fund for 30 years. Chief Krockum requested the city provide this benefit toi full-time officers. The total per officer is $300 per year fora a total of $2100. Mayor Harkness said this would help with retention. Ms. Simonds said that she thinks we should participate and that this isa a very small price for the city to pay. Councilman Ferguson asked if the fire department has something similar and if the city pays fori it. Chief Knight said yes. Councilman Hendrix agreed but said it's a good ideai for the individual to contribute also. The second proposal Chief Krockum presented was the Education Incentives. Chief said many law enforcement agencies provide education incentives to their officers and they also use ita asar recruitment tool. Mayor Harkness said he was a huge proponent ofe education and that he supported it. Councilman Hendrix agreed.  AGENDA ITEM XI: POLICE DEPARTMENT PROPOSALS  2Page    The - Muyorofpigrorest  H2  Demorest City Clerk  0  ABER  3/Page