Demorest The Heart ofHabersham City ofDemorest Regular Session Minutes Demorest Municipal Building Tuesday, January 5, 2021,6:00P.M.  City Council Public Hearing and Special Called Meeting  ATTENDEES  Shawn Allen, Councilman John Hendrix, Councilman Rick Austin, PhD, Mayor Jim Welborn, Councilman  Nathan Davis, Councilman Kim Simonds, City Manager Joey Homans, City Attorney  The. January 5, 2021 Demorest City Council meeting was held in the Demorest Municipal Building located  at 125 Ivy Street.  AGENDA ITEMI: CALL TO ORDER  Mayor Austin called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. Mayor Austin led int the invocation and pledge to the flag.  AGENDA ITEM IV: INVOCATION AND PLEDGE TO THE FLAG (moved up on agenda)  AGENDA ITEM I: MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SERVICE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ATTORNEY Mayor Austin called for a motion to adjourn into Executive Session fori the purpose of consulting with legal counsel. Such a motion was made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Davis.  CONSULTATION  This portion of the Regular Session adjourned at 6:08 p.m.  AGENDA ITEM II: ADJOURNMENT INTO REGULAR SESSION The meeting was once again called into Regular Session at 7:11 p.m.  AGENDA ITEM V: APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Mayor Austin asked if there were changes or additions to be made to the agenda. Ms. Simonds asked that an item be added under NEW BUSINESS - WATER DEPARTMENT TRACTOR. A motion was made by Councilman Hendrix to approve the agenda as amended, adding the Water Department tractor. The ACTION: The motion to approve the agenda as amended adding thei item "NEW/BUSINESS- - WATER  motion was seconded by Councilman Davis.  DEPARTMENT TRACTOR' was unanimously approved (4-0).  1Page    AGENDA ITEM Vi: APPEARANCE AND PUBLIC COMMENTS  A question was asked concerning cooperation among utility companies when lines or pipes are hit. Bryan Popham said that all utility companies are mandated by law to call 811 for locates when drilling or Mayor Austin said that the tree that fell near the damaged retaining wall has been removed and the City  digging.  was billed $600.00 and the citizen was billed $300.00. AGENDA ITEM VII: APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES  Four sets of minutes were presented for approval: November 3 & 24 and December1 &8. Mayor Austin asked that the approval of these minutes be tabled until the next meeting. A motion was made ACTION: The motion to table the approval of the November 3 & 241 minutes and the December188  to this effect by Councilman Hendrix and was seconded by Councilman Davis.  minutes was unanimously approved (4-0).  AGENDA ITEM VII: OLD BUSINESS - CONSIDERATION OF PURCHASE OF FIRE TRUCK Chief Ranalli came forward to renew the conversation regarding his request to purchase a new fire truck. After a discussion and many questions, a motion was made by Councilman Hendrix and seconded ACTION: The motion to delay the purchase of the fire truck was unanimously approved (4-0). Bryan Popham, Public Works Director, came forward to address an issue concerning at tractor in use by the water department. The tractor will not handle the pick up of larger items as expected when purchased. The dealer has agreed to trade forar new one (which will do the work) at no added cost. Attorney Homans advised that Council would need to declare the old tractor as surplus sO that it could be traded. Ar motion to that effect was made by Councilman Hendrix and was seconded by Councilman ACTION: The motion to declare the water department tractor (2019 E85. Serial #W3594K01414)0s  by Councilman Davis to delay the purchase oft the fire truck.  AGENDA ITEM IX(1): NEW BUSINESS - WATER DEPT TRACTOR  Allen.  surplus was unanimously approved (4-0). AGENDA ITEM IX(2): NOMINATION OF DDA MEMBER  Mayor Austin noted that a nomination to the DDA was being sought. He asked that the DDA meet, interview the candidate and make a recommendation to Council concerning the nomination. Such a motion was made by Councilman Davis and was seconded by Councilman Hendrix. ACTION: The motion, for the DDA to meet and recommend the appointment of new DDA member(s) to  Council was unanimously approved (4-0). AGENDA ITEM IX(3): PROBATION CONTRACTS  Police Chief Robin Krockum came forward to bring probation contracts for Demorest and Alto for approval. After discussion, a motion was made by Councilman Allen to approve the Demorest probation  contract. The motion was seconded by Councilman Davis.  2Page    ACTION: The motion to approve the Demorest probation contract was unanimously approved (4-0). AI motion was made by Councilman Hendrix and seconded by Councilman Davis to approve the Alto ACTION: The motion to approve the Alto probation contract was unanimously approved (4-0).  probation contract.  AGENDA ITEM IX(4): COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS Mayor Austin made the following appointments:  Mayor Pro Tem Finance & Office Water & Sewer Roads, Streets, Bridges, & Parks Public Safety DDA  Councilman Shawn Allen Councilman Shawn Allen Councilman John Hendrix Councilman Nathan Davis Councilman Jim Welborn Mayor Rick Austin  AGENDA ITEM IX(5): ANNUAL REAPPOINTMENTS call vote was made for each as follows: City Manager, Kim Simonds  Pert the list of recommended reappointments on the approved agenda, a motion, a second, and a roll  Hendrix (motion)  Davis (second) Hendrix (second) Davis (second) Allen (second) Hendrix (second) Allen (second) No Second  The motion to reappoint Kim. Simonds as City Manager was unanimously approved (4-0)  Public' Works Director, Bryan Popham Davis (motion)  The motion to reappoint Bryan Popham as Public Works Director was unanimously approved (4-0). The motion to reappoint Robin Krockum as Police Chief was unanimously approved (4-0). The motion to reappoint Ken Ranalli as Fire Chief was unanimously approved (4-0) The motion to reappoint Ben Turnipseed as City Engineer was unanimously approved (4-0). The motion to reappoint Robert. Sneed as Magistrate Judge was unanimously approved (4-0). The motion to reappoint. Joely Mixon as City Treasurer was defeated (1-3; Davis, Hendrix, & Welborn  Police Chief, Robin Krockum Fire Chief, Ken Ranalli  Welborn (motion) Hendrix (motion) Allen (motion) Davis (motion) Allen (motion)  Chief Engineer, Ben Turnipseed Magistrate Judge, Robert Sneed City Treasurer, Joely Mixon voting against reappointment) City Attorney, Joey Homans voting against reappointment)  Allen (motion)  No Second  The motion to reappoint. Joey Homans as City Attorney was defeated (1-3; Davis, Hendrix, & Welborn  3Page    AGENDA ITEM X: CONSIDERATION OF MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SERVICE There was no business requiring adjournment into Executive Session.  AGENDA ITEM XI: MOTION TO ADJOURN The motion was unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m. RAsl RickAustin, Mayor of Demorest  Ar motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Davis and the motion was seconded by Councilman Allen,  - SEAL)  Sde Kim. Simonds, City Clerk  4IPage