CITY OF DEMOREST October. 29, 2019 Regular. Session Meeting Minutes ATTENDEES  City Council Work Session . Public Hearing . Special Called Meeting  John Popham, Councilman Bruce Harkness, Councilman Rick Austin, PhD, Mayor Flo Wikle, Councilwoman Bryan Popham, Public Works Director Joely Mixon, City Treasurer  Kim Simonds, City Clerk Joey Homans, City Attorney Robin Krockum, Police Chief Eric Pereria, The Northeast Georgian Ken Ranalli, Fire Chief James Frady, Wastewater Director  AGENDA ITEMland I: INVOCATION AND PLEDGE TO THE FLAG  The October 29, 2019 Demorest City Council Work Session was held in the Demorest Municipal Building located at 125 Ivy Street. Councilman Harkness opened with thei invocation and pledge to thei flag. Demorest City Council candidates Nathan Davis, Jerry Mobley, and. John Hendrix spoke to those in  CANDIDATES FORUM  attendance regarding their run for office. AGENDA ITEM II: CALL TO ORDER  Mayor Austin called the meeting to order at 6:13 p.m. WISCONSIN AVENUE AND CENTRAL AVENUE  PUBLIC HEARING ON INTENTION TO ABANDON, AI PORTION OF UNOPENED ALLEY BETWEEN Per public announcement, Attorney Homans read the public notice regarding the abandonment of the alley between Wisconsin Avenue and Central Avenue. He asked ift there were those in attendance to speak against the closing. When there were none, a motion was made by Councilman Popham and seconded by Councilwoman Wikle to abandon the alley. Councilman Harkness noted that he would abstain from the vote due to his relationship to the owner of the property which is his son, Jerry ACTION: The motion to abandon the alley between Wisconsin Avenue and Central Avenue was  Harkness.  unanimously approved (3-0 with Mayor voting). AGENDA ITEM III(A): APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Mayor Austin asked ift there were any changes or amendments to the agenda. When there were none,a motion was made by Councilman Popham and seconded by Councilman Harkness to approve the  agenda as printed.  ACTION: The agenda was approved as printed (3-0).    AGENDA ITEM I(B): APPEARANCE AND PUBLIC COMMENTS  Mayor Austin called for public comments. Former City Manager Kristi Williams spoke, in addition to Piedmont College President James Mellichamp, in reference to a personal item not related to city business and not on the agenda. Robert Showalter inquired about al letter he received from the County concerning voting in the Demorest election. He was referred to the Office of Elections for clarification. BRYAN POPHAM: Water crews are nearing completion ofr most of the larger water projects. Currently bad fire hydrants are being replaced and the meter replacement continues. The track-hoe currentlyi in use is beginning to fail. The price on a new one with a trade-ini is $65,000 (two sizes bigger with a larger  AGENDA ITEM III(C): DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS  cutting head; Bobcat). This will be considered in the drafting of the 2020 budget.  ROBIN KROCKUM: Nothing to report.  KEN RANALLI: Business fire inspections are underway. The Ford Taurus currently being used by the Fire Chief has over 196,000 miles and is not worth repairing. Chief Ranalli asked that a new one be purchased. He was told to address it as a request in the 2020 budget currently being drafted.  JAMES FRADY: Nothing to report.  JOELY MIXON: The City Treasurer reviewed the September financials (see attachment).  AGENDA ITEM IV: OLD BUSINESS There was no OLD BUSINESS to discuss  AGENDA ITEM V(A): OLD BUSINESS - DRAFT BUDGET  Ms. Mixon said that the draft budget would be ready for the November Work Session. Councilman Popham made a motion to table this item until that meeting and was seconded by Councilman  Harkness.  ACTION: The Draft Budget was tabled until the November Work. Session (3-0)  AGENDA ITEM V(B): NEW BUSINESS - MILLAGE RATE  Mayor Austin recommended a rollback rate of 6.16. Attorney Homans said that one Public Hearing would be necessary to set the millage rate of 6.16. A motion was made by Councilman Popham and was ACTION: The motion to hold one Public Hearing. for a rollback millage rate of 6.16 was unanimously  seconded by Councilman Harkness.  approved (3-0).  AGENDA ITEM VIC): NEW BUSINESS - CEMETERY FUND  Ms. Mixon told the group that the Cemetery Fund of approximately $53,000 is currently held by Edward Jones and should be moved to al local bank whichi is insured by FDIC. Councilman Harkness made a motion to permit Ms. Mixon toi find the best rate at al local bank and move the fund. The motion was  seconded by Councilman Popham.    ACTION: The motion to permit Ms. Mixon toj find the best rate at local bank and move the Cemetery  Fund was unanimously approved (3-0).  AGENDA ITEM VID): NEW BUSINESS - EPD CONSENT ORDER  The EPD monitors what is processed by the Demorest Sewer System. The City recently received a Consent Order due to high levels of phosphorous and exceeding the flow limit. The fine was $2550. James Frady said this was large due to excessive amounts of rainfall during the months of. January and  February.  AGENDA ITEM VE): NEW BUSINESS - PROBATION CONTRACT  The probation contract is up for renewal. Copies were given to Council members for review and vote at  the next meeting.  AGENDA ITEM V(F): NEW BUSINESS - SEWER PROJECT ON KIMI LOOP  Luke Lovell appeared before Mayor and Council to request sewer. service to his mobile home community on Kim Loop Road. The system would tie in at Cross Creek. Bryan Popham will have costs available at AGENDA ITEM VI: CONSIDERATION OF MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PROPERTY, PENDING LITIGATION OR PERSONNEL MATTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH OCGA 50-14-1 Mayor Austin asked for a motion to adjourn and reconvene into Executive Session. Such a motion was made by Councilman Harkness and was seconded by Councilwoman Wikle and unanimously approved.  the next meeting.  This portion of Regular Session was adjourned at 7:11 p.m.  AGENDA ITEM VII: MOTION TO ADJOURN  The meeting was reconvened into Regular Session at 8:00 p.m. With no motions made in Executive Session and with no other business Councilman Popham made a motion to adjourn the meeting and was  seconded by Councilman Harkness. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.  AL Rick Austin, Mayor ofDemorest mdo Kim. Simonds, City Clerk  )