Demorest The Heart ofHabersham  Demorest City Council Regular Session Tuesday, July 2, 2024 . 7:00P.M.  Demorest Municipal Conference Center . 250. Alabama St Demorest, GA. 30535  ATTENDEES:  Shawn Allen, Councilman Donnie Bennett, Councilman Jerry Harkness, Mayor Jimmy Davis, Councilman  Andrew Ferguson, Councilman Megan Chastain, City Clerk Thomas Mitchell, City Attorney Mark Musselwhite, City Manager  The July 2, 2024 Regular Session was held int the Demorest Municipal Conference Center located at 250  Alabama Street. 1. INVOCATION  Mayor Harkness opened the meeting by leading in prayer..  2. CALLTOORDER  Mayor Harkness called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Mayor Harkness requested to add SWEETGRASS as new number 9, GEFA GRANT as new number 10to the agenda. Harkness called for a vote. A motion was made by Councilman Allen to accept the agenda ACTION: The motion to approve the agenda as amended was unanimously approved (4-0). 4. APPEARANCE & PUBLIC COMMENT (please limit your comment to 2 minutes)  as amended and was seconded by Councilman Davis.  Lynn Percy spoke against the removal of the trees at the Dog Park (Brent Lee Memorial Park). She demanded to know the truth of why the trees were cut. After a lengthy discussion, Ms. Percy informed Mayor and Council that the water coming out oft the water fountain and the dog faucet was 107. .4 degrees. She requests that the city provide shade for the animals and water Gail Moore questioned if the fireworks were, going until 2:00 a.m. She also requested that the fire department hang around for a while after the fireworks due tot the drought. Chief Chastain announced that Jonathan Hughes helped the fire department with a wreck and received a compliment from the chief stating he did a great job with helping cut the lady out of  faucet.  the car.  1Page    Chief Chastain announced that Steven Squires heard a call come through that a guy was under cardiac arrest and although it was out of his jurisdiction, he responded being that he was closest. Officer Squires performed CPR until a medical responder arrived.  5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 4, 2024  Mayor Harkness called for a motion to accept the. June 4 minutes as presented. A motion to accept the minutes as presented was made by Councilman Davis and was: seconded by Councilman Allen. ACTION: The motion to accept the minutes as presented was unanimously approved (4-0).  6. - DISCUSSION OF GARRISON ROAD WELL  Mayor Harkness indicated there were two quotes to run at test on Garrison Road well. One for $10,000 and one for $14,000. Mr. Musselwhite indicated this item isi in the budget and it is his recommendation to move forward with the $10,000 quote from MPE. A motion was made by Councilman Allen to approve the Garrison Road well: system test by MPE services for $10,000 and if there are any additional ACTION: The motion to approve the Garrison Road well. system test by MPE. services for $10,000 Dandif there are any additional fees to hold and present to council was unanimously approved (4-0).  fees to hold and present to council. Councilman Ferguson seconded.  7. DISCUSSION OF HYDRAULIC WATER MODEL  Mayor Harkness indicated the hydraulic water model ist to conduct a flow and pressure test all over the system, to know where we are selling water and where to increase water to make sure we have the water compacity. This $73,000 fee is over six months. Mr. Musselwhite indicated that this was not a budgeted item but that it is his recommendation to move forward with the Hydraulic' Water Model.A motion was made by Councilman Bennett to move forward with the $73,000 for the Hydraulic Water ACTION: The motion to move forward with the $73,000 for the Hydraulic Water Model was  Model and was seconded by Councilman Davis.  unanimously approved (4-0).  8. CONSIDERATION OF HYDRANT METER ORDINANCE (2nd READING)  Mr. Mitchell indicated that we were having issues with people hooking up to hydrants in the county and stealing water. This ordinance allows the city to rent a hydrant meter out to people sO they can use the water legally and metered. The county is willing to adopt a similar ordinance in an effort to enforce it. This isas second reading. A motion to accept the Hydrant Meter Ordinance as written was ACTION: The motion to accept the Hydrant Meter Ordinance as written was unanimously approved  made by Councilman Ferguson and was seconded by Councilman Davis.  (4-0).  2Page    9. SWEETGRASS SUBDIVISION  Mayor Harkness indicated Sweetgrass subdivision has a pump that has failed. The total to repair the existing pump is $18,678. The total cost to purchase a new pump (with a warranty) and install it is $19,920. There are two pumps at Sweetgrass subdivision and one pump is completely gone and the other is on the verge of shutting down. Mrs. Chastain asked if we could obtain a quote from more than one vendor to repair the existing pump and hold it as a backup. Mayor Harkness called for a motion. A motion was made by Councilman Bennett to move forward with the $19,920 pump and was seconded ACTION: The motion toi move forward with the. $19,920 pump was unanimously approved  by Councilman Ferguson.  (4-0). 10.GEFAGRANT  Mr. Musselwhite said this a $100,000 grant that helps pay for thel Lead and Cooper project that has to be: started before November of 2024. A motion to accept the GEFA grant for the Lead and Cooper and to allow the city manager to sign the GEFA, grant documents was made by Councilman Allen and was ACTION: The motion to accept the GEFA grant for the Lead and Cooper and to allow the city manager  seconded by Councilman Davis.  tos sign the GEFA grant documents was unanimously approved (4-0). 11.CONSIDERATION OF CEMETERY PLOT PRICE INCREASE  After the discussion during the Work Session, the Mayor and Council proposed updating the price of cemetery plots to $500 for current residing citizens as well as employees and retirees and $800 for outside of city residents. A motion to accept the new rate structure for the cemetery was made by ACTION: The motion to accept the new rate: structure, for the cemetery was unanimously approved  Councilman Davis and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson.  (4-0).  12.DISCUSSION OF MEDICAL FIRST RESPONDERS  After the discussion during the Work. Session, Mayor Harkness called for a motion to allow the fire department to negotiate terms for Medical First Responder and to move forward with purchasing the $11,250 in equipment needed. The motion was made by Councilman Ferguson and was seconded by ACTION: The motion to allow the fire department to negotiate terms for Medical First Responder and to move. forward with purchasing the. $11,250 in equipment needed was unanimously approved  Councilman Davis.  (4-0).  3Page    13.MANAGER'S REPORT & REVIEW OF FINANCIALS  Water usage and complications due to drought. Baldwin rate increase update. LMIG funds were received. Wikle property stormwater update. Audit for 2023 is complete. Areview oft the May financials.  All street signs have been cleaned and/or replaced.  The monthly' Water Department, WWTP, Fire Department and Police Department report.  14.APPEARANCE & PUBLIC COMMENT (please limit your comment to 2 minutes)  There was no public comment.  15.CONSIDERATION OF MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION (if needed)  There was not an executive session. 16.MOTION TO ADJOURN  Amotion to adjourn was made by Councilman Bennett and was seconded by Councilman Davis. The  motion unamimowappovea, Jhen meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m.  ANS - (G) AETSNESS  Mayor, Jemgrest  Demorest City Clerk  4IPage