Demorest The Hear! ofHabersham  Demorest City Council Regular Session & Public Hearing Demorest Municipal Conference Center . 250. Alabama St Demorest, GA. 30535  Tuesday, September 3, 2024 . 7:00P.M.  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 September 3, 2024 Regular Session and Public Hearing was held in the Demorest Municipal  Conference Center located at 250 Alabama Street.  1. INVOCATION  Mayor Harkness opened the meeting by holding a moment of silence in remembrance of Matthew  Osborne and by leading the prayer.  2. CALLTO ORDER  Mayor Harkness called the meeting to order at 7:53 p.m.  3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Mayor Harkness requested to add CONSIDERATION OF HABERSHAM COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN 2024 and CONSIDERATION OF WATER METER ORDINANCE (2ND READING). Harkness called fora motion. A motion was made by Councilman Allen to accept the agenda as amended and was seconded 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)  by Councilman Ferguson.  There were no public comments. 5. PUBLIC HEARING:  Notice is hereby provided that the Demorest City Council shall meet for a Public Hearing. The Demorest City Council shall conduct a public hearing regarding the purpose of discussing Land Use and possible amendments to the City's Land Use code and regulations on September 3, 2024at 7:00 p.m. at the Demorest Municipal Conference Center, 250 Alabama Street, Demorest, Georgia. Any person wishing to be heard on the City's Land Use may appear and be heard during the public  hearing. (OCGA36-81-5)  1IPage    Mr. Mitchell led the group in discussing land use and possible amendments tot the city's land use code and regulations which also touched on the Historic District and Planning Commission. Mr. Mitchell touched on various different issues, needs and accommodations the City has or requires for the proposed land use. Mayor Harkness challenged the public to take a copy oft the proposed land use and modifyi it. The public hearing was opened to the public. Mrs. Jennifer Austin and Mrs. Ruth Smith both asked Mr. Mitchell a question about the proposed ordinance. Mr. Rick Austin made a statement. The  public hearing was closed.  6. CONSIDERATION OF WATER METER ORDINANCE (2ND READING)  Based offi issues the City has encountered and continues to encounter, Mr. Mitchell presented a' Water Meter Ordinance that put everyone on notice that connections made ini the past, regardless of whether the connection was permissible under law or practices applicable or prevailing at the time of connection, exist in various places throughout the city. Owners and buyers of properties served by city utilities are responsible for determining the presence and location of utilities on and/or that serve the property. Any service lines on the owner's side oft the meter are the responsibility ofi the owner or potential buyer. No person may block, sever or otherwise interfere with the provision of utility services to any other property. Any person who violates any provision of this article shall be subject to the terms of Section 1-7, "General penalty; continuing violations." This article does not affect any civil remedies for personal injury or damage to property (including underground utilities) except as otherwise specifically provided for int this article. This is a second reading. A motion to accept the Water Meter Ordinance as presented was made by Councilman Ferguson and was seconded by ACTION: The motion to accept the Water Meter Ordinance as presented was unanimously approved  Councilman Davis. (4-0).  7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: August 6  Mayor Harkness called for a motion to accept the August 6 minutes as presented. A motion to accept the minutes as presented was made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. ACTION: The motion to accept the minutes as presented was unanimously approved (4-0).  8. CONSIDERATION OF TACTICAL ANALYSIS  Mayor Harkness challenged everyone to look through the presented list and add anything additional.  9. CONSIDERATION OF SCADA UPGRADE  Mayor Harkness presented two quotes from. J.K. Duren ini the amount of $133,000 and $148,945 for the SCADA system. Councilman Bennett made a motion to move forward with the $148,945 quote and ACTION: The motion to accept the. $148,945 quote from. J.K. Duren was unanimously approved (4-0).  was seconded by Councilman Davis.  2IPage    10.CONSIDERATION OF PANTHER CREEK PROJECT  Mayor Harkness reiterated that this a required GDOT project that will cost us $130,000 to complete. The funds will come from SPLOST. Mayor Harkness called for a motion to accept this project and move forward. The motion was made by Councilman Ferguson and was seconded by Councilman Allen. ACTION: The motion to accept this project and move forward was unanimously approved (4-0).  11.CONSIDERATION OF FINANCIAL ANALYSIS  After the discussion made during the Work Session, Mayor Harkness called for a motion from Council. Councilman Bennett made a motion to move forward with Alternantive A, Part 2 and was seconded by ACTION: The motion to move. forward with Alternantive A, Part was unanimously approved (4-0).  Councilman Allen.  12.CONSIDERATION OF BIDS AND GEFA GRANT FORI LSLI  After the discussion made during the Work Session, Mr. Musselwhite indicated this was an  administrative change at this point.  13.CONSIDERATION OF LEASE FOR TOMOCHICHI CHAPTER OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION TO LEASE A ROOM AT CITY HALL COMPLEX Mayor Harkness called for a motion to accept the presented lease. The motion was made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. ACTION: The motion to accept the presented lease was unanimously approved (4-0).  14.MANAGER'S REPORT & REVIEW OF FINANCIALS  Chief Chastain explained the increase in the salaries line on the 2024 budget. Garbage days are changing to Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday effective October. PUis requesting that we replace the speed bump at the Commons. There are discussions of The monthly Water Department, WWTP, Fire Department and Police Department report.  possible cost sharing.  Areview of the July financials was given by Scott at the Work Session.  15.APPEARANCE & PUBLIC COMMENT (please limit your comment to 2 minutes) 16.CONSIDERATION OF MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION (if needed)  There were no public comments.  Amotion was made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson to adjourn and reconvene in Executive Session fori the purpose of discussion of potential litigation, personnel and real  estate. This portion of the Work Session adjourned at 8:55 p.m.  3Page    AI motion was made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson to come out of Executive Session and reconvene in' Work Session. The motion was unanimously carried, and the  Regular Session reconvened at 9:15 p.m.  17.MOTION TO ADJOURN  A motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. The  motion was unanimouslya approved. The meengadjourned at 9:16p.m.  DEMORE 51 - SEAL)  Mayorgfoimorest  7  Demorest City Clerk  4]Page