Demorest The. Hear! ofHlabersham Demorest City Council Regular Session Tuesday, October. 1, 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 October 1, 2024 Regular Session was held ini the Demorest Municipal Conference Center located at  250 Alabama Street. 1. INVOCATION  Mayor Harkness opened the meeting by leading in prayer.  2. CALLTO ORDER  Mayor Harkness called the meeting to order at 7:20 p.m.  3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Mayor Harkness called for a motion to amend the agenda to strike agenda item 9. CONSIDERATION OF ALLOCATING ARPA FUNDS and agenda item 10. CONSIDERATION OF SEWER BORE CONTRACT.A motion to accept the agenda as amended was made by councilman Allen and was seconded by 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)  Councilman Ferguson.  Theresa Mathis is leading the Relay for Life in Habersham County. She would like to partner with Demorest and move the Relay of Life to Demorest Park. She is requesting permission to host it at the park free of charge. Council gave her the head nod and asked her to discuss this further with the City  Manager. 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 November 12, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at the Demorest Municipal Conference Center, 250 Alabama Street, Demorest, Georgia. Any  1Page    person wishing tol be heard on the City's Land Use may appear and bel heard during the public  hearing. (OCGA 36-81-5)  Mayor Harkness opened the public hearing.  Ky Kirby 480 (Holly Street) - He requested his property to be changed to multi family because he uses his house as a rental (single units not a single-family home). Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Musselwhite and the Mayor discussed what the current land use is proposing based off his requests and what he is currently Frankie Smith (Long Street) - opposed the possible townhomes to come off of Long Street and discussed various reasons why. He requested the parcel be zoned residential. Marie Evans (Long St) - opposed the possible townhomes to come off of Long Street.  zoned.  An unidentified lady off of Long St - opposed the possible townhomes to come off ofLong Street and Marie Evans (Long Street) - spoke against the possible townhomes to come off ofl Long Street. Patti Davis (Connecticut Street) - spoke against the possible townhomes to come off of Long Street and Allen Evans (101 Long Street) - spoke against the possible townhomes to come off ofl Long Street. Dallas (500 Long Street) - spoke against the possible townhomes to come off of Long Street. Rick Austin (1590 Double Springs Rd) - requested an addition be added under agriculture and Mr. Mitchell indicated that we need al board of adjustments orl board of appeal based off this proposed draft. Many items were discussed; questions were asked and comments were made. The meeting to approve the land use willl be November 12, 2024. Mayor Harkness closed the public hearing.  reiterated what Mr. Smith said.  requested the property be: zoned residential.  commented on Table 6-1.  6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: September 3  Mayor Harkness called for a motion to accept the September 3 minutes as presented. A motion to accept the minutes as presented was made by Councilman Davis and was seconded by Councilman ACTION: The motion to accept the minutes as presented was unanimously approved (3-0). Councilman Allen had. stepped out of the meeting room and was not in attendance during the vote. 7. CONSIDERATION OF UPDATED AGREEMENT FOR AUTOMATIC ASSISTANCE  Bennett.  Mayor Harkness called for a motion. A motion to allow Chief Scheuerer to sign the updated MOU agreement was made by Councilman Bennett and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. ACTION: The motion to allow Chief Scheuerer to sign the updated MOU agreement was unanimously  approved (4-0).  2Page    8. CONSIDERATION OF EXTENDING THE LAND USE MORATORIUM  Mayor Harkness explained that the Land Use Moratorium presented extends our current moratorium to November 15. The motion to extend the Land Use Moratorium to November 15 was made by ACTION: The motion to extend the Land Use Moratorium to November 15 was undnimously approved  Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Davis.  (4-0).  9. MANAGER'S REPORT & REVIEW OF FINANCIALS  The monthly Water Department, WWTP, Fire Department and Police Department report.  Hurricane Update. Past due tax list update. LMIG is 100% complete. Areview of the August financials. Upcoming Halloween event.  Update on the Piedmont speed bump and Holly Street speed bump.  10.APPEARANCE & PUBLIC COMMENT (please limit your comment to 2 minutes)  Jennifer Austin (1590 Double Springs Rd)- - Questioned council if they had any plans to visit rebuilding orr redesigning the culvert on Double Springs Rd and requested it be added to the list to be updated.  11.CONSIDERATION OF MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION (if needed)  Amotion was made by Councilman Bennett and was seconded by Councilman Allen to adjourn and reconvene in Executive Session fori the purpose of discussion of personnel. This portion of the Regular  Session adjourned at 8:46 p.m.  Am motion was made by Councilman Bennett and was seconded by Councilman Davis to come out of Executive Session and reconvene in Work Session. The motion was unanimously carried, and the  Regular Session reconvened at 8:55 p.m.  12.MOTION TO ADJOURN  A motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Davis and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. The  motion was unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.  3IPage      DEM SEAL)   4  Demorèst'City Clerk  21  4IPage