Demorest The Hear! ofHabersham Demorest City Council Work Session Tuesday, October 1, 2024 . 6:00 P.M.  Demorest Municipal Conference Center . 250. Alabama St Demorest, GA30535  ATTENDEES:  Shawn Allen, Councilman Donnie Bennett, Councilman Jerry Harkness, Mayor Jimmy Davis, Councilman  Andrew Ferguson, Councilman Megan Chastain, City Clerk Thomas Mitchell, City Attorney (via phone) Mark Musselwhite, City Manager  The October 1, 2024 Work Session was held in 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 6:03 p.m. 3. DISCUSSION OF BALDWIN WATER RATE INCREASE water rates by 2.5% effective January1, 2025.  Mr. Musselwhite presented a letter from City of Baldwin which indicated they would be increasing the  4. DISCUSSION OF UPDATED AGREEMENT FOR AUTOMATIC ASSISTANCE  Mr. Musselwhite presented an updated Memorandum of Understanding pursuant to the Agreement for Automatic Assistance with Habersham County. After the agreement was passed by council last month, there were additional streets added to the document and Chief Scheuerer needs Councils  approval to sign the agreement with the modifications.  5. DISCUSSION OF 2025 BUDGET  Mr. Musselwhite presented the proposed draft budget with a millage rate of7.16. Each item was addressed, questions were answered, and comments were made. Mr. Musselwhite also presented an additional budget for items that the Fire Department is requesting. Mayor Harkness challenged everyone to reach out to Mr. Musselwhite with further questions, recommendations or concerns  before the next meeting.  1Page    6. - DISCUSSION OF EXTENDING THE LAND USE MORATORIUM  Mr. Musselwhite indicated the current land use moratorium ends October 30. Hei is requesting that council pass the presented land use moratorium extending the current moratorium until November 15  to allow Mayor and Council to pass the new proposed land use on November 12.  7. DISCUSSION OF ALLOCATING ARPA FUNDS  Mr. Musselwhite presented a possible ARPA Funds uses list which includes:  SCADA: $148,945 Water Model: $73,000 Toccoa Connection: $39,000 GEFA Grant Contribution: $40,000 Seventeen Fire Hydrants: $92,000  Fire Department- Turnout Gear, Fire Hose, Uniforms, Storage: $48,126  Mr. Musselwhite indicated that he was still in discussions with the sewer bore contractor to determine all of the expenses if the City decides to cancel the contract. The ARPA funds use list cannot be voted on pending the sewer bore contract. Mr. Mitchell indicated that the contractor asked the cityt to pay for half oft the machine that they purchased to perform the contract. Mr. Mitchell recommended that the city negotiate with the contractor. He and Mr. Musselwhite will be in discussions withi the contractor regarding the contract. The ARPA funds have  to bei identified by December 30.  8. DISCUSSION OF SEWER BORE CONTRACT This topic was discussed with the agenda item above.  9. ( CONSIDERATION OF MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXEÇUTIVE SESSION (if needed)  There was not an executive session. Themeeting adjourned at7:08/p.m.  10.ADJOURN  DEM SEAI)  MayorofD Demorest/  Demorest City Clerk  BE  2/Page