Demorest The Hearl ofHabersham Demorest City Council Special Called Meeting Demorest Municipal Conference Center e 250 Alabama St Demorest, GA 30535 Thursday, February 13, 2025 e 5:30 P.M. ATTENDEES: Shawn Allen, Councilman Andrew Ferguson, Councilman Megan Chastain, City Clerk Jerry Harkness, Mayor Thomas Mitchell, City Attorney Jimmy Davis, Councilman Mark Musselwhite, City Manager The February 13, 2025, Special Called Meeting 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. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Harkness called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Harkness called for a motion to accept the agenda as presented. The motion was made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman Davis. ACTION: The motion to approve the agenda as presented was unanimously approved (3-0). 4. PUBLIC HEARING: The Demorest City Council intends to opt-out of the statewide adjusted base year ad valorem homestead exemptions for the City of Demorest. All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this matter to be held at the Demorest Municipal Conference Center, 250 Alabama St. Demorest, GA 30535 on February 13, 2025 at 5:30PM. Times and places of additional public hearings on this matter will be held at the Demorest Municipal Conference Center, 250 Alabama St. Demorest, GA 30535 on February 20, 2025 at 12:00PM and 6:00PM. Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Musselwhite explained House Bill 581. Mr. Mitchell opened the public hearing. Maire Evans at 101 Long Street asked several questions. Mayor and Council will call this for a vote on February 20 at 12:00 p.m. and the scheduled 6:00 p.m. meeting for February 20 is now cancelled. 1/Page 5. 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 6:06 p.m. Mayor ofoemg est SEAL Si NA Demorest City Clerk 2Page