Demorest The Heart ofHabersham Demorest City Council Regular Session Demorest Municipal Conference Center . 250. Alabama St Demorest, GA 30535 Tuesday, April 1, 2025 . 7:00 P.M. ATTENDEES: Shawn Allen, Councilman Andrew Ferguson, Councilman Donnie Bennett, Councilman Megan Chastain, City Clerk Jerry Harkness, Mayor Thomas Mitchell, City Attorney Jimmy Davis, Councilman Mark Musselwhite, City Manager The April 1, 2025, Regular Session was held in the Demorest Municipal Conference Center located at 250 Alabama Street. 1. INVOCATION City Chaplin, Philip Brown, opened the meeting in prayer. 2. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Harkness called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Harkness called for a motion to strike Georgia Hydrant Services Invoice, add Blight Ordinance (1st reading), add Zoning and Land Ordinance, add Mobile Home Ordinance and amend #6 as a first reading. Councilman Bennett called for a motion to approve the agenda as amended and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. ACTION: The motion to approve the agenda as amended was unanimously approved (4-0). Mayor Harkness called for a motion to add dog park. Councilman Bennett called for a motion to approve the agenda as amended and was seconded by Councilman Allen. ACTION: The motion to approve the agenda as amended was unanimously approved (4-0). Mayor Harkness called for a motion to add City Hall parking lot. Councilman Ferguson called for a motion to approve the agenda as amended and was seconded by Councilman Bennett. 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) There was no public comment. 1/Page 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: March 4 & March 8 Mayor Harkness called for a motion to approve the minutes as presented. The motion was made by Councilman Bennett and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. ACTION: The motion to approve the minutes as presented was unanimously approved (4-0). 6. CONSIDERATION OF EXTENDING THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE ORDINANCE (1ST READING) After the discussion during the work session, Council wants to strike the ending period and opened this topic up for a first reading. Mayor Harkness called for public comment. No one spoke for or against. The second reading will be Thursday at noon. 7. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR FIRE INSPECTIONS (25T READING) This was a request from the Fire Chiefto be able to do his job more efficiently. Mayor Harkness called for public comment. No one spoke for or against. Councilman Ferguson called for a motion to accept the ordinance amendment as presented and was seconded by Councilman Bennett. ACTION: The motion to accept the ordinance amendment as presented was unanimously approved (4- 0). 8. CONSIDERATION OF WWTP SOLIDS DISPOSAL After the discussion during the work session, Councilman Allen called for a motion to allow transportation of solids to the Waste Management Landfill in Homer on days when the Habersham landfill is unavailable and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. ACTION: The motion to allow transportation of solids to the Waste Management Landfill in Homer on days when the Habersham landfill is unavailable was unanimously approved (4-0). 9. CONSIDERATION OF BLIGHT ORDINANCE (15T READING) This is the first reading. The second reading will be in May and Chief Scheuerer will be available to better explain the presented ordinance. Mayor Harkness called for council and public comments. No one spoke. 10. CONSIDERATION OF ZONING AMENDMENTS Mr. Musselwhite, Jessie Owensby and Mr. Mitchell are still working on this. This is the first reading. The second reading will be in May. Mayor Harkness called for council and public comments. No one spoke. 11.CONSIDERATION OF MOBILE HOME DISTRICT (15T READING) This is the first reading. The second reading will be in May. Mayor Harkness called for council and public comments. No one spoke. 2/Page 12. CONSIDERATION OF DOWNTOWN PAVILION UPGRADE This is an upgrade to the current pavilion that will cost $30,440. See work session minutes for total breakdown. Councilman Allen indicated that there are five events scheduled for downtown at this time SO it will be money well spent. Councilman Bennett made a motion to move forward with the downtown pavilion upgrade and was seconded by Councilman Davis. ACTION: The motion to move. forward with the downtown pavilion upgrade was unanimously approved (4-0). 13. CONSIDERATION OF DOG PARK Mayor Harkness called for a motion. A motion to move forward with the bids presented and designate the area as a dog and kid park was made by Councilman Bennett and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. ACTION: The motion to move, forward with the bids presented and designate the area as a dog and kid park was unanimously approved (4-0). 14.MANAGER'S REPORT & REVIEW OF FINANCIALS GEFA, grant update ARPA payments are being made and transferred out of reserves The yard sale is on Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5 Fourth of July contract update Monthly department head report Review of February finances 15.CONSIDERATION OF CITY HALL PARKING LOT Mayor Harkness called for a motion. A motion to move forward with the Gresham and Irvin proposal was made by Councilman Bennett and was seconded by Councilman Ferguson. ACTION: The motion to move forward with the Gresham and Irvin proposal was unanimously approved (4-0). 16. APPEARANCE & PUBLIC COMMENT (please limit your comment to 2 minutes) There was no public comment. 17.CONSIDERATION OF MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION (if needed) There was not an executive session. 18. MOTION TO ADJOURN A motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Allen and was seconded by Councilman erguson. The motion was unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. 3/Page Mayerof Demorest 5 a SEAL S Demorest City Clerk 4]Page