Demorest council unanimously votes to terminate SPLOST-funded sewer bore contract

At its Oct. 15 special hearing, the Demorest City Council voted unanimously to terminate a SPLOST-funded sewer-bore contract after extended correspondence with the contractor. City Manager Mark Musselwhite told the council the contractor had requested that the city pay half the cost of equipment the contractor used and contribute roughly $5,300 toward a performance bond.

Councilman Donnie Bennett moved to terminate the contract and authorize sending a certified termination letter; Councilman Jimmy Davis seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (4-0). The council authorized staff to send the certified termination letter and to offer to pay the contractor’s portion of the performance bond as part of the closeout communications.

The record includes two different references to who would send the termination letter: the staff presentation said “Thomas will send a certified letter,” while the approved motion authorized Mr. Mitchell to send the certified letter. The transcript does not identify Thomas’s or Mitchell’s official role; the council did not detail further settlement terms beyond offering to pay the contractor’s share of the performance bond.