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Demorest City Council approves annual appointments, vendor contracts and street projects
Summary
At a Jan. 7 special meeting, the Demorest City Council unanimously approved a slate of annual appointments, selected insurance vendors, authorized a city shop upgrade and LMIG street projects, adopted a permit-fee schedule and approved an inmate housing agreement; manager's reports noted ARPA spending and upcoming meetings.
The Demorest City Council on Jan. 7 unanimously approved a series of personnel appointments, vendor contracts and infrastructure projects during a special called regular session at the Demorest Municipal Conference Center.
Mayor Jerry Harkness opened the meeting and the council approved the agenda and the Dec. 3 minutes before moving through a set of annual reappointments. By individual motions, the council appointed Mark Musselwhite as city manager, Megan Chastain as city clerk, Bryan Popham as public works director and Casey Chastain as police chief; subsequent motions appointed Dave Scheuerer (fire chief and code enforcement), Robert Sneed (magistrate judge), Joe Hudson (city solicitor), Engineering Management Inc. (city engineer), Thomas Mitchell (city attorney) and Ed K. Burton, LLC (city accountant). All appointments passed unanimously (4-0).
The council also approved vendor contracts recommended during a prior work session: Level Health Gold for health insurance; Lincoln for vision, dental, life and disability coverages; and Apex Insurance Agency for workerscompensation. Councilman Shawn Allen made the motion to accept the insurance proposals, seconded by Councilman Andrew Ferguson; the motion passed 4-0.
Public Works Director Bryan Popham asked the council to authorize enclosing a bay at the city shop to create a vehicle-maintenance area, including electrical work, new garage doors and a lift. Bids for that work totaled $67,878.55, and Popham said he budgeted $68,000 under small equipment in the 2025 budget. The council authorized the project by unanimous vote.
Council members agreed to move forward with the citys 2025 LMIG (Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant) projects on Chestnut Avenue, Walnut Avenue and at the intersection of Holley Street and Pine Avenue after work-session discussion.
On planning and fees, City Manager Mark Musselwhite recommended adopting the presented permit-fee schedule and contracting Civic Enhancement Strategies LLC for planning and zoning services while tabling a separate proposal from Engineering Management Inc.; the council approved the Civic Enhancement contract, tabled the EMI proposal and adopted the fee schedule (all motions passed 4-0).
The council also approved a presented Inmate Housing Agreement on a unanimous vote.
During his managers report, Musselwhite reviewed departmental activity for water, wastewater, fire and police; said crews are preparing for possible inclement weather; noted that the first payment for a license plate had been received and that ARPA funds had begun to be expended; and announced an HB581 meeting scheduled for Jan. 13 at 5:30 p.m. Resident Marie Evans asked whether an application had been submitted for the Johnny Gunn property on Long Street; the minutes record the question but no response or follow-up action is recorded.
Votes at a glance - Approve agenda: mover Donnie Bennett; seconder Jimmy Davis; outcome: approved (4-0). - Approve Dec. 3 minutes: mover Shawn Allen; seconder Andrew Ferguson; outcome: approved (4-0). - Council departmental assignments/reappointments: mover Jimmy Davis; seconder Shawn Allen; outcome: approved (4-0). - Annual appointments (individual motions for each post listed above): all motions approved (4-0). - Insurance contracts (Level Health Gold, Lincoln, Apex): mover Shawn Allen; seconder Andrew Ferguson; outcome: approved (4-0). - City shop upgrade (bids $67,878.55; budgeted $68,000): mover Donnie Bennett; seconder Andrew Ferguson; outcome: approved (4-0). - FY2025 LMIG projects (Chestnut Ave, Walnut Ave, Holley & Pine intersection): mover Shawn Allen; seconder Andrew Ferguson; outcome: approved (4-0). - Contract with Civic Enhancement Strategies LLC and adoption of permit/fee schedule: mover Shawn Allen (contract motion by Allen); seconder Andrew Ferguson; outcome: approved (4-0). EMI proposal tabled (motion by Andrew Ferguson; seconded by Jimmy Davis; approved 4-0). - Inmate Housing Agreement: mover Jimmy Davis; seconder Donnie Bennett; outcome: approved (4-0). - Adjourn: mover Shawn Allen; seconder Jimmy Davis; outcome: approved; meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m.
What this means for Demorest The meeting moved mainly as a consent-style package: council accepted administrative appointments, selected vendors and approved planned street and capital work with unanimous votes and little debate recorded in the minutes. The managers report indicated ARPA funds are now being spent and flagged an HB581 meeting on Jan. 13; council also asked to add qualifying fees to a Jan. 13 special-called meeting agenda. A resident inquiry about the Johnny Gunn property was raised during public comment but the minutes do not record a response or any follow-up action.
Next steps and follow-up items in the minutes include the Jan. 13 meetings referenced by staff and the tabling of the EMI planning proposal pending further discussion.
