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Demorest council approves parking‑lot and city‑hall concept plans after residents urge tree preservation
Summary
The Demorest City Council approved concept plans to advance pricing for a municipal parking lot and a new city hall; residents urged preserving trees and consulting a UGA arborist during public comment. Council votes on both plans were 3–1 with Councilman Jimmy Davis opposed.
Demorest City Council on Sept. 4 approved concept plans for a municipal parking lot and for a proposed city hall that staff said are intended to be used to solicit contractor quotes.
The decisions followed staff presentations and council discussion about next steps for pricing and procurement. Councilman Andrew Ferguson moved to advance the city‑hall concept plans and Councilman Shawn Allen moved to advance the parking‑lot and landscape concept plans; both motions passed 3–1, with Councilman Jimmy Davis recorded as the lone dissent on each vote.
Why it matters: approving concept designs lets staff seek bids and obtain accurate cost estimates; residents warned the council these early approvals risk tree removal and urged alternatives to preserve canopy cover.
Residents used the second public‑comment period to press the council on trees. Rebecca Shedd of 371 Hazel Ave asked the council to adopt “plan C to save the trees.” Leeanne Leathers of 470 Ivy St asked the mayor and council to consult “a UGA arborist” about the proposed removals. Sherri McCullough of 888 Central Ave said she and the people she represents oppose the current proposal and raised concerns about a possible relocation of the police department tied to the project.
City Manager Mark Musselwhite and Mayor Jerry Harkness said the concept plans are preliminary and intended only to allow the city to obtain price quotes; they did not announce a final design decision or a construction timeline.
Next steps: staff will use the approved concept plans to solicit quotes and return with cost estimates and recommended designs. The council did not vote on a final design or a contractor at the Sept. 4 meeting.
