DEMOREST, Ga. — The Demorest City Council approved updates to its animal control agreement with Habersham County and authorized an application for state transportation funding Tuesday while also discussing future water system improvements and approving changes to the city’s retirement benefits.
The council unanimously approved the first amendment to its intergovernmental agreement with Habersham County for the administration and enforcement of animal control services.
City Manager Mark Musselwhite said the agreement itself was largely unchanged from the version previously discussed by the council. City and county officials reviewed the addresses included in the agreement to ensure they were within Demorest’s city limits.
“Everything that we had last week or last month, and the difference is Tim and I and Madi have gone through, checked the addresses to make sure they were all within the city limits, and they are,” Musselwhite said.
Habersham County officials Tim Sims and Madi Nix attended the meeting.
Councilman Shawn Allen asked whether the city could receive regular reports on animal control activity similar to reports it receives for fire and emergency services. Nix said the county already prepares reports and could provide Demorest with monthly statistics showing the number of calls and animals originating within the city limits.
Transportation grant application approved
The council also unanimously authorized the mayor to submit an application to the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank for pedestrian improvements along Double Springs Road and Hancock Road.
Grants writer Brad Day said the project would expand sidewalks and pedestrian lighting while improving connections between residential areas and downtown Demorest.
The proposed improvements represent the third of three similar projects the city began pursuing in 2024.
Two of the projects previously received funding through federal programs, but Day said those projects are not currently expected to go out for bid until 2031.
“This might be cheaper and it might get done faster,” Day said of the state-funded application. “We’re hoping, fingers crossed.”
The city is requesting the project be funded entirely with state money and is proposing no local match.
Iron Ore Zone discussion tabled
The council tabled discussion of the Iron Ore Zone after City Engineer Fletcher Holliday was unable to attend the meeting.
Holliday, who also serves as Baldwin’s city engineer, was attending that city’s meeting at the same time.
Probation services change approved
The council voted 3-1 to dissolve its existing probation services agreement with the City of Alto and enter into a new agreement with CRSA Professional Services.
Councilman Andrew Ferguson cast the lone dissenting vote on both measures.
The council did not discuss Ferguson’s reasons for opposing the agreements.
Retirement ordinance approved
The council also approved the second reading of an ordinance increasing the multiplier used to calculate retirement benefits for eligible city employees.
The multiplier will increase from 1.5 to 1.75, according to Musselwhite.
The change is expected to add approximately $36,000 annually to the city’s retirement costs, or roughly $1,250 per employee on an annualized basis. Musselwhite said the cost has already been incorporated into the budget currently being developed.
The change takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.
The ordinance passed without objection.
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