DEMOREST — The Demorest City Council on Tuesday tabled a public hearing tied to a request for a special use permit for multifamily residential use at 415 Fisk Ave., setting the matter aside for reconsideration next month as the council also postponed several other agenda items during the meeting.
The request, submitted by Alan Baker and Philip Smith, would allow multifamily residential development on the property. City Attorney Thomas Mitchell said the hearing had been properly advertised but noted the applicants needed more time to gather information.
“This is the advertised tonight’s public hearing on the request from Alan Baker and Philip Smith for a special use permit for use multifamily residential the property located at 415 Fisk Avenue,” Mitchell said. “The applicant is still trying to gather information. The applicant has requested that this matter in the public hearing be continued.”
Mitchell said the council had discretion to proceed or continue the hearing.
“Frankly, since the information that was I think that was requested, is not available, I would recommend that we just have the table the public hearing, or postpone the public hearing until the meeting in June, which will be June 2,” he said.
The council voted 3-1 to table the hearing, with Councilman Shawn Allen casting the lone dissenting vote.
Multiple items tabled
The decision set the tone for the remainder of the meeting, as council members tabled multiple additional agenda items.
The council postponed consideration of a GoGov contract that would provide text alerts for city residents on emergencies and city news. Members said they wanted additional information on how many messages the city would be permitted to send under the system.
A proposed adjustment to the city’s Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System (GMEBS) pension plan was also tabled. City Manager Mark Musselwhite said the city was still waiting on updated actuarial figures related to a proposed increase in the benefit multiplier.
“I met with Josh Cooley, our representative,” Musselwhite said. “GMA asked him to up the multiplier to 1.75 and he requested that from the actuary, and this will cost us $1,050 for them to run those numbers. It’s not done. So we can’t move forward with facts.”
Musselwhite recommended the council leave the item on the table until updated data is available.
The council also tabled consideration of bids for city hall renovations, a parking lot project and a post office lease agreement for 250 Alabama St. The item had not been discussed in the council’s earlier work session.
Despite the series of delays, the council did approve without objection a resolution tied to the city’s FY2026 Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) funding. Musselwhite outlined nearly $100,000 in potential projects, including improvements to Georgia Street, Wisconsin Street and a section of Cap Fry within the city limits.
The council also accepted the resignation of Patti Davis from the Downtown Development Authority.
The council also discussed but ultimately tabled a proposed alley closure at the intersection of Walnut and Ohio streets. Musselwhite said the request came from a nearby property owner seeking to clean up a property line issue involving a garage structure. City Attorney Thomas Mitchell outlined the legal framework for abandoned alleys, noting adjacent property owners may purchase vacated portions at half the assessed value.
Although staff recommended approval, the council voted to table the closure.
With multiple items delayed and only a handful of actions moving forward, the meeting reflected a broader pattern of the council deferring decisions on several matters pending additional information or analysis.
