It is no secret that Demorest was Turmoil Town for many years, and there are many people who share in the responsibility for that.
Over most of the year 2020, it was a great public service that Demorest’s governmental dealings were carried live on the internet, because it was consistently must-see television.
Who was going to argue with whom? Who was getting fired? Who lives in the city and who doesn’t? There was constant angst, and it was forming a reputation for the city.
There were problems in the city before that as well, including the infamous missing $600,000 that is as mythical and elusive as D.B. Cooper’s treasure or the gold in Al Capone’s vault.
But as spring is budding in the “Heart of Habersham,” Demorest is trying to turn over a new leaf.
It begins with Demorest joining more than half the cities in Georgia as a “City of Ethics,” including Habersham County neighbors Cornelia and Mt. Airy.
The 17-page document is mainly a pledge by the officials in the city government to do right by their citizens and by the oaths they take when they are sworn in. The true meat and potatoes of the ordinance can be summarized on page one, where it reads:
“NOW THEREFORE it is the policy of the city that its officials, employees, appointees, and volunteers conducting official city business:
“Serve others and not themselves;
Be independent, impartial and responsible;
Use resources with efficiency and economy;
Treat all people fairly;
Use the power of their position for the wellbeing of their constituents; and
Create an environment of honesty, openness and integrity.”
This is a great step for Demorest, and these principles are a fine foundation on which to build the governing of a city.
It almost seems like these ideals would not even have to be explicitly stated and would be par for the course when operating in public service.
No matter who you supported over the years in Demorest or who you think was at fault for this controversy or that one, we can all agree that the city needed something of a reset – a course correction, if you will.
The officials in Demorest are saying all the right things about wanting to leave the past behind and move into the future. This is a strong first step.
Declaring oneself a city of ethics is a double-edged sword, though. It firmly stamps your intentions to do things the right way, but also invites additional scrutiny if anyone strays from the program.
It would be gratifying to see Demorest continue moving in this direction and working in the best interests of a unified townspeople.