NEGAbriefLocal records made useful
IssueDemorestunder consideration

Demorest council tables rental agreement for public facilities

Rules for renting city facilities, including a university's request to serve alcohol at the Demorest Conference Center, remain undecided.

By NEGA Brief NewsroomLast checked September 30, 2026
Latest

November 6, 2025: Piedmont University request to use Demorest Conference Center for spring formal dance

What happens next

No next step has been documented.

At a glance

What this means now

Where it stands

About a month later, the council took up a related request from Piedmont University. Catherine Wiles of Piedmont University told the council the university "wants to use the Demorest Conference Center for their spring formal dance," including a request to serve alcohol there, which is currently prohibited at the facility. Mayor Harkness called for a motion, but none was made, leaving the request undecided.

The story

Demorest City Council held a work session discussion on a rental agreement for all public facilities. The discussion included a request tied to an event at the Demorest Conference Center in which the requester "requests permission to have alcohol, which is currently prohibited."

SourcesCity Council Agenda — 10.7.25 WS Agenda.docxCity Council Minutes — 10.7.25 WS Minutes SIGNED.pdf

In its regular session the same day, the council tabled the rental agreement discussion on a 4-0 vote after Mayor Harkness requested a motion to table it "until additional details are provided."

SourcesCity Council Agenda — 10.7.25 CC RS Agenda.docxCity Council Minutes — 10.7.25 RS Minutes FINAL.pdf

About a month later, the council took up a related request from Piedmont University. Catherine Wiles of Piedmont University told the council the university "wants to use the Demorest Conference Center for their spring formal dance," including a request to serve alcohol there, which is currently prohibited at the facility. Mayor Harkness called for a motion, but none was made, leaving the request undecided.

SourcesCity Council Agenda — 11.6.25 CC RS Agenda.pdfCity Council Agenda — 11.6.25 WS Agenda.pdfCity Council Minutes — 11.6.25 CC RS Minutes FINAL.pdfCity Council Minutes — 11.6.25 CC WS Minutes FINAL.pdf

What happened

How this issue got here

Open any step for its supporting record. A proposal remains labeled as proposed until later evidence establishes an outcome.

Appeared on agenda
proposed

Request from PU (Piedmont University?) to utilize Conference Center

DISCUSSION OF REQUEST FROM PU TO UTILIZE CONFERENCE CENTER

Appeared on agenda
proposed

Request from PU to utilize Conference Center

DISCUSSION OF REQUEST FROM PU TO UTILIZE CONFERENCE CENTER

Discussed
discussed

Piedmont University request to serve alcohol at Municipal Conference Center for spring formal

Mayor Harkness called for a motion, but none was made.

Discussed
discussed

Piedmont University request to use Demorest Conference Center for spring formal dance

Catherine Wiles from Piedmont University wants to use the Demorest Conference Center for their spring formal dance

Tabled
confirmed

Rental agreement for all public facilities

Mayor Harkness requested a motion to table the discussion until additional details are provided.

Appeared on agenda
proposed

Rental agreement for all public facilities

CONSIDERATION OF RENTAL AGREEMENT FOR ALL PUBLIC FACILITIES

Appeared on agenda
proposed

Rental agreement for all public facilities

DISCUSSION OF RENTAL AGREEMENT FOR ALL PUBLIC FACILITIES

Discussed
discussed

Rental agreement for all public facilities / alcohol permission for Piedmont event at Demorest Conference Center

requests permission to have alcohol, which is currently prohibited

Research the record

Search the underlying agendas, minutes, and documents.

Search supporting records