Former Demorest mayor receives Lifetime Service Award from GMA

The Georgia Municipal Association awarded former Demorest Mayor Malcolm Hunnicutt with the Lifetime Service Award Monday night. <br /> <br /> The award, in recognition of Hunnicutt's 39 years of service to the city, was presented during the GMA district meeting in Gainesville. <br /> <br /> "Mayor Hunnicutt demonstrated his love of his hometown through his many years of generous service to its citizens," said GMA Executive Director Lamar Norton. "Demorest is fortunate to have that kind of dedicated leadership, and GMA and Georgia's cities are also grateful to have seen the example he set for all city leaders."<br /> <br /> Demorest accomplishments during Hunnicutt's term of service, as noted by GMA, include updating the city's code of ordinances; constructing a pedestrian bridge over Historic Highway 441; expanding the city's water system to serve 60 percent of Habersham County; building two water tanks; upgrading the city-owned cemetery; and improving relations with Piedmont College, the city's largest property owner.<br /> <br /> "Under Hunnicutt's leadership, the city designed and built new downtown streetscapes, reconstituted the downtown development authority and planning commission, annexed the county's medical center, renovated a city shop into the new police station, and began construction of a new wastewater treatment plant," a GMA statement reads.<br /> <br /> GMA is a voluntary organization providing legislative advocacy, education, employee benefit and consulting services to its 521 member cities. <br />