Newsletter about the City Council meeting of April 7, 2009

This newsletter is about the Hickory City Council meeting that I attended this past week. City council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each Month in the Council Chambers of the Julian Whitener building.

At the bottom right of this page under main information links is a Hickory's Local Government link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the bottom of the page you will see the future dates for meetings scheduled for this year.

At the top of the page, if you click on the “Documents” link, you will find historic Agenda and Minutes links. Agendas show what is on the docket for the meeting of that date. The Minutes is an actual summary of the proceedings of the meeting of that date.

Here is a summary of the agenda of the 3/17/2009 meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below.

Invocation by Alderman Danny Seaver

Special Presentations:
Proclamation to City Of Hickory’s Public Safety Communications Personnel – Declaring the Week of April 12 – 18, 2009 as “National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week” in the City of Hickory. Mayor Wright said that these people are responsible for the lives and property of our citizens. On a daily basis they serve the public in countless ways without the recognition by the beneficiaries of their services. Each telecommunicator must exhibit professionalism, accountability, compassion, and teamwork during the performance of their job. Police Chief Adkins addressed the council and showed various members of the telecommunications team. They answered 455 calls per day and dispatched over 71,000 calls for service to police officers last year. He thanked them for their service and the council for their proclamation. The Mayor stated how important these people are and cited the example of what happened in Carthage, NC last week.

B. Proclamation to the Hickory High School Key Club for its Success and Service to the Community - Proclaiming April 7, 2009 as “Hickory High School Key Club Day” in the City of Hickory. The Mayor said we are absolutely blessed by these members of the Key Club. He said that they were integral in Hickory being proclaimed an All-American City. He has observed leadership growth, realizing potential, and accomplishing more than they ever dreamed. Key Club is the oldest and largest service program for High School students. 240 clubs in the Carolinas met in Durham, March 13-15, 2009 to compete, learn, and network. Hickory High members won first place in all of the major service and leadership categories.

C. Recognition of Key Club Advisor, Danny Seaver for his Accomplishments and Leadership of the Hickory High School Key Club. Mayor Wright thanked Danny Seaver and Helen Devlin for helping Key Club members achieve more than they could have ever imagined. Alder Seaver is one of 37 people in the last 63 years to be recognized as a Carolinas District Honorary member. This is the highest honor that a leader can receive. Mr. Seaver has been integral in the growth of Hickory High Schools Key Club. The group will travel to Dallas, Texas this summer to receive "Diamond Level" recognition, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon the club at the international level. Alder Seaver thanked everyone for their support and wanted the recognition for the diverse group that represents the key club. He stated that the 45 members have amassed nearly 3,000 hours of service. Some kids have given hundreds of hours of service. The Mayor commended them for their voluntary service and said he was very proud of them.

D. Proclamation to Linda Baker Recognizing the Month of April, 2009 as “Child Abuse Prevention Month” in the City of Hickory. The Mayor said that this is a community problem that affects the quality of life in the community. This is preventable and it increases the likelihood of criminal behavior, substance abuse, health problems, and risky behavior. Prevention programs succeed because of partnerships created among social service agencies, schools, faith communities, civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, and the business community. Alder Seaver mentioned that Mrs. Baker is a leader in the Circle K organization at CVCC, which like the Key Club is also supported by the Kiwanis. It has also won numerous awards.

The Hound agrees with the Mayor and Alderman Seaver about how these people have touched the lives of others through their voluntary contributions. We need people to realize that your reward for hard work will not always be monetary, Sometimes your reward will come through helping the community address its quality of life issues. That is exactly what these people have done and continue to do. They are examples of the people that we should all strive to be.

Consent Agenda:
Social - Community Appearance Grant to Meredith Adams for Property Located at 831 Old Lenoir Road in the Amount of $377.50..... Landscape Incentive Grant to Lenoir-Rhyne University for the Mauney Music Building Located at the Intersection of 8th Avenue, NE and Stasavich Place in the Amount of $2,500.00.....Community Appearance Grant to Lenoir-Rhyne University for the Mauney Music Building Located at the Intersection of 8th Avenue, NE and Stasavich Place in the Amount of $5,000.00.....

Cemetary Lots - Corrected Transfer Oakwood Cemetery From Linda Lewis Helms to James Nelson Sherrill, Jr. and Pat Gregg Sherrill..... Corrected Transfer in Oakwood Cemetery From Linda Lewis Helms to James C. Winkler and wife, Dolores Y. Winkler. (Document Prepared by Attorney Susan L. Haire).....Quitclaim Deed From James C. Winkler and wife, Dolores Y. Winkler to Larry Penley and wife, Mildred W. Penley to Correct the Transfer of a Cemetery Lot in Oakwood Cemetery

Request From Christ United Methodist Church for the Use of Union Square for Their May Reactivate Concert to be Held on 5/29/2009 From 6 pm to 10pm.

Request For Funding By Community Relations Council (CRC) - Spring 2009 Grant Recommendations in the Amount of $7,413. As part of the work plan and annual budget process, the CRC receives funds to disperse during the fiscal year. A total of $12,000.00 is available for grant funding in FY 2008-09 and the CRC awarded $2,750 in Fall 2008. The CRC recommends funding on eight groups:
1. Hickory Community Theatre ($1,500)
2. Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club ($550)
3. ALFA ($1,500)
4. Clinton’s Corner of CC ($528)
5. Catawba County Hispanic Ministry ($600)
6. Hickory Branch NAACP ($860)
7. Council on Adolescents of CC ($1,275)
8. Western Piedmont Symphony ($600)

Proclamations - Declaring the Month of April, 2009 as “Fair Housing Month.".... Designating Thursday, May 7, 2009 as “National Day of Prayer.".... Proclaiming April 18 – May 2, 2009 as “Spring Little Sweep 2009.”

Business - Approval of Fire Hydrant Grant Application From Bowen Urgent Care Located at 2365 Springs Road N.E. ... Apply and Accept a Traffic Unit Grant By The Governor’s Highway Safety Program with the City’s Portion Being in the Amount of $102,530.00.... Approval of Property Tax Refund as Recommended by Catawba County Tax Office to Xerox Corporation in the Amount of $4,312.77.... Approval of Property Tax Refund as Recommended by Catawba County Tax Office to Charles E. & Mary Ann Mitchem in the Amount of $67.25.

Approve Resolutions for Application to North Carolina Clean Water State Revolving Fund for Loan Funding on Multiple Projects.

Traffic Ordinances - Reducing the Speed Limit From 35 mph to 25 mph Along 4th Avenue, NW From the Intersection With 6th Street, NW East Approximately 870 Feet to 4th Street, NW and 5th Street, NW From the Intersection With 3rd Avenue, NW North Approximately 815 Feet to the Intersection With 4th Avenue, NW...... Reducing the Speed Limit From 35 mph to 25 mph Along 1st St NW From the Intersection With 31st Ave NW North Approximately 1,200 Feet to the Intersection With 34th Ave NW, 1ST St Pl NW From the Intersection With 33rd Ave NW North Approximately 400 Feet to the Intersection With 34th Ave NW, 2nd St NW From the Intersection With 32nd Ave NW North Approximately 1,200 Feet to the Dead End, 2nd St Pl NW From the Intersection With 31st Ave NW North Approximately 420 Feet to the Intersection With 34th Ave NW, 32nd Ave NW From the Intersection With 3rd St NW East Approximately 2,400 Feet to the Dead End, 33rd Ave NW From the Intersection With 3rd St NW East Approximately 2,600 Feet to the Intersection With North Center St, and 34th Ave NW From the Intersection With 1st St Pl NW West Approximately 1,600 Feet to the Intersection With 2nd St Pl NW..... Prohibiting On-Street Parking Along Both the East and West Margins of 6th St NW From the Intersection With 7th St NW West Approximately 1,080 Feet to the Intersection With 20th Ave Ln NW

Ordinances - budget a total of $750 of International Springfest donations in the International Council expenditure....transfer $71,894 from the Hickory Police Department Specialized Equipment line item to the Debt Service Payment line items....transfer $97,334 of General Capital Reserve to the General Fund Installment Purchases line item. This transfer is for final payment to William S. Barkley for the purchase of properties located in the 800 block of 3rd St. Place and 3rd St....Decrease the Parks and Recreation Miscellaneous Donations revenue line item and the Special Events expenditure line item by $5,000, because it was budgeted twice (8/08 & 2/09).


Informational Items:
Update of Grant From the Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program “Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Services” (SAFER) Accepted by City Council on February 17, 2009 - City Manager Berry stated that after further review the Department of Homeland Security is saying that we must fully fund 12 full time firefighters. This was fully discussed at the City Council Meeting on 2/17/2009 under New Business - Departmental Reports - Accept Grant from the Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program “Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Services"

City Manager Berry’s Attendance at the 2009 Catawba County Chamber of Commerce Economic Issues Conference in Hickory, NC on 3/11/2009 – registration - $15.00

Mayor Wright’s Travel Expenses for the NLC – 2009 Annual Congressional City Conference in Washington, DC on 3/15/2009 – airfare - $697.70; registration - $465.00

New Business - Public Hearings:
Voluntary Non-Contiguous Annexation of the Property of Claude Ray Shrum Located at the End of Timberland Hills Drive Off of Robinson Road - The properties are currently vacant and are located in the City’s ETJ area and zoned R-1 residential. Mr. Shrum intends to develop a 41 lot single-family residential subdivision. The current tax value is $166,100.00 and if annexed, the raw property alone would generate $830.50 in additional tax revenues. Unanimously Approved by Council

Recognition of Persons Requesting to be Heard
Mr. Harry Hipps of 405 29th Avenue Drive, NW Requests to Address City Council Regarding an Amendment to the City Code, Article 3, Section 4-32 - Keeping of Swine and Goats - Harry stated that he had a simple request. He would like the code amended to include sheep. His neighbors as he stated "believe it or not" were raising up to 13 sheep on a 1 1/2 acre piece of property in their backyard. This section was done in 2006, because before that a person had to go before a board to have the situation declared a nuisance. The ordinance stated that a nuisance is defined as pigs, swine, hogs, and goats. He stated that he didn't know what the difference was between pigs, hogs, and swine, but the ordinance covered goats, but did not cover sheep. He spoke with the code enforcement officer and the code enforcement officer pointed that out (that sheep weren't included). He said that Sgt. Yoder was very helpful. He stated that the noise and fecal matter that apply to the others should also apply to sheep. Harry (asked) would like for sheep to be included in the ordinance.