Newsletter about the City Council meeting of November 3, 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 11/3/2009 meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below

Invocation by Rev. Cindy Jordan of Spiritual Care Catawba Valley Medical Center

Special Presentations:
A. Presentation of Proclamation to Sue Huttman, Women’s Resource Center Outreach Coordinator Declaring the Month of November, 2009 as “Nonprofit Awareness Month” in the City of Hickory - The Mayor made the presentation and talked about how Non-Profits - Link to the Proclamation - Link to the Homepage

The Hound thanks these women in these times of need and hopes they are successful in their efforts of outreach to our local community.

B. Proclamation Presented to Nancy Compton, President of Waverly Book Club Proclaiming November 3, 2009 as “The Waverly Book Club of Hickory, NC Day” in the City of Hickory - The Mayor said he had the delight in meeting these people a couple of weeks ago. In 1909 a group of women formed an embroidery club. At three course luncheons, the group would do their embroidery, while one of the ladies would read chapters from a current book. In 1925 the Waverley Book Club was formally formed to reflect the groups strong interest in reading. The group was named after Sir Walter Scott's Waverley Novels. The group reflects high standards of Citizenship, Patriotism, and Altruism. Early membership included Msr. LP Franz, Mrs. AL Shuford, Mrs. George Ivey, Mrs CL Mosteller, and Mrs. AJ Moretz. Present membership is limited to twelve members. They are committed to the promotion of literacy and cultural improvement.

The Hound believes that any organization that has survived over 100 years is awesome. I hope that this group can survive for generations to come. Look at the fact that this group has survived through two World Wars and the tumult of many hard economic times. A group like this is the tie that binds the strong foundation of a community at large. These are the types a traditions that one can truly appreciate and a community can hang its hat on.

Photo of a collection of bookmarks, some around 100 years old, made by members of the Waverly Book Club of Hickory. - Boyd Family Genealogy and Local History Room at the Patrick Beaver memorial Library - Hickory, Catawba County - 375 3rd Street, Northeast Hickory NC 28601-5126

Consent Agenda:
Call for Public Hearing Regarding Consideration of an Economic Development Agreement with Fiserv, Inc. to be Located at 2415 Century Place, SE (Authorize Public Hearing for November 17, 2009)

Approve Application for the Use of Union Square by Girls on the Run of Catawba Valley/YMCA of Catawba Valley, Inc. for the Girls on the Run 5K Event to be Held on December 12, 2009 from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Transfer of Cemetery Lots in Oakwood CemeteryFrom Eric Avant Brown, Personal Representative of the Estate of John W. Brown to David M. Dauler. Transfer of Cemetery Lots in Oakwood Cemetery. From Robert R. Yoder to Paul R. Dickinson and wife, Patricia M. Dickinson

Approve Fourth Amendment to Lease Agreement With New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC for Lease of Ground Space at the City’s Water Plant for Location of Communication Equipment - Staff recommends approval and 2 readings.

Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 9
1. To budget a total of $32 in donations ($26-Catawba County Hispanic Ministry and $6 Cash) to the International Council line item for sodas at the Health Fair.

2. To appropriate $78,153 of General Fund to the District Court Capital Reserve account. This appropriation represents the amount of funds remaining from their FY08-09 budget.

3. To appropriate $101,130 of General Fund to the Multi-Year Grant Fund. This amendment represents the City of Hickory’s 50% matching funds required for year 3 of the Governor's Highway Safety Program grant award.

Grant Project Ordinance No. 8
1. To accept and budget a $101,130 transfer from the General Fund and to budget $101,130 of Multi-Year Governor's Highway Safety grant funds in several Police Department line items. The Governor’s Highway Safety Program-Year 3 grant provides funding to pay the salary for three (3) Officers, one (1) Sergeant and equipment. Equipment to be purchased will include hand held lasers, crash zone software, crash data retrieval system, software for retrieval system, travel and printed materials.

Grant Project Ordinance Amendment No. 5
1. To decrease Restricted Intergovernmental Revenue from Caldwell County by $30,000 and the Right of Way Acquisition expenditure line item by $30,000. Caldwell County will share 50/50 with the City of Hickory in the purchase of the right of way for the US 321 to Grace Chapel Road Connector. However, this will not be a reimbursement payment from Caldwell County to the City of Hickory for their portion. Therefore a $30,000 decrease to the Restricted Intergovernmental Revenue line item and the Right of Way Acquisition is necessary.

Informational Items:
A. Report of Alderwoman Hoyle’s Travel to the 2009 NCLM Annual Conference in Greenville, NC - From October 24 – 27, 2009; hotel - $384.18; registration - $494.00; per diem - $59.50; mileage - $270.60

B. Report of Mayor Wright’s Travel to the 2009 NCLM Annual Conference in Greenville, NC - From October 25 – 26, 2009; hotel - $112.86; registration - $400.00 (Mayor Wright reimbursed the City $50.00 for golf fee); per diem - $8.50; mileage - $282.70

New Business - Departmental Reports:
New Cingular Wireless PSC, LLC is the owner of a cellular tower and other ground equipment located at the City’s water treatment plant off Old Lenoir Road a/k/a Horse Farm site. Initially the City entered into an agreement with Gearon & Co., Inc. in August, 1996, who subsequently assigned its rights to BellSouth Carolinas PCS. In November, 2007 the City and New Cingular executed the third amendment to the agreement which extended the term of the initial agreement and outlined other provisions. The fourth amendment will be with New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC and provides for alternative utilization of space on the tower along with other changes. As part of its radio rebanding and upgrade projects, the Hickory Police Department will need to locate a public safety antennae and other equipment on the cell tower. There is additional space on the tower for placement of other public safety communications equipment. The City will pay for any necessary improvements to the tower so the structure will support the equipment. In exchange for the reserved space, New Cingular will be relieved of certain prior maintenance oligations at the site. Due to time constraints for the Hickory Police Department’s installation of equipment, staff requests two (2) readings on November 3, 2009.

1. Second Reading - Approve Fourth Amendment to Lease Agreement With New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC for Lease of Ground Space at the City’s Water Plant for Location of Communication Equipment. Due to time constraints for the Hickory Police Department’s installation of equipment.

*** General Comment by Alderman Lail - Veteran's day is celebrated on the eleventh day of the eleventh month and in the eleventh hour. In the City of Hickory, the Hickory Elk's Club has a tradition of remembrance that is held at sunset (5pm) at Oakwood Cemetary. The service will be held at the site of the tomb of the unknown soldier. The public is invited and he encourages everyone to attend. This year they will be recognizing a fallen soldier, who was killed in Afghanistan in January of this year.

The Hound thinks that we need to begin to recognize the sacrifice that the people make who serve in this country's armed services. We really cannot afford to take these guys for granted the way we do in this country. Veteran's day was traditionally observed as Armistice day after World War I. Armistice day was originally a recognition of cessation of hostilities along the western front in Europe. That happened November 11, 1918. Approximately 20 million people died during that war.