At right of this page under Main Information links is an Hickory's City Website link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the left of the page you will see the Agenda's and Minutes link you need to click. This will give you a choice of PDF files to upcoming and previous meetings.
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 3/15/2011 meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below:
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Invocation by Rev. Robert Shoffner, Retired from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Consent Agenda:
A. Call for Public Hearing to Consider Entering Into a Economic Development Incentive Agreement With Fairmont Designs for Approximately $25,000 With the Creation of 200 Jobs (Authorize Public Hearing for April 5, 2011)
B. Transfer of Cemetery Lots in Oakwood Cemetery From John J. Reinhardt to Harold D. Setzer and wife, Phyllis M. Setzer (Document Prepared by Attorney John G. Fuller)
C. Transfer of Cemetery Lot in Oakwood Cemetery From Kathy Lawson Pool, f/k/a Kathy Lawson Whitener and husband Gary Pool to Stephen Riley Lawson (Document Prepared by Attorney Martin E. Steele)
D. Transfer of Cemetery Lot in Oakwood Cemetery From Kathy Lawson Pool, f/k/a Kathy Lawson Whitener and husband Gary Pool to Kathy Lawson Pool (Document Prepared by Attorney Martin E. Steele)
E. Approval of Property Tax Refund as Recommended by Catawba County Tax Office to First Citizens Bank in the Amount of $920 - First Citizens Bank listed and paid for leased equipment located at their Hickory office; 243 Performance Dr., SE which is used exclusively for recycling or resource recovery and is exempt. Therefore, a refund is being requested for taxes paid for 2010 to Catawba County. This information has been verified by the Catawba County Tax Office.
F. Citizens’ Advisory Committee Recommendations for Assistance Through the City of Hickory’s Housing Programs –
Charlton Seaver of 836 7th Avenue, SW is being recommended to subordinate the City’s second mortgage to State Employee’s Credit Union due to refinancing of the first mortgage. His original loan was for $12,999 at 3% interest rate with a balance due of $11,505.30. Mr. Seaver is currently up to date on his payments.
Applicant Richard and Elena Gould are being recommended for approval for assistance under the City’s First-Time Homebuyer’s Assistance Program to purchase a home located at 3231 Blue Sky Court. The applicants have requested $7,500 for assistance with down payment and closing costs.
Funds are budgeted for the above items through the City of Hickory’s former Rental Rehabilitation Program income received in FY 2009 and/or program income received through the City’s Community Development Block Grant Program. The Citizens’ Advisory Committee recommends approval of the above.
The Hound has a problem with what I have seen related to conflicts of interest associated with these low interest loans. I don't believe that these loans should go to close relatives of Council Members or to Reporters of our local newspaper or with any decision maker associated with the City of Hickory. Does one not see that this is improper. I have seen this become business as usual over the years, where these loans have gone to people closely connected to the City's government.
These loans are supposed to be arranged for people who are truly in need. Let's look at Council Member's family members getting these loans. These loans are not widely publicized. The average citizen does not know that they are available. In my opinion, Council members are compensated fairly. I think if their family member needs help with some money to buy a home that they can help that family member out. This is not meant to be a slush fund!
City Officials and Decision Makers should not be using the City's Common Good funds to support their relatives. Second, a reporter for the local paper, who is supposed to be reporting on city issues, should not be taking one of these loans. If a critical and/or controversial question needed to be asked related to a city official or action taken by the city, will the question be asked or will the situation be investigated or even given attention? Will relevant issues be swept under the carpet or never addressed by the local media in exchange for favors or access to the club?
G. Approve Change Order No. 2 to Pizzagalli Construction for the NEWWTP Upgrade Project in the Amount of $50,301 (Exhibit VI.G.) - The Northeast Wastewater Treatment Plant (NEWWTP) Upgrade Project is a $21,569,383 project necessary due to its age, replacement components no longer being available and environmental regulation changes. City Council previously approved Change Order No. 1 in the amount of $23,608 and due to unforeseen conditions; Change Order No. 2 in the amount of $50,301 requires Council approval. Change Order No. 2 consists of replacement slide gates on the sludge storage tanks, building permit revisions, influent pump supplier change, grout and mortar testing and grading revisions of laboratory building totaling $75,523 with a deduction of $25,222 due to the use of the base bid influent pumps points operating more efficiently; reducing Change Order No. 2 to $50,301. Staff recommends approval.
H. Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 17
1. To budget a $8,856 insurance claim check from Trident Insurance Company in the Police Departments Maintenance and Repair of Vehicle line item. This payment is for damage sustained to a police vehicle on 02-06-11.
2. To budget a $1,500 donation from the Elks Lodge in the Parks and Recreation Department Supply line item. This donation will be used to conduct the annual Easter Egg Hunt which is coordinated by the City of Hickory’s Park and Recreation Department.
3. To budget a total of $1,750 of International Council donations in the International Council expenditure line item. These donations will be used to conduct the annual 2011 International Springfest event.
4. To decrease General Fund Balance Appropriated by $576 and increase the transfer from the Gang of One grant project by $576. This amendment is necessary to close the Gang of One grant project and return $576 of unspent monies to the original funding source General Fund Balance Appropriated.
5. To decrease General Fund Balance Appropriated by $1,203 and increase the transfer from the Traffic Unit grant project by $1,203. This amendment is necessary to close the Traffic Unit grant project and return $1,203 of unspent monies to the original funding source General Fund Balance Appropriated.
6. To appropriate $40,548 of Water and Sewer Fund Balance and transfer to the Cripple Creek Sewer grant project. This amendment is necessary to fund uncovered expenditures within the project and close the Cripple Creek Sewer project.
Informational Items:
A. Report of Mayor Wright’s Travel to Greensboro, NC From February 24 -25, 2011 to Attend the 2011 NC Metro Mayors Coalition Winter Meeting; registration - $100.00; hotel - $158.11; mileage - $97.92; per diem - $8.50
B. Report of City Manager Berry’s Travel to Greensboro, NC From February 24 – 25, 2011 to Attend the 2011 NC Metro Mayors Coalition Winter Meeting; registration - $100.00; hotel - $158.11; mileage - $96.90; per diem - $16.00
Citizen's Requesting to be Heard
Lisa Kemerait, owner of CHI of Hickory,located on Union Square addressed the council first. Her issue that she wanted to address is the relocation of the Hickory Farmer's market in front of her business location. She did not find out until recently. She is mainly worried about the parking situation and the negative impact it will have on her handicapped and older patrons and distances they will have to walk. She is a therapeutic massage therapist who specializes in injury rehabilitation. She is ver supportive of the Farmer's Market, but believes that if it is going to be located on Union Square that they need to be placed on the Paver Stones (Bricks). This will directly affect her business on Wednesday and Saturday.
Ed Cooper next addressed the Council, he is the owner of Union Square Computers, he wants better internet Downtown. He has had had talks with Charter who has told him that they have not been able to get "Right of Entry" downtown. He named companies located Downtown that desire to improve internet service Downtown. He also stated that he believes that the Farmer's Market and businesses can coexist, but it should not happen at the expense of parking spaces.
Darlene Herman, owner of Salon on the Square next addressed the Council. She stated that she has been in business at that location for 20 years. She is against the Farmer's Market taking up parking spaces and had 50 names of people in 45 minutes that signed up against this relocation. She supports downtown every way possible. She thinks there can be a better way than taking away handicapped parking and accessibility in front of her business (above the Tap Room). She has a lot of elderly and handicapped customers that come to her business by wheel chair. They already have to pull up on the bricks sometimes to get them to the business. She already has to close and go to customers houses on Octoberfest and other festivals. She has accommodated her customers the best that she can for 25 years. She would appreciate consideration to not closing the parking lot. And there is already a problem with people backing out into the streets and there are going to be more. She invited Council members to come up to her business and look out the windows and witness the traffic flow.
The Hound: This issue was thoroughly discussed at the City Council Meeting on February 15, 2011 with my opinion, which is still as relevant today as it was then. As far as the Charter Internet issue, I don't understand why they aren't allowed to compete Downtown, but as long as they are a provider in the area, they should be allowed to.
A message from Citizens for Equity in Government
2 comments:
If we are having this angst over the farmers market as it now exists, what would happen if it really grew? Many of us still remember the cattle sale (which was really a flea market combined with the agriculture). It lasted for years and was loved. The farmers market has that potential but it will never be realized downtown. It has the potential to be much bigger and more diverse with more local crafts and foods being sold. And if it doesn't happen in Hickory, Conover's market or some other venue will develop.
The interest is boosting downtown not really developing the market to its fullest potential. So we will probably see Hickory trying to put 25 pounds of potatoes in a 5 pound sack for some time to come.
Just a thought, but wouldn't it be a good idea for those shops that can, to drag a table out of their stores and join the market, rather than whine about it? If they truly support the concept of having it, why not use that as a means of exposing that expanded group of people to their wares?
As far as this concept of taking parking is concerned, there isn't enough parking available for the shops currently on the square. Until the City embraces the idea of a parking deck, to meet the needs of Union Square and that two block area, it's going to be a moot point and the poorly contructed myth of a vibrant Downtown Hickory will remain so.
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