Newsletter about the City Council meeting of May 15, 2012

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 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 5/15/2012 meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below:

Please remember that pressing Ctrl and + will magnify the text and page and pressing Ctrl and - will make the text and page smaller. This will help the readability for those with smaller screens and/or eye difficulties

Invocation by Rev. Paul Birkedal, Chaplain, Lutheran Homes

Special Presentations:
A. Proclamation Regarding Charlotte Motor Speedway’s May Race to Education and Declaring May 19-27, 2012 as Kurt Busch Week in the City of Hickory

B. Presentation of Proclamation to Scott Caskaddon in recognition of his bravery and quick thinking at a car fire on May 3, 2012

C. Presentation of Proclamation to Chief of Police Tom Adkins Declaring the Week of May 13-19, 2012 as National Police Week in the City of Hickory

* Chief Adkins accepted the award and mentioned Gerald Wayne Maynard who passed away in 1977. 163 officers dies last year in the line of duty. One every 53 hours. He stated that each day these officers go out they are the line between those who abide by the law and those who commit crimes and disorder in our community.


D. Proclamation Declaring May 14-20, 2012 as “National Tourism Week” in the City of Hickory

* Bebe stated that citizens in our area save on average $117 in taxes each year, because of this industry.


E. Hickory Downtown Development Association’s “Community Vision for Downtown Hickory 2017” (Presentation by Rodney Swink, former Director of the North Carolina Main Street Program) - Four point approach of organization, promotion, design, and economic restructuring. Participating communities saw an increase of $800 million as a result. Communities without direction are like businesses without a plan. They are doomed to waste time, money, and effort. This is a shared effort between downtown and neighborhoods, business and civic interests.


F. Council Policy Regarding Consent Agenda Procedure -
Newsletter about the City Council meeting of May 15, 2012 -- Addendum on Consent Agenda Policies & Public Participation


Consent Agenda: All items below are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Council Member so requests. In which event, the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered under Item VIII.

** At this point in the meeting, Larry Pope, a citizen of Hickory, approached the podium and began speaking regarding his request that Council Members discuss every item on the consent agenda before voting individually on each item. Mr. Pope stated that he asked for reasonable accommodations as outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Mayor Wright declared Mr. Pope out of order several times, and Mr. Pope continued speaking. Council voted unanimously to recess the meeting, and after approximately 10 minutes, the meeting was reconvened. Mr. Pope continued, and Mayor Wright again declared Mr. Pope out of order, and informed Mr. Pope that the meeting was not the place to discuss the issue, and that Mr. Pope had legal recourse through the courts. City Attorney Crone then stated that disrupting a public meeting is a misdemeanor, and that Mr. Pope had been given ample time to speak and ruled out of order several times. Mr. Pope stated that he wanted a tape of the meeting, and he returned to his seat.





A. Call for Public Hearing on the City Manager’s FY2012-2013 Recommended Budget (Authorize Public Hearing for June 5, 2012) The 2012-2013 Recommended Budget has been distributed to City Council as required by law and is available for review in the Office of the City Clerk, Patrick Beaver Memorial Library and Ridgeview Library. *Alderman Lail moved, it was seconded and unanimously resolved, that Item A. be removed for discussion. City Manager Berry explained that this was simply a call for a public hearing on the budget. A public hearing will be held at the June 5th Council Meeting, at which time citizens may make public comment.

B. Future Annexation Agreement – Jimmy and Joyce Scott – 3131 7th Avenue SE – Forest Heights Subdivision (Catawba County PIN 3722-15-63-0572) - Jimmy and Joyce Scott have requested connection to the City’s water and sewer system without being annexed. They have agreed to be annexed at some time in the future when the City finds it economically feasible to do so. The property is located at 3131 7th Avenue SE, which is just off of Tate Boulevard behind Catawba Valley Medical Center in the Forest Heights Subdivision. None of the other properties in the subdivision have been annexed into the city limits. While the property is adjacent to the city limits, access to the property is through two streets not located within the city limits. Annexing one property of the subdivision is not economically feasible at this time. Staff recommends approval of the future annexation agreement.

C. Future Annexation Agreement - Joseph and Grace Vaught – 2906 Springs Road NE – Part of the E. H. Killian Property Division (Catawba County PIN 3723-06-48-8144) - Joseph and Grace Vaught have requested connection to the City’s water and sewer system without being annexed. They have agreed to be annexed at some time in the future when the City finds it economically feasible to do so. The subject property is somewhat isolated from other portions of the corporate boundary of Hickory. Small satellite annexations are located across Springs Road NE and further to the north and south of the property. Water and sewer services are available to serve the property, but do to its proximity to the principal corporate boundary, Staff does not recommend immediate annexation. Staff recommends approval of the future annexation agreement.

D. Proclamation Declaring May 20 – 26, 2012 as “National American Public Works Week” in the City of Hickory

E. Citizens’ Advisory Committee Recommendations for Assistance through the City of Hickory’s Housing Programs - The following request was considered by the Citizens’ Advisory Committee at their regular meeting on May 3, 2012:
 Marcia Taylor, 3333 Blue Sky Court SE, Newton, was awarded a City of Hickory Housing Rehabilitation Loan. The Citizens’ Advisory Committee recommends approval for assistance not to exceed $7,000 for repairs to her home. Assistance would be in the form of a 3% interest loan for a 10 year period. Funds are budgeted for these items through the City of Hickory’s Rental Rehabilitation Program income received in FY 2009 and/or program income received through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant Program. The Citizens’ Advisory Committee recommends approval of the above request.

F. Amendment to NC DOT/Division of Aviation Block Grant/VISION 100 Grant No. 36237.66.3.1 for Construction of New Aviation Fuel Farm at Hickory Regional Airport With this amendment, the City will accept $474,918 in grant funds and commit to a city match of $52,768 - The City of Hickory received an e-mail on March 19, 2012 from the NC DOT Airport Project Manager that states that the Division of Aviation approves Hickory Regional Airport to use the airport’s non-primary entitlement (VISION 100) funds to construct the new aviation fuel farm. This funding includes existing and future VISION 100 funds consistent with the grant modification requested today which will be made available to the City as they are received from the FAA fund allocations as long as all current programs continue. The next fund allocation from the FAA is anticipated to be in the August, 2012 timeframe. The new fuel farm will allow the airport to have additional fuel storage capacity enabling the City to extend lower and more competitive fuel prices to its customers. Staff recommends approval.

G. Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 22
1. To budget $800 of Unity Fair donations in the Unity Fair expenditure line item. The Unity Fair is part of the International Spring Fest.
2. To budget $185 of Library donations from several donors in the Library Books line item.
3. To appropriate $18,066 of Miscellaneous Insurance Claim Payment from Trident Insurance Company and budget in the Fleet Maintenance-Maintenance and Repair of Vehicles line item.
4. To appropriate $52,768 of Transportation Fund Balance and transfer to the Hickory Regional Airport Fuel Farm Project. $52,768 represents the 10% City grant match required by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration).

H. Grant Project Ordinance Amendment No. 11
1. To accept and appropriate $474,918 in FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) grant revenue and to transfer $82,558 in existing FAA grant revenue to be utilized for the construction phase of the Hickory Regional Airport Fuel Farm Project. A City grant match of $52,768 is also required. Once this Grant Project Ordinance Amendment is approved, construction can begin.


New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 23
This budget ordinance amendment budgets $900,000 for Jet A and 100 Low Lead wholesale bulk fuel purchases which are then resold through the Hickory Regional Airport’s retail fueling operation. This budget amendment is required to keep the revenues and expenditures of the Airport's fuel inventory in compliance with statutory budget requirements. This budget amendment was not done earlier in the year due to uncertainty about the volume of fuel the Airport would be purchasing/selling on a monthly basis. We now have 5 months of financial history which allows us to make this budgetary projection.

Assistant City manager Warren Wood presented the information. The City took over rthe FBO on December 9, 2012. The City had to move fast to make sure there were no disruptions. Moved fast to set up funds to operate the airport. Start up enterprise...  Not a whole lot of data to go on. Knew personnel and some operational numbers, didn't have financial numbers. Have been building a financial history. Using this for budget projections for this year and next year. Did not budget the purchase of wholesale aviation fuel that will be resold as part of the aviation fueling operation. They had a projection that they could back into, but they weren't sure because they had never done it before and weren't sure that they could rely on the previous FBO's numbers.

Historic responsibilities of the city include runway, ground, building, tenants, control tower, and fire station no. 4. FBO responsibilities are service related and include fuel and hangar management. They will contract out maintenance. They are providing red carpet service for base and transient customers. Customer service is a big emphasis.

Currently have two fuel farms. North Ramp has 100 low lead (12,000 gallons) and Jet A fuel (12,000 gallons).  South Ramp has just Jet A fuel (12,000 gallons). Action tonight creates a new fuel system that will even accept credit card purchases. It will be 100,000 gallons of 100 Low Lead and 12,000 gallons of Jet A fuel.  This will help with after hour purchases that were not available before. This gives a third option.

They are selling between 30,000 and 40,000 gallons of fuel per month. This mis self funding because you are buying wholesales and selling retail. They have to agree with this or they can't sell the fuel. Alderman Guess and Alder Patton both stated that they have heard nothing but good things from people that utilize the airport. The mayor concurred.

The Hound has heard nothing but good things about the city's operation of the airport and is glad that the city finally took over the FBO and believes that this will help with its future viability.


2. Resolution of Support – NC Main Street Solutions Grant Application for Redevelopment of Hollar Hosiery Property Located at 883 Highland Ave SE, Hickory - The Main Street Solutions Fund Program is administered by the NC Department of Commerce, Division of Community Assistance, and its purpose is to provide maximum support to small businesses in designated North Carolina Main Street Communities. The program is intended to strengthen the economy of the municipality and its role as a regional growth and employment hub. This is accomplished by leveraging the state’s resources for small business development spurring private investment, and by providing economic development planning assistance and coordinated grant support. The City of Hickory must be the recipient of the grant funds and must administer the grant. A total of $200,000 is available, and it is a 2 to 1 match – 2 local/private dollars for every dollar of grant funding. In order to apply for the entire amount, the Hollar Project will need to show a minimum of $400,000 in local and private funds. In addition, the project will need to maintain 8 full time jobs. The vacant building grant match funds ($30,000) can be used towards the local match as the City’s contribution, as well as all of the private funds put into the project by the project partners and the tax credit investors. City Staff must attend a mandatory workshop in Raleigh in order to apply for the grant. The grant application is due before the end of May. Staff requests approval of the resolution in support of submitting Hollar Hosiery for the Main Street Solutions Grant.

Andrea Surratt presentation. Will create a key destination point on LR Boulevard in traveling to the LR Campus. Owner Equity around $500,000, bank loan is $2.9 million, and investor proceeds will be around $2.1 Million. Total project is $6.4 million.

Skull Coast to Dock in Hickory - NC Brewing.orp - April 20, 2012 
New Brewery on Tap - Observer News Enterprise - Michael Willard - April 27, 2012 - (Good Article explains the vision) 
Old Hosiery Building behind the Granary - Houndvision on Youtube - September 13, 2009

Recognition of Persons Requesting To Be Heard
Newsletter about the City Council meeting of May 15, 2012 -- Addendum on Consent Agenda Policies & Public Participation

A. Jody Inglefield spoke regarding the Mayor’s comments on a morning radio show and stated that he is disappointed that the opportunity for a citizen to remove an item from the consent agenda is not more democratic and open. He also asked that Council Members speak into the speakers because it is hard for citizens to hear. He further he didn’t think it would be difficult to put the proposed budget on the internet so that citizens can view it.

B. Rebecca Inglefield also spoke on the Mayor’s comments on the morning radio show and hoped that the process regarding the consent agenda can be clarified. She discussed the need for a public pool, and continued by discussing other very real needs in the city.

C. Walter Witherspoon spoke about the cost of the downtown structure and the need for a swimming pool. He discussed a document whereby the City Manager stated that the City will save $825,000 by not operating the pools, with the downtown structure costing a million and a half dollars.

D. Jimmy Davis commented about two general ways of looking at city government – how it is set up and how it functions. He stated that the citizens elected Council Members to serve their interests and to take care of business. The citizens gave Council Members their votes and trust them; therefore, they want to look at the official action.

General Comments
A. Alderman Seaver invited everyone to attend the Kiwanis Pancake Feast this weekend at St. Luke’s Methodist Church in Viewmont and support the children of Catawba County.

B. Alderman Guess invited everyone to attend the event at the Zahra Baker Playground on Saturday at 11:00 am. Mayor Wright added that he looks forward to the benefits that the playground will provide for young people in the future.