Newsletter about the City Council meeting of June 19, 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 6/19/2012 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. Reggie Longcrier, Exodus Missionary Outreach Church

Presentation of Interim City Clerk Debbie Miller and Administration of Oath of Office

Consent Agenda:

A. Request from Hickory Police Department to Award Police Badge and Service Weapon to Retiring Master Police Officer Powell Hildebrand - By authority of NC General Statute §20-187.2, City Council may award the service weapon and police badge to retiring Master Police Officer Powell Hildebrand upon his retirement from Hickory Police Department on July 1, 2012 after completing over 20 years of service with Hickory Police Department. Upon approval from City Council, the police badge and service weapon will be declared surplus and removed from the city’s fixed asset inventory.

B. Request from Hickory Police Department to Award Police Badge and Service Weapon to Retiring Lieutenant Bobby Grace - By authority of NC General Statute §20-187.2, City Council may award the service weapon and police badge to retiring Lieutenant Bobby Grace upon his retirement from Hickory Police Department on July 1, 2012 after completing 30 years of service with Hickory Police Department. Upon approval from City Council, the police badge and service weapon will be declared surplus and removed from the city’s fixed asset inventory.

C. Request from Hickory Police Department to Award Police Badge and Service Weapon to Retiring MPO Paul Murphy. - By authority of NC General Statute §20-187.2, City Council may award the service weapon and police badge to retiring MPO Paul Murphy upon his retirement from Hickory Police Department on July 1, 2012 after completing 27 years of service with Hickory Police Department. Upon approval from City Council, the police badge and service weapon will be declared surplus and removed from the city’s fixed asset inventory.

D. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from City of Hickory to David Lee Britt in Oakwood Cemetery

E. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Ruth R. Suther and husband, Jack K. Suther to David L.
Johnson and wife, Jacqueline S. Johnson in Oakwood Cemetery

F. Citizens’ Advisory Committee Recommendations for Assistance through the City of Hickory’s Housing Programs - The following requests were considered by the Citizens’ Advisory Committee at their
regular meeting on June 7, 2012:
 Elizabeth Avery, 3350 Treadwell Lane SE, Newton, (Blue Sky Court Subdivision is in Hickory City Limits) was awarded a City of Hickory’s Housing Rehabilitation Loan. The Citizens’ Advisory Committee recommends approval for assistance not to exceed $7,500 for repairs to her home. Assistance would be in the form of a 3% interest loan for a 10 year period.
 Gregory J. Beucler was approved for recommendation to City Council for the Police Officers homebuyer’s assistance to purchase a house located at 1023 3rd Street Drive NE, Hickory. He has requested $10,000 for assistance with down payment and closing costs. Police Officers Homebuyers Assistance Loan is Zero interest, no payments and repaid upon sale, refinance or payoff of first mortgage
 Vanessa Hoyle, 402 4th Street SE, Hickory, was awarded a City of Hickory’s Housing Rehabilitation Loan. The Citizens’ Advisory Committee recommends approval for assistance not to exceed $10,000 for repairs to her home. Assistance would be in the form of a 3% interest loan for a 10 year period.
 Hung & Yen Le, 645 29th Avenue NE, Hickory, were awarded a City of Hickory’s Housing Rehabilitation Loan. The Citizens’ Advisory Committee recommends approval for assistance not to exceed $5,000 for repairs to her home. Assistance would be in the form of a 3% interest loan for a 10 year period.
 Amanda C. Niehoff, 1325 20th Street Drive NE, Hickory, was awarded a City of Hickory’s Housing Rehabilitation Loan. The Citizens’ Advisory Committee recommends approval for assistance not to exceed $5,000 for repairs to her home. Assistance would be in the form of a 3% interest loan for a 20 year period.
 Ollie M. Rhinehardt, 417 3rd Avenue SE, Hickory, was awarded a City of Hickory’s Housing Rehabilitation Loan. The Citizens’ Advisory Committee recommends approval for assistance not to exceed $10,000 for repairs to her home. Assistance would be in the form of a 3% interest loan for a 10 year period.
 Judy B. Smith, 1328 5th Street NE, Hickory, was approved for Loan Subordination. The loan for Ms. Smith was done under First-Time Homebuyers Assistance. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee recommended this subordination to help her do a loan modification to lower her monthly payment and make it more affordable. She will not be taking any money out for personal use.

H. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with City of Refuge For FY2012-2013 in the Amount of $3,696 - After a public hearing during its April 3, 2012 meeting, City Council unanimously approved the CDBG Annual Action Plan which included funding of $3,696 for City of Refuge. Staff recommends approval of the formal agreement with City of Refuge for FY 2012-13 funding and service delivery.

I. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Exodus Outreach Foundation, Inc. for FY2012-2013 in the Amount of $11,000 - After a public hearing during its April 3, 2012 meeting, City Council unanimously approved the CDBG Annual Action Plan which included funding of $11,000 for Exodus Outreach Foundation, Inc. Staff recommends approval of the formal agreement with Exodus Outreach Foundation, Inc. for FY 2012-13 funding and service delivery.

J. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Hickory Soup Kitchen, Inc. for FY2012-2013 in the amount of $12,500 - After a public hearing during its April 3, 2012 meeting, City Council unanimously approved the CDBG Annual Action Plan which included funding of $12,500 for Hickory Soup Kitchen, Inc. Staff recommends approval of the formal agreement with Hickory Soup Kitchen Inc. for FY 2012-13 funding and service delivery.

K. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Inter-Faith Housing Development Corporation for FY2012-2013 in the amount of $30,000 - After a public hearing during its April 3, 2012 meeting, City Council unanimously approved the CDBG Annual Action Plan which included funding of $30,000 for Inter-Faith Housing Development Corporation. Staff recommends approval of the formal agreement with Inter-Faith Housing Development Corporation for FY 2012-13 funding and service
delivery.

L. Change Order No. 3 to the agreement dated June 15, 2010 with McGill Associates, P.A. for the NEWWTP Upgrade Project in the amount of $3,500 - This construction administration services Change Order 3 consists of three items related to additional services required by the Public Utilities Department. The first item Included in this change order in the amount of $2,100 is related to modifications to the plans necessary to comply with NC Building Code regarding emergency exit lighting (Task Order 12). This modification is necessary to modify the plans and detail the location necessary for emergency battery ballast light fixtures to comply with NC Building Code. The second item, oxidation ditch walkways expansion joint modifications (Task Order 13) in the amount of $750 and item number three, thickened sludge transfer piping modifications (Task Order 14) in the amount of $650. There will be no additional construction costs related to these plan modifications.

M. Special Events/Activities Application for Together We Stand by Terry J. Dickerson Jr., on Saturday, September 29, 2012 on Union Square from 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm, Christian music by various churches in the area.

New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Resolution delegating the authority to the City Manager to award Commercial Use Permits for commercial activities at the Hickory Regional Airport. From time to time aircraft owners and operators with aircraft based at the Airport as well as itinerant aircraft operators have the need for services that the City does not provide. Examples are aircraft maintenance repair and servicing, aircraft cleaning and other activities. In order to make these services available to its aircraft patrons, the City needs to grant formal, but short-term and nonleasehold approval to approved businesses to enter onto the Airport and provide the requested services to their HKY customers. The Manager, acting through the Airport Director, will entertain proposals from aviation businesses wishing to provide these types of commercial activities at the Airport and will recommend that those proposals he finds to be in the best interest of the Airport, its customers and the City be approved with uniform and standard financial and other requirements. Staff recommends City Council delegate by resolution authority to the City Manager to issue Commercial Use Permits at the Airport.

Assistant City Manager Andrea Surratt made the presentation in place of Terry Clark (Airport Director). This is similar to a special use permit. This is for temporary or short notice legitimate business. Maintenance and Airplane washing are examples of services that the city will not provide. The airport Attorney Frank Newton advised the staff on this issue and other business operations at the airport. Alderman Lail asked about the guiding principal with City management in relation to revenues from the permittees. Ms. Surratt and City Manager Berry stated that the City will earn a percentage of gross revenues. Council gave Unanimous Consent.

2. Presentation from Louise Humphrey, Library Director – Libraries Three Year Strategic Plan - The mission is to encourage exploration of new ideas, support local education, enhance the economic vitality of the region, strengthen a sense of community and enrich the quality of life for all.  Services for Youth, Adults, Senior Adults, as a community center, and as a supporter of economic development. In the area of economic development, the library looks to provide resources that enable preparation for life and work in times of rapid change. Technology is a key towards meeting this goal. The Library has created a Virtual Desktop Interface (VDI) system. 12 additional PCs are available for a total of 36. 30 computer classes are taught per year at Ridgeview.

Ms. Humphrey went over events that the Library participates in throughout the year. She talked about the new coffee bar to soon open in the Library. The large print collection has 6,500 items. The goal is to add 80 items per year and a total of 240 per 3 years and the Library has exceeded that by adding 1,843 items. She talked about the North Carolina Digital Library, which allows for access to other books. Senior Information Resources (SIR) is a new program that will be geared towards seniors which coordinates senior services. The Beginning Reader/Green Dot reader program has grown for the benefit of youth and has been expanded by 20%. These services include access at 16 Senior resident facilities and Home Bound Citizens. The Library is promoted on WHKY, Hickory Daily Record, and through social media sites. This year's kickoff summer reading program at Patrick Beaver had 250 attendees and at Ridgeview had 230 attendees.

Citizen Requesting to Be Heard - Larry Pope on Respect
Addendum - Larry Pope - Respect