Newsletter about the City Council meeting of April 15, 2014

I began video recording the City Council in 2012, because of my desire that the City do it on their own as any modern 21st century community began doing long ago. I had people tell me that they couldn't make it to the meetings, but they would like to see what is going on. I was also told by some council members that my summaries did not truly reflect the record, so having a video/audio recording cannot be misinterpreted.

So below is the City Council meeting. With each agenda item, you can click on the links and it will take you to that specific point in the meeting. You can always drag the marker on the video display to the point in the broadcast that you are interested in seeing.

Agenda about the City Council meeting of April 15, 2014
- Go to this link if you would like more information about the Agenda items.

Thoughts about last night's Hickory City Council meeting - April 15, 2014

Highlighted Links below take you straight to that point in the video.





Invocation:
Mark Andrews, St.Luke's United Methodist Church


Special Presentations
A. Proclamation for National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.

Consent Agenda:


New Business - Public Hearings
1. Consideration of Economic Development Agreement with OHM Holdings LLC. - This public hearing was advertised in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area on April 4, 2014.

*** Transportation Insight and The Olde Mill (Lyerly Building) - Official Press Release



2. Consideration of the Community Development Block Grant 2014 Annual Action Plan. - In April of each year staff prepares an Annual Action Plan for its Community Development Block Grant allocation from the federal government.

Speaking For
Paula Atwood - Green Park Neighborhood Association
The Dickinson Family - Green Park Neighborhood Association
Austin Pearce - Hickory Soup Kitchen
Angela Hurd - City of Refuge - Children's after school program


New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Quarterly Financial Report - Presentation by Assistant City Manager Warren Wood


2. Proposed Changes to the City’s Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program.


General Comments
Alderwoman Patton commented that the Farmer’s Market starts tomorrow.
Mayor Wright announced that a Legislative reception would be held on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 in the lobby from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. A chance to meet and greet our delegates who are heading to Raleigh.
Mayor Wright advised that swimming lessons are starting again. If you know of someone who needs to learn to swim, the City’s program will pay for that without regard to need, although it is preferred that people that can pay the YMCA for the lessons, pay them.
Alderman Seaver commented about the program that had taken place last Wednesday at the Zahra Baker Playground for the Child Abuse Prevention Month in the City and the County. To see 2,000 pinwheels out there on a very breezy day, a very beautiful day, there were approximately a couple hundred people there. A beautiful place honoring a little girl, and hoping for a future of no child abuse.
Mayor Wright commented that the Food Channel had done a segment on Hickory.
Alderman Lail commented that the Crawdads are playing.
Mayor Wright stated that if you haven’t seen the new stadium, the renovated stadium, you need to get out and see it. It really looks nice and enhances the experience.

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Hound's Notes: As this Newsletter has evolved, you see that I have taken steps to make the information more accessible and user friendly. You get the Agenda as soon as possible and commentary involving the meeting as soon as possible. Please use these tools to inform yourself as much as possible. 

What I got from this meeting? The people of this community, who choose to be involved, are making a difference. The theme of the people who spoke during this meeting is that they truly care about the community. Paul Thompson, Paula Atwood, Austin Pearce, Angela Hurd... all of these people are taking actions to make a day-to-day difference in the community.  To take a giant leap forward, we are going to have to see more people like this step forward and express the reality of the community.

These people didn't paint a totally rosy scenario, but they expressed ways that positive actions in a negative environment can move the community forward. Let's not lie to ourselves about the challenges we face. They are real. These people weren't in denial. Let's accept the reality and take the necessary steps to improve the situation.