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. You can also look in the upper right hand corner of the front page of the Hickory Hound and (will soon) find the link to the past history of Hickory City Newsletters.
Here is a summary of the agenda of the 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.
City Website has changed - Here is a link to the City of Hickory Document Center:
City Council Agenda - December 2, 2014
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Hound Notes: Last Tuesday's Special City Council meeting related to the Bond Referendum and future oversight committee was plenty interesting. If you didn't see anything about it, here's the link. Newsletter about the Special City Council meeting of November 25, 2014
*** Just curious about Hickory Inc. paying taxes on the Southern Desk property (Budget Item J.4) $10,500. Is the just a Paper/Accounting entry to settle the books on unpaid taxes.
*** In Support of Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Development and Establishment of the Health Sciences Initiative. Looks like a heavy investment from the City. Hope there will be specific goals attached to this investment. Hope we will be told how this investment will specifically benefit the community. I do agree that such endeavors are needed to address the poor overall health of the community. That is what the Gallup-Healthway study points to and that is what the Hound prescribed, along with Dr. Jody Inglefield in the 21st Century platform created a year and a half ago.
The Complete "Platform for a 21st Century Hickory"
3) National Studies and Surveys - that rank us seriously low. Expedite processes to study how they came to their conclusions and what we need to do to correct the circumstances; including contacting those who created and implemented the study to get their thoughts on what it would take to address the negative issues. We need to look at improving every year, not regressing or responding to these scientific surveys.
4) An Agenda on Health and Wellness... The Gallup-Healthway study is a prime example of a valid scientific study that casts a negative light on Hickory. How do we address what this study finds? Dr. Jody Inglefield admits that he doesn't have all of the answers, buts says that is why we need local health professionals to weigh in, but what does stand out is the negative issues this community faces involving health.
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Invocation by Rev. Jay Robison, Pastor, Viewmont Baptist Church
Election of Mayor Pro Tempore for Calendar Year 2015 Pursuant to NC General Statute §160A-70 and Section 2-54 of the Hickory City Code.
Appointment of a City Attorney for Calendar Year 2015 Pursuant to the Hickory City Code, Section 4.151 of the Charter.
Consent Agenda:
A. Call for a Public Hearing – For Consideration of Rezoning Petition 14-02. (Authorize Public Hearing for December 16, 2014)
B. Call for a Public Hearing – For Consideration of Text Amendment (TA) 14-03. (Authorize Public Hearing for December 16, 2014)
C. Call for a Public Hearing – For Consideration of Voluntary Contiguous Annexation of Property Located at 1704 30th Avenue Court NE, Owned by Clay and Catherine Franklin. (Authorize Public Hearing for December 16, 2014)
D. Call for a Public Hearing – For Consideration of Closing a Portion of 3rd Street SE, and Two Unopened Right of Ways as Shown on Plat Book 14, at Page 78, Catawba County Registry. (Authorize Public Hearing for January 6, 2015)
E. Approval of Art Exhibit Policy that Allows Hickory Public Library to Exhibit Art from Local Artist. - Library staff requests approval of an Art Exhibit Policy, including an Art Exhibit Application, and Release Form. This would permit local artists to showcase their paintings in a large open wall space in the main meeting room at Patrick Beaver Memorial Library. The room has been painted and an art wall hanging system has been installed. The recommended policy, application, and release form have been approved by the Deputy City Attorney Arnita Dula, Risk Manager Todd Shoebridge, and the Library Advisory Board. Library staff recommends approval by City Council.
F. Approval to Apply for EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant Funding for Petroleum and Hazardous Material in the amount of $400,000. - The Brownfield Assessment Grant program provides grants of up to $400,000 to assess environmental contamination and conduct redevelopment planning activities at Brownfield sites. The City has received this funding in 2007 and 2012, and currently has a very robust Brownfield Program that aims to redevelop these sites throughout the community with a focus on the Urban Revitalization Area. The Brownfield Advisory Group has recommended that the City apply for additional assessment funding to continue the momentum of the City’s current grant which will be completed in mid-2015. Grant funding will enable the City to continue its Brownfield program, and this funding has played a vital role in the redevelopment of numerous sites in the City. There is no required match to apply for the grant. These funds will help leverage additional private investment at targeted Brownfield sites. Staff recommends City Council authorize staff to apply for EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant funding for Petroleum and Hazardous Materials in the amount of $400,000.
G. Approval of a North Carolina Department of Transportation Utility Relocation Agreement for the Replacement of the Bridge located on 29th Avenue NE. - Staff requests approval of a Utility Relocation Agreement between the City of Hickory and North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for the relocation of water and sanitary sewer infrastructure adjacent to bridge 34 on 29th Avenue NE at 5th Street Place NE, estimated cost $55,500. The bridge has to be replaced to meet current standards of roadway construction, and will be replaced with a box culvert in lieu of a bridge. The City has water and sanitary sewer infrastructure that are located within the NCDOT right of way along 29th Avenue NE by way of an encroachment agreement. Encroachment agreements require the utility owner to bear the cost of relocating lines as necessary to accommodate construction or maintenance of the roadway as it becomes necessary. The estimated project price for the City of Hickory Public Utilities Department is $55,500. This project will be funded through the annual Public Utilities Capital Budget in the appropriate year, anticipated to be FY 2015-2016. Staff recommends Council approval of the agreement.
H. Approval of a North Carolina Department of Transportation Revised Municipal Agreement for the Replacement of the Bridge located on 29th Avenue NE. - The Municipal Agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for the replacement of the bridge located on 29th Avenue NE was revised due to legislative changes enacted this year. The E-Verify requirements have been removed from the agreement. Staff recommends approval of the revised Municipal Agreement with North Carolina Department of Transportation.
I. Adoption of a Resolution Certifying and Declaring the Results of the Special Bond Referendum and Approval of Statement of Results of the Special Bond Referendum held November 4, 2014. - At the November 4, 2014 Special Bond Referendum, a total of 26,854 registered and qualified voters of the City of Hickory, North Carolina were eligible to vote. For the $25,000,000 General Obligation Streets and Sidewalks Bonds, the number of voters who voted “Yes” was 6,924 and the total number of voters who voted “No” was 4,610. For the $15,000,000 General Obligation Economic Development Bonds, the number of voters who voted “Yes” was 6,402 and the total number of voters who voted “No” was 5,139. Both General Obligation Bonds were approved by the majority of voters who voted in the November 4, 2014 Special Bond Referendum. Staff recommends Council approve a statement of results of the Special Bond Referendum and adopt a Resolution to certify and declare the results of the Special Bond Referendum on the bond order authorizing the issuance of $25,000,000 General Obligation Streets and Sidewalks Bonds and on the bond order authorizing the issuance of $15,000,000 General Obligation Economic Development Bonds.
J. Budget Ordinance Amendment Number 11.
1. To budget a $25 Library donation in the Library books line item. This donation is by Mr. and Mrs. Pope Shuford in memory of Marcus Lentz.
2. To budget a total of $185 of donations in the Youth Council expenditure line item. Donations in the amounts of $145 and $40 will be used to purchase supplies for the Youth Council’s holiday service projects.
3. To appropriate $3,453 of Miscellaneous Revenue Funds to the Fire Department’s Departmental Supply line item. These funds are from the sale of scrap metal to Mountain Recycling.
4. To transfer $11,500 of General Fund Contingency to the Public Buildings Capital Land line item. This amendment is necessary to pay taxes on the old Southern Desk building.
New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Approval of a Resolution in Support of Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Development and Establishment of the Health Sciences Initiative. - Lenoir-Rhyne University (“LRU”), in conjunction with the Catawba County Property Development Corporation (“CCPCD”) is working to develop and establish a health sciences initiative at the university. The specific initiative is a physician assistant’s program. As part of the collaboration with LRU, the CCPDC will purchase land and a building and then lease the building to LRU to up fit. LRU will house the physician’s assistants program in the building. The program will serve health sciences students, interns, and graduates from other institutions who’ve enrolled in the program. The City of Hickory and Catawba County have committed to contributing $100,000 each to the CCPDC in support of the collaborative LRU health sciences initiative. The City will pay the $100,000 in $20,000 contribution over five (5) years. Staff recommends Council adopt the Resolution of Support of Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Development and Establishment of the Health Sciences Initiative.
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