This Agenda is about the Hickory City Council meeting that will take place on the date listed above. 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. 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
All materials and maps for this meeting are provide at this link:
City Council Meeting Agenda - July 16, 2013 (16MB)
Invocation by Rev. David E. Roberts II, Pastor, Morning Star First Baptist Church
Special Presentations
A. Presentation of Business Well Crafted Award to Johnson Piano Exchange
B. Presentation of Retiring Members of Volunteer Boards and Commissions
C. Presentation of the 17th Consecutive Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the City of Hickory by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)
D. Presentation from Business Development Committee Member, Ryan Lovern, Update of the Meeting held with Hickory Area Commercial Realtors
Consent Agenda:
A. Request Approval to Apply for Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) in the amount of $23,860. - City of Hickory Police department has received notification of pre-approval to receive $23,860 under the 2013 Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG). The JAG program is a formula-based grant through the Office of Justice Programs/Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) that utilizes Uniform Crime Reporting statistics of all law enforcement agencies to determine eligibility for direct federal grant awards. There is no match required. Hickory Police Department recommends using grant funds from the Justice Assistance Grant to purchase in-car cameras.
B. Request Approval to Accept a Grant in the amount of $60,000 from Governor’s Highway Safety Program Grant for the Purchase of Twenty (20) in-car Digital Cameras. - A standard marked Hickory Police Vehicle is equipped with a specialized Mobile Video In-Car Camera for all new police vehicles. Life expectancy will be five to ten years on the in-car cameras. These cameras can be reinstalled in new vehicles as required. The digital video recording system is to be installed in police vehicles at an estimated cost of $6,000 per in-car camera. The grant will consist of twenty (20) digital video in car cameras at a cost of $120,000 the portion Governor’s Highway Safety Grant would match is $60,000 and the City’s portion would be $60,000. Along with installing in-car cameras in new police vehicles, these cameras will replace any camera no longer working or supported by a vendor. The City’s match is budgeted in the annual budget for FY13-14.
C. Request Approval of the 2013 Urgent Repair Program Grant, Assistance Policy and Procurement Policy for Submission to the NC Housing Finance Agency. - In January 2013, the City of Hickory Community Development Department applied for funding through the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency’s Urgent Repair Program. The City of Hickory has been award $37,500 through this program in order to assist approximately eight (8) eligible homes with urgently needed repairs in an amount not to exceed $5,400 per housing unit. The City of Hickory will provide $3,750 in matching funds, available from Rental Rehabilitation program income. NC Housing Finance Agency requires the City of Hickory to prepare an Assistance Policy and Procurement Policies to be readily available to the public explaining the guidelines of the URP13.
D. Special Event/Activities Application for Patriots Day, Steve Moore and Fred Hollar, Hickory Fire Department, for September 11, 2013 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Union Square.
E. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Howard R. Craig and wife, Beverly F. Craig to Andrea Whitener Teeter and husband James Lee Teeter in Oakwood Cemetery
F. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Joyce Ann Simpson, Executrix under the Will of William Grant Simpson, and Joyce Ann Simpson, individually to Linda L. Simpson in Fairview Cemetery
G. Call for Public Hearing - For the Consideration of Rezoning Petition 13-10 for the Property Located on 28th Street SE, Hickory, containing 3.32 acres. (Authorize Public Hearing for August 6, 2013)
H. Request Approval of an Updated Billing & Collection Agreement with Catawba County Relating to New Tag & Tax Together Program for Vehicle Property Taxes. - House Bill 1779 was passed by the General Assembly which created the Tag & Tax Together Program. The new program was designed to provide a convenient payment method for vehicle owners to be billed and pay both the tag registration fee and vehicle tax at the same time. Under the new agreement, City of Hickory agrees to pay Catawba County for any new fees associated with this change a percentage share of Hickory’s total tax amount. Deducted fees will be based on overall costs of billing and debit/credit card fees and any refunds, exemptions, and appeals. An annual statement will be generated by the County after December 1st of each tax year and due within 30 days of receipt. Any motor vehicle taxes with renewal dates prior to September 1, 2013 will require the City to pay Catawba County 1 ½ % of the total motor vehicle taxes and gross receipts taxes collected. Renewal dates on or after September 1, 2013 will allocate the motor vehicle tax payments directly to Catawba County. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will deduct the per statement billing cost and debit/credit card transaction fees from the County’s payment. The anticipated per statement billing cost is $1.69 per notice.
I. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Safe Harbor Rescue Mission, Inc., for FY2013-2014 in the Amount of $8,000. - City Council approved the 2013 Community Development Block Grant Budget and Action Plan on April 16, 2013. As a result thereof, agreements need to be executed. Per Federal requirements, on February 7, and February 13, 2013 the City of Hickory Department of Planning and Development held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at the Ridgeview Library and City Hall. At these meetings non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year.
After the meetings were held, the Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. Safe Harbor Rescue Mission, Inc. is a neighborhood based non-profit organization engaged in providing shelter, counseling, and rehabilitation services to chronically dependent and homeless women.
J. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Habitat for Humanity of the Catawba Valley, Inc., for FY2013-2014 in the Amount of $60,000 for a Deferred Loan. - City Council approved the 2013 Community Development Block Grant Budget and Action Plan on April 16, 2013. As a result thereof, agreements need to be executed. Per Federal requirements, on February 7, and February 13, 2013 the City of Hickory Department of Planning and Development held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at the Ridgeview Library and City Hall. At these meetings non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. After the meetings were held, the Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. Habitat for Humanity of the Catawba Valley Inc. is a non-profit organization engaged in providing affordable home ownership opportunities to low and moderate income families.
K. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Inter-Faith Housing Development Corporation for FY2013-2014 in the Amount of $10,000. - City Council approved the 2013 Community Development Block Grant Budget and Action Plan on April 16, 2013. As a result thereof, agreements need to be executed. Per Federal requirements, on February 7, and February 13, 2013 the City of Hickory Department of Planning and Development held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at the Ridgeview Library and City Hall. At these meetings non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. After the meetings were held, the Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. Inter-Faith Housing Development Corporation is a non-profit organization engaged in providing affordable homeownership opportunities to low and moderate income families. They are also the owners of the former Ridgeview Public Library, which they are planning to rehabilitate for use as a community center.
L. Budget Ordinance Amendment Number 1.
1. To transfer $400 from the Police Departments Uniform line item to the 2012 Bulletproof Vest Partnership multi-year grant project. The 2012 Federal grant awarded to the Hickory Police Department from the United States Department of Justice pays up to 50% of the cost of National Institute of Justice approved vests. Grant funds are budgeted for the vest purchases; however the grant does not cover shipping and handling costs of the vest purchases. Therefore a transfer of
$400 to the grant projects uniform line item is necessary.
M. Grant Project Ordinance Amendment Number 1.
1. To accept a $400 transfer from the Police Departments Uniform line item to the 2012 Bulletproof Vest Partnership multi-year grant project. Grant funds are budgeted for the vest purchases; however the grant does not cover shipping and handling costs of the vest purchases. Therefore a transfer of $400 to the grant projects uniform line item is necessary.
2. To budget $28,568 of Restricted Government Revenue in the 2013 Entitlement Block Grant Budget and to increase expenditure line items by $28,568. The proposed FY13-14 Community Development Block Grant budget was $432,974 however, the revised revenue is $461,542 thereby increasing the budget by an additional $28,568. A budget amendment is necessary to recognize the
additional revenue and to increase the expenditures so that the budget remains in balance.
New Business - Public Hearings
1. Rezoning Petition 13-09 for the Property Located at 3254 NC Hwy 127 South, Hickory. - The City of Hickory requests the rezoning of property located at 3254 NC Hwy 127 South. The area of rezoning was recently annexed into the city limits and currently developed as a Dollar General Retail Store. The request is to rezone the property from Catawba County Highway Commercial (HC) to Commercial Corridor (CC-2). The Hickory by Choice 2030 Comprehensive Plan classifies the vicinity as Commercial Corridor. The particular rezoning request is to update the zoning designation on the recently annexed property to be consistent with Hickory by Choice 2030. The Business Development Committee reviewed the application and voted to recommend approval at their June 21st meeting. This public hearing was advertised on July 5 and July 12, 2013 in a newspaper
having general circulation in the Hickory area.
New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Vacant Building Revitalization and Demolition Grant Agreement for Agile Specialty Inc., dba Dennison Precision Machine Co. - (Mr. Ivester is requesting two readings due to the lack of two meetings in July.) - Agile Specialty Inc., dba Dennison Precision Machine Co. has applied for a Vacant Building Revitalization Grant in the amount of $12,142 to assist in the demolition of the former machine shop located at 417 11th Street NW. They plan to spend up to $34,690 to demolish the industrial building on the site. The grant program can reimburse up to $20,000 or 35 percent of eligible project cost, whichever is less, for demolition projects. This project would be eligible for a
grant in the amount of $12,142. After demolition, the applicant will market the property for future development or use as a parking lot by an adjacent property owner.
2. Catawba County Gang Initiative Hickory Police Department will update Council on the Catawba County Gang Initiative.
3. Legal Counsel Advisory Opinion on Conflict of Interest Policy.
Conflict of Interest Documents from the HDR article of July 7, 2013
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Newsletter about the City Council meeting of June 18, 2013
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 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
All materials and maps for this meeting are provide at this link:
City Council Action Agenda - June 18 2013
Invocation by Rev. Whit Malone, First Presbyterian Church
Special Presentations
A. (2:00) Presentation of Business Well Crafted Award to Mr. Dock Lynn and Ms. Sherry Mull of Canipe & Lynn Electric - Mr. Mark Huckabee of the Business Development Committee presented Mr. Dock Lynn and Ms. Sherry Mull of Canipe & Lynn Electric with the Business Well Crafted Award.
Persons Requesting to Be Heard
(5:30) Mr. Cliff Moone, 2925 8th St Ct NE, Hickory spoke to Council regarding video taping and televising City Council meetings.
Consent Agenda: (8:30)
A. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Dale K. Cline, Executor of the Estate of Oren L. Cline, Joyce Patterson and husband Larry B. Patterson, Dale K. Cline and wife, Brenda K. Cline and Jeffrey M. Cline and wife, Joyce Baugess Cline to Jeffrey M. Cline and wife, Joyce Baugess Cline in Oakwood Cemetery
B. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Naomi Florence Mitchell Ball to Charles M. Lail and wife, Linda H. Lail in Oakwood Cemetery
C. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from City of Hickory to Rosetta Tucker in Southside Cemetery
D. Special Event/Activities Application for Catawba Valley Pride Celebration, Edwin G. Farthing, Board Member of Catawba Valley Pride Inc., September 28, 2013 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the City Parking Lot at the corner of North Center Street and 1st Avenue NW.
E. Special Event/Activities Application for Symphony Under the Sails “A Patriotic Celebration”, Reggie Helton, Western Piedmont Symphony, for June 30, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Sails on the Square in Downtown Hickory.
F. Approve Catawba County Fire Protection Service Agreement with Catawba County. - The City of Hickory Fire Department requests the approval of the Fire Protection Service District Agreement with Catawba County. The agreement is to provide fire service protection to the rural fire districts absorbed by the City of Hickory Fire Department. The City and the County are currently in an agreement whereas the City of Hickory Fire Department will dispatch firefighting and/or protection services upon any call indicating a need for firefighting or fire protection services within the Fire Protection District. The County agrees to annually levy and collect upon all taxable property lying within the boundaries of the Fire Protection District and ensure these taxes are used for the purpose of fire protection in the Fire Protection District where it originated. This contract automatically renews for successive one year terms until terminated. To meet compliance with NCGS 153A-301(a)(2), the term “Fire Protection District” will be changed to “Fire Protection Service District.”
G. 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 June 6, 2013:
Kae & Sang See were approved for recommendation to City Council for first-time homebuyer’s assistance to purchase a house located at 832 5th Avenue SW, Hickory. They have requested $7,500 for assistance with down payment and closing costs. The First-Time Homebuyers Assistance Loan is zero interest, no payments and repaid upon sale, refinance or payoff of first mortgage. Funds are budgeted for these items through the City of Hickory’s former Rental Rehabilitation Program income received in FY 2012 and/or program income received through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant Program.
H. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with City of Refuge for FY2013-2014 in the Amount of $3,265. - On February 7th and 13th, 2013 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. City of Refuge provides after school enrichment programs for school-aged children in grades one through five. The afterschool sessions provide a structured learning and development environment with instruction and activity based on the North Carolina course of study and year-end testing activities. City of Refuge requested and has been approved for funding in the amount of $3,265 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant program.
I. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Hickory Soup Kitchen for FY2013-2014 in the Amount of $8,000. - On February 7th and 13th, 2013 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. The Hickory Soup Kitchen provides meals to the City’s homeless and/or low income population. The Hickory Soup Kitchen has requested and been approved for funding in the amount of $8,000 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant program.
J. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Exodus Outreach Foundation, Inc. for FY2013-2014 in the Amount of $8,000. - On February 7th and 13th, 2013 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. Exodus Homes is a neighborhood based nonprofit organization engaged in providing shelter, counseling, and rehabilitation services to chronically dependent and homeless men and women, and part of their process ismoving clients toward self-sufficiency. Exodus Outreach Foundation, Inc. has requested and been approved for funding in the amount of $8,000 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant program.
K. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Aids Leadership Foothills Area Alliance, Inc. for FY2013-2014 in the Amount of $8,000. - On February 7th and 13th, 2013 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. Aids Leadership Foothills Area Alliance, Inc., provides quality services to people living with HIV/AIDS and offers HIV prevention education programs to the community at large. Aids Leadership Foothills Alliance, Inc. has requested and been approved for funding in the amount of $8,000 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant program.
L. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry, Inc. for FY2013-2014 in the Amount of $8,000. - On February 7th and 13th, 2013 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. Great Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry, Inc. provides a Free Clinic, including dental, medical and pharmacy services. Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry, Inc. has requested and been approved for funding in the amount of $8,000 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant program.
M. Approval of a Proclamation for National HIV Testing Day.
N. Approval to Change the Date of the Public Hearing for the Consideration of Rezoning Petition 13-09 for the Property Located at 3254 NC Hwy 127 South, Hickory. Council called for the Public Hearing of a rezoning petition 13-09, for property located at 3254 NC Hwy 127 South, Hickory, at the June 4, 2013 Council Meeting. The Public Hearing date was scheduled for June 18, 2013, however, an error was made in the Notice of Public Hearing, published in the Hickory Daily Record and will therefore need to be published again. Staff request new Public Hearing d ate of July 16, 2013.
O. Renewal of Taxicab and Other Passenger Vehicles for Hire Franchises.
Company - Taxicabs Passenger / Vehicle for Hire
Mile High Enterprises dba Hickory Hop - 0/5
Yellow Cab - 10/4
Diamond Cab of Hickory - 3/0
Select Car Service - 0/1
Hickory Limousine - 0/3
Lake Hickory Limousine- 0/1
Total - 13/ 14
Annually, these companies apply for a renewal of their Certificate of Convenience and Necessity for the operation of taxicabs and other vehicles for hire.
New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. (9:00) Approval of an Amendment to the Joint Economic Development Agreement with Turbotec Products, Inc. - In April 2010, the City of Hickory entered in to an economic development agreement with Turbotec Products, Inc. Under the agreement, Turbotec, a manufacturer of coaxial heat exchangers and heat transfer tubing, was to relocate their company to an existing vacant building at 2042 Fairgrove Church Road SE, Hickory. Turbotec Products, Inc. requested to receive economic development incentives in the amount of 75% of the real and business personal property taxes for three (3) years with a maximum total grant of $33,750. In Year one (1) the incentive would be a maximum of $7,500. In Year two (2) the maximum would be $13,125. In Year three (3) the maximum will be $13,125. In return for the incentives, the company agreed to invest a total of $3.5 Million including $1 M in building up-fit and renovations and $2.5 in machinery and equipment by December 31, 2011. In addition, Turbotec was to create 73 new jobs, in addition to the 15 jobs they already had in Hickory, by December 31, 2012. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Turbotec failed to meet these annual milestones. However, they did meet and even exceeded the investment and job creation aggregate goals by February 2013 ($5,000,000 in investments and 74 new jobs). Turbotec has requested the City to waive its failure to meet the annual goals established and to amend the Agreement so they may receive the incentives. Paragraph 13 of the Agreement permits the parties to amend the Agreement in writing. The proposed amendment meets with this provision. The proposed amendment modifies the improvement period during by which Turbotech was to make the $3.5 million investment from March 15, 2010 to December 31, 2012. The amendment now extends the date that Turbotec must maintain the $5 million investment to December 31, 2019. The proposed new date forTurbotec to meet job creation goal is February 28, 2013. The amendment also stipulates Turbotec must maintain the 74 jobs through December 31, 2019. If the City does not grant the requested waiver and amend the Agreement to permit Turbotec to receive the incentives, the incentives they are to receive from the State will also be endangered as there were matching requirements.
2. (16:40) Vacant Building Revitalization and Demolition Grant for 74 8th Street SE. - City Council established the Vacant Building Revitalization and Demolition Grant program on September 16, 2008. The program provides grant funding up to $30,000 for projects to renovate and rehabilitate vacant buildings within the Urban Revitalization Area and targeted industrial buildings in other areas of the city. Moretz Mills LLC has applied for a Vacant Building Revitalization Grant in the amount of $30,000 to assist in the renovation of the former Moretz Hosiery Mill located at 74 8th Street SE. The applicant plans to renovate the facility for use as office and retail space. The applicant plans to invest approximately $5.9 million in real property improvements to rehabilitate the mill building.
The Hound: This meeting was very routine. With the addition of video, I am changing the format of the presentation of these meetings. I will present the Agenda when it comes out and may provide commentary on issues of relevance. I am going to produce the meetings as a Newsletter as soon as possible. This is streamline the Newsletter and reduce clutter and redundancy. By producing the agenda first I see a couple of advantages. You get the info earlier and there will be a permanent record of it on the web in a more user friendly format. We have also seen information arbitrarily pulled from the city's website before. If you have any questions about this shoot me an e-mail.
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 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
All materials and maps for this meeting are provide at this link:
City Council Action Agenda - June 18 2013
Invocation by Rev. Whit Malone, First Presbyterian Church
Special Presentations
A. (2:00) Presentation of Business Well Crafted Award to Mr. Dock Lynn and Ms. Sherry Mull of Canipe & Lynn Electric - Mr. Mark Huckabee of the Business Development Committee presented Mr. Dock Lynn and Ms. Sherry Mull of Canipe & Lynn Electric with the Business Well Crafted Award.
Persons Requesting to Be Heard
(5:30) Mr. Cliff Moone, 2925 8th St Ct NE, Hickory spoke to Council regarding video taping and televising City Council meetings.
Consent Agenda: (8:30)
A. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Dale K. Cline, Executor of the Estate of Oren L. Cline, Joyce Patterson and husband Larry B. Patterson, Dale K. Cline and wife, Brenda K. Cline and Jeffrey M. Cline and wife, Joyce Baugess Cline to Jeffrey M. Cline and wife, Joyce Baugess Cline in Oakwood Cemetery
B. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Naomi Florence Mitchell Ball to Charles M. Lail and wife, Linda H. Lail in Oakwood Cemetery
C. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from City of Hickory to Rosetta Tucker in Southside Cemetery
D. Special Event/Activities Application for Catawba Valley Pride Celebration, Edwin G. Farthing, Board Member of Catawba Valley Pride Inc., September 28, 2013 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the City Parking Lot at the corner of North Center Street and 1st Avenue NW.
E. Special Event/Activities Application for Symphony Under the Sails “A Patriotic Celebration”, Reggie Helton, Western Piedmont Symphony, for June 30, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Sails on the Square in Downtown Hickory.
F. Approve Catawba County Fire Protection Service Agreement with Catawba County. - The City of Hickory Fire Department requests the approval of the Fire Protection Service District Agreement with Catawba County. The agreement is to provide fire service protection to the rural fire districts absorbed by the City of Hickory Fire Department. The City and the County are currently in an agreement whereas the City of Hickory Fire Department will dispatch firefighting and/or protection services upon any call indicating a need for firefighting or fire protection services within the Fire Protection District. The County agrees to annually levy and collect upon all taxable property lying within the boundaries of the Fire Protection District and ensure these taxes are used for the purpose of fire protection in the Fire Protection District where it originated. This contract automatically renews for successive one year terms until terminated. To meet compliance with NCGS 153A-301(a)(2), the term “Fire Protection District” will be changed to “Fire Protection Service District.”
G. 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 June 6, 2013:
Kae & Sang See were approved for recommendation to City Council for first-time homebuyer’s assistance to purchase a house located at 832 5th Avenue SW, Hickory. They have requested $7,500 for assistance with down payment and closing costs. The First-Time Homebuyers Assistance Loan is zero interest, no payments and repaid upon sale, refinance or payoff of first mortgage. Funds are budgeted for these items through the City of Hickory’s former Rental Rehabilitation Program income received in FY 2012 and/or program income received through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant Program.
H. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with City of Refuge for FY2013-2014 in the Amount of $3,265. - On February 7th and 13th, 2013 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. City of Refuge provides after school enrichment programs for school-aged children in grades one through five. The afterschool sessions provide a structured learning and development environment with instruction and activity based on the North Carolina course of study and year-end testing activities. City of Refuge requested and has been approved for funding in the amount of $3,265 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant program.
I. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Hickory Soup Kitchen for FY2013-2014 in the Amount of $8,000. - On February 7th and 13th, 2013 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. The Hickory Soup Kitchen provides meals to the City’s homeless and/or low income population. The Hickory Soup Kitchen has requested and been approved for funding in the amount of $8,000 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant program.
J. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Exodus Outreach Foundation, Inc. for FY2013-2014 in the Amount of $8,000. - On February 7th and 13th, 2013 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. Exodus Homes is a neighborhood based nonprofit organization engaged in providing shelter, counseling, and rehabilitation services to chronically dependent and homeless men and women, and part of their process ismoving clients toward self-sufficiency. Exodus Outreach Foundation, Inc. has requested and been approved for funding in the amount of $8,000 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant program.
K. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Aids Leadership Foothills Area Alliance, Inc. for FY2013-2014 in the Amount of $8,000. - On February 7th and 13th, 2013 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. Aids Leadership Foothills Area Alliance, Inc., provides quality services to people living with HIV/AIDS and offers HIV prevention education programs to the community at large. Aids Leadership Foothills Alliance, Inc. has requested and been approved for funding in the amount of $8,000 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant program.
L. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry, Inc. for FY2013-2014 in the Amount of $8,000. - On February 7th and 13th, 2013 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. Great Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry, Inc. provides a Free Clinic, including dental, medical and pharmacy services. Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry, Inc. has requested and been approved for funding in the amount of $8,000 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant program.
M. Approval of a Proclamation for National HIV Testing Day.
N. Approval to Change the Date of the Public Hearing for the Consideration of Rezoning Petition 13-09 for the Property Located at 3254 NC Hwy 127 South, Hickory. Council called for the Public Hearing of a rezoning petition 13-09, for property located at 3254 NC Hwy 127 South, Hickory, at the June 4, 2013 Council Meeting. The Public Hearing date was scheduled for June 18, 2013, however, an error was made in the Notice of Public Hearing, published in the Hickory Daily Record and will therefore need to be published again. Staff request new Public Hearing d ate of July 16, 2013.
O. Renewal of Taxicab and Other Passenger Vehicles for Hire Franchises.
Company - Taxicabs Passenger / Vehicle for Hire
Mile High Enterprises dba Hickory Hop - 0/5
Yellow Cab - 10/4
Diamond Cab of Hickory - 3/0
Select Car Service - 0/1
Hickory Limousine - 0/3
Lake Hickory Limousine- 0/1
Total - 13/ 14
Annually, these companies apply for a renewal of their Certificate of Convenience and Necessity for the operation of taxicabs and other vehicles for hire.
New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. (9:00) Approval of an Amendment to the Joint Economic Development Agreement with Turbotec Products, Inc. - In April 2010, the City of Hickory entered in to an economic development agreement with Turbotec Products, Inc. Under the agreement, Turbotec, a manufacturer of coaxial heat exchangers and heat transfer tubing, was to relocate their company to an existing vacant building at 2042 Fairgrove Church Road SE, Hickory. Turbotec Products, Inc. requested to receive economic development incentives in the amount of 75% of the real and business personal property taxes for three (3) years with a maximum total grant of $33,750. In Year one (1) the incentive would be a maximum of $7,500. In Year two (2) the maximum would be $13,125. In Year three (3) the maximum will be $13,125. In return for the incentives, the company agreed to invest a total of $3.5 Million including $1 M in building up-fit and renovations and $2.5 in machinery and equipment by December 31, 2011. In addition, Turbotec was to create 73 new jobs, in addition to the 15 jobs they already had in Hickory, by December 31, 2012. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Turbotec failed to meet these annual milestones. However, they did meet and even exceeded the investment and job creation aggregate goals by February 2013 ($5,000,000 in investments and 74 new jobs). Turbotec has requested the City to waive its failure to meet the annual goals established and to amend the Agreement so they may receive the incentives. Paragraph 13 of the Agreement permits the parties to amend the Agreement in writing. The proposed amendment meets with this provision. The proposed amendment modifies the improvement period during by which Turbotech was to make the $3.5 million investment from March 15, 2010 to December 31, 2012. The amendment now extends the date that Turbotec must maintain the $5 million investment to December 31, 2019. The proposed new date forTurbotec to meet job creation goal is February 28, 2013. The amendment also stipulates Turbotec must maintain the 74 jobs through December 31, 2019. If the City does not grant the requested waiver and amend the Agreement to permit Turbotec to receive the incentives, the incentives they are to receive from the State will also be endangered as there were matching requirements.
2. (16:40) Vacant Building Revitalization and Demolition Grant for 74 8th Street SE. - City Council established the Vacant Building Revitalization and Demolition Grant program on September 16, 2008. The program provides grant funding up to $30,000 for projects to renovate and rehabilitate vacant buildings within the Urban Revitalization Area and targeted industrial buildings in other areas of the city. Moretz Mills LLC has applied for a Vacant Building Revitalization Grant in the amount of $30,000 to assist in the renovation of the former Moretz Hosiery Mill located at 74 8th Street SE. The applicant plans to renovate the facility for use as office and retail space. The applicant plans to invest approximately $5.9 million in real property improvements to rehabilitate the mill building.
The Hound: This meeting was very routine. With the addition of video, I am changing the format of the presentation of these meetings. I will present the Agenda when it comes out and may provide commentary on issues of relevance. I am going to produce the meetings as a Newsletter as soon as possible. This is streamline the Newsletter and reduce clutter and redundancy. By producing the agenda first I see a couple of advantages. You get the info earlier and there will be a permanent record of it on the web in a more user friendly format. We have also seen information arbitrarily pulled from the city's website before. If you have any questions about this shoot me an e-mail.
Monday, July 15, 2013
Economic Stories of Relevance in Today's World -- July 14, 2013
Inflation Is Too Low? Are You Kidding Us Bernanke? - The Economic Collapse Blog - Michael Snyder - July 11th, 2013 - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said this week that inflation in the United States needs to be higher. Yes, he actually came right out and said that. It almost seems as if Bernanke is trying to purposely hurt the middle class. On Wednesday, Bernanke told the press that "both sides of our mandate are saying we need to be more accommodative". Of course he was referring to the Fed's dual mandate to keep unemployment and inflation low, but Bernanke has a very unique interpretation of that mandate. According to Bernanke, inflation in the U.S. is now "too low". The official inflation rate is currently sitting at about 1 percent, and Bernanke insists that such a low rate of inflation is not good for the economy. He would prefer that the rate of inflation be up around 2 percent, and he is hoping that more "monetary accommodation" will help push inflation up and the unemployment rate down. But what Bernanke will never admit is that the official inflation rate is a total sham. The way that inflation is calculated has changed more than 20 times since 1978, and each time it has been changed the goal has been to make it appear to be lower than it actually is. If the rate of inflation was still calculated the way that it was back in 1980, it would be about 8 percent right now and everyone would be screaming about the fact that inflation is way too high..... Electricity bills in the United States have risen faster than the overall rate of inflation for five years in a row, and according to USA Today water bills have actually tripled over the past 12 years in some areas of the country.....
And over time, those increases really add up. An article by Benny Johnson details how the prices of many of the things that we buy on a regular basis absolutely soared between 2002 and 2012. Just check out these price increases... Eggs: 73% Coffee: 90% Peanut Butter: 40% Milk: 26% A Loaf Of White Bread: 39% Spaghetti And Macaroni: 44% Orange Juice: 46% Red Delicious Apples: 43% Beer: 25% Wine: 60% Electricity: 42% Margarine: 143% Tomatoes: 22% Turkey: 56% Ground Beef: 61% Chocolate Chip Cookies: 39%
(Comment from K on this article - I assure you they are trying to hurt the middle class, and the poor as well. Step 1.Spy on everyone, until you know enough to be able to control many. 2. When gun controls does not work, control the flow of ammo, until most people give up even trying to find any.3.Make out of work people so reliant on the Government, they will not dare to raise a finger in protest. 4 Work the remaining workers to death. Squeeze them so hard they need 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet. A totally exhausted citizen, is a compliant citizen. It is all about control, and the noose is getting tighter every day.)
On The Economy: Inflation Accelerates; Fed Rumors Rise - NPR.org - Mark Memmott - July 12, 2013 - Reuters the overall increase in wholesale prices was "more than expected" and may be a sign that the economy is picking up speed — which in turn could mean that the Federal Reserve will soon feel it can stop trying to give the economy a boost. — The Fed. that "former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers is indicating to President Barack Obama's Wall Street supporters that he wants to become Federal Reserve chairman, according to people familiar with the matter, as he keeps in touch with senators who would vote on the nomination." Summers was Treasury secretary in the later years of the Clinton administration, and was a top economic adviser to President Obama during his first term in office. Bernanke's second term as chairman expires Jan. 31, 2014. It's and that President Obama will be looking for a new person to lead the central bank.
A Temp Service Is America’s 2nd-Biggest Employer - Conservative Musings - Ben Bullard - July 9, 2013 - It’s a great time to be a temporary or part-time employee in America. But it’s a terrible time to have a full-time job or a job that tasks you with making anything — except, maybe, burgers and tacos. That’s one takeaway from last week’s June jobs report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which revealed that Kelly Services, an international temporary staffing agency based in Michigan, is the Nation’s second-largest employer behind a company well known for its heavy dependence on part-time employees: Wal-Mart. Between temp firms like Kelly and volume retail/service companies like Wal-Mart, McDonald’s, Kroger and Target, about 85 percent of the jobs held by Americans are either temporary assignments or low-wage, part-time positions. The Administration of President Barack Obama hailed the jobs report as a signifier of successful White House economic policy, ignoring the fact that the net gain in jobs for the month of June represented a massive shift in the American labor force from full-time jobs (which fell dramatically) to part-time work. Writing for The Washington Examiner, Ashe Schow notes the June report isn’t a mere workforce aberration brought on by a glut of teenagers looking for summer work:
Why underemployment may be worse than it looks - USA Today - Jeff Cox, CNBC.com - July 14, 2013 - The level of underemployed workers looks bad on its face but even worse when it's not the government doing the counting. When the Labor Department released its monthly non-farm jobs report Friday, it was all sunshine and roses except for one glaring weakness: A big jump in the unemployment rate that includes those who have quit working as well as those who have had to take part-time jobs even though they'd rather work full time. That rate, which economists call the U-6, jumped from 13.8% in May to 14.3% in June—a 3.6% increase and indicative that the 195,000 new jobs created in the month weren't exactly of the highest caliber.
But what often doesn't get as much attention is the monthly labor count that the experts at Gallup conduct. According to the pollster's results, the underemployment situation is even worse. Gallup reports that 17.2% of the workforce is underemployed, a startling number compounded by its divergence from the government's count. While the rate is down from the 20.3% peak in March 2010, it has remained maddeningly high over the past three years even as economists tout the strength of the U.S. economic recovery. From a broader perspective, the Gallup measure actually has increased from its 15.9% multi-year low in October 2012....
U.S. June budget surplus $117 billion: Treasury - MarketWatch - Robert Schroeder - July 11, 2011 - The U.S. federal government ran a budget surplus of $117 billion in June, the Treasury Department reported Thursday, as receipts rose and spending fell compared to the same month a year ago. For the fiscal year to date, the deficit is $510 billion, 44% less than the shortfall recorded in the same period last year, thanks mostly to increased revenue . The government's receipts totaled $287 billion in June, and spending was $170 billion. In June last year, the government posted a deficit of $60 billion. The government's fiscal year runs from October to September.
Drivers, get ready for a gas price spike - CNN Money - Aaron Smith - July 11, 2013 - Prices of oil and gasoline futures have increased sharply in July, according to Gasbuddy.com chief oil analyst Tom Kloza. And these prices will inevitably be passed on to consumers in the coming weeks. The price of unleaded gasoline could jump by at least 25 cents per gallon in August, said oil trader Dan Dicker, author of "Oil's Endless Bid." In the last two weeks, gas futures jumped to $3.01 per gallon, an increase of more than 10%. And oil prices have surged more than 10% over the last month.
Kroger to buy Harris Teeter for about $2.44B - expand store base while reducing costs - Associated Press through Yahoo - Bree Fowler - July 9, 2013 - Kroger, the country's largest traditional supermarket operator, said Tuesday that it has agreed to buy Harris Teeter Supermarkets Inc. for about $2.44 billion in cash, boosting its presence in key southeastern and mid-Atlantic markets. Under the terms of the agreement, Cincinnati-based Kroger will pay $49.38 for each of the supermarket chain's shares. The price represents a 2 percent increase over the company's Monday closing stock price. "This is a financially and strategically compelling transaction and a unique opportunity for our shareholders and associates," Kroger Chairman and CEO David Dillon said in a statement. The deal has been approved by both companies' boards, but remains subject to Harris Teeter shareholder approval. Harris Teeter announced in February that it was exploring strategic alternatives, including a possible sale.
Karl Denninger ~ Setting Up for a Financial Collapse Worse than 1929
And over time, those increases really add up. An article by Benny Johnson details how the prices of many of the things that we buy on a regular basis absolutely soared between 2002 and 2012. Just check out these price increases... Eggs: 73% Coffee: 90% Peanut Butter: 40% Milk: 26% A Loaf Of White Bread: 39% Spaghetti And Macaroni: 44% Orange Juice: 46% Red Delicious Apples: 43% Beer: 25% Wine: 60% Electricity: 42% Margarine: 143% Tomatoes: 22% Turkey: 56% Ground Beef: 61% Chocolate Chip Cookies: 39%
(Comment from K on this article - I assure you they are trying to hurt the middle class, and the poor as well. Step 1.Spy on everyone, until you know enough to be able to control many. 2. When gun controls does not work, control the flow of ammo, until most people give up even trying to find any.3.Make out of work people so reliant on the Government, they will not dare to raise a finger in protest. 4 Work the remaining workers to death. Squeeze them so hard they need 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet. A totally exhausted citizen, is a compliant citizen. It is all about control, and the noose is getting tighter every day.)
On The Economy: Inflation Accelerates; Fed Rumors Rise - NPR.org - Mark Memmott - July 12, 2013 - Reuters the overall increase in wholesale prices was "more than expected" and may be a sign that the economy is picking up speed — which in turn could mean that the Federal Reserve will soon feel it can stop trying to give the economy a boost. — The Fed. that "former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers is indicating to President Barack Obama's Wall Street supporters that he wants to become Federal Reserve chairman, according to people familiar with the matter, as he keeps in touch with senators who would vote on the nomination." Summers was Treasury secretary in the later years of the Clinton administration, and was a top economic adviser to President Obama during his first term in office. Bernanke's second term as chairman expires Jan. 31, 2014. It's and that President Obama will be looking for a new person to lead the central bank.
A Temp Service Is America’s 2nd-Biggest Employer - Conservative Musings - Ben Bullard - July 9, 2013 - It’s a great time to be a temporary or part-time employee in America. But it’s a terrible time to have a full-time job or a job that tasks you with making anything — except, maybe, burgers and tacos. That’s one takeaway from last week’s June jobs report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which revealed that Kelly Services, an international temporary staffing agency based in Michigan, is the Nation’s second-largest employer behind a company well known for its heavy dependence on part-time employees: Wal-Mart. Between temp firms like Kelly and volume retail/service companies like Wal-Mart, McDonald’s, Kroger and Target, about 85 percent of the jobs held by Americans are either temporary assignments or low-wage, part-time positions. The Administration of President Barack Obama hailed the jobs report as a signifier of successful White House economic policy, ignoring the fact that the net gain in jobs for the month of June represented a massive shift in the American labor force from full-time jobs (which fell dramatically) to part-time work. Writing for The Washington Examiner, Ashe Schow notes the June report isn’t a mere workforce aberration brought on by a glut of teenagers looking for summer work:
Temp jobs made up about 10 percent of the jobs lost during the Great Recession, but now make up a tenth of the jobs in the United States. In fact, nearly one-fifth of all jobs gained since the recession ended have been temporary.It’s a sad state of affairs for our country. While part-time and temp jobs reached highs last month, full-time jobs decreased by another 240,000. The recovery, or lack thereof, is being fueled by a shift from full-time to part-time work.
Further buttressing the mounting evidence that the Obama-led “recovery” has only accelerated a gradual U.S. trend away from actually making tangible goods (i.e., heavy manufacturing) and toward an service-oriented marketplace where the value of everything’s ephemeral, The New York Times created an infographic last year showing that service industries make up nine of the top 10 biggest American employers in the 21st century, compared with the 1960s, when seven of the top 10 were manufacturers like GM, Ford, U.S. Steel and General Electric. Is it any coincidence that one-third of Americans — a number greater than the entire private sector workforce population in the United States — is now on food stamps?
Why underemployment may be worse than it looks - USA Today - Jeff Cox, CNBC.com - July 14, 2013 - The level of underemployed workers looks bad on its face but even worse when it's not the government doing the counting. When the Labor Department released its monthly non-farm jobs report Friday, it was all sunshine and roses except for one glaring weakness: A big jump in the unemployment rate that includes those who have quit working as well as those who have had to take part-time jobs even though they'd rather work full time. That rate, which economists call the U-6, jumped from 13.8% in May to 14.3% in June—a 3.6% increase and indicative that the 195,000 new jobs created in the month weren't exactly of the highest caliber.
But what often doesn't get as much attention is the monthly labor count that the experts at Gallup conduct. According to the pollster's results, the underemployment situation is even worse. Gallup reports that 17.2% of the workforce is underemployed, a startling number compounded by its divergence from the government's count. While the rate is down from the 20.3% peak in March 2010, it has remained maddeningly high over the past three years even as economists tout the strength of the U.S. economic recovery. From a broader perspective, the Gallup measure actually has increased from its 15.9% multi-year low in October 2012....
U.S. June budget surplus $117 billion: Treasury - MarketWatch - Robert Schroeder - July 11, 2011 - The U.S. federal government ran a budget surplus of $117 billion in June, the Treasury Department reported Thursday, as receipts rose and spending fell compared to the same month a year ago. For the fiscal year to date, the deficit is $510 billion, 44% less than the shortfall recorded in the same period last year, thanks mostly to increased revenue . The government's receipts totaled $287 billion in June, and spending was $170 billion. In June last year, the government posted a deficit of $60 billion. The government's fiscal year runs from October to September.
Drivers, get ready for a gas price spike - CNN Money - Aaron Smith - July 11, 2013 - Prices of oil and gasoline futures have increased sharply in July, according to Gasbuddy.com chief oil analyst Tom Kloza. And these prices will inevitably be passed on to consumers in the coming weeks. The price of unleaded gasoline could jump by at least 25 cents per gallon in August, said oil trader Dan Dicker, author of "Oil's Endless Bid." In the last two weeks, gas futures jumped to $3.01 per gallon, an increase of more than 10%. And oil prices have surged more than 10% over the last month.
Kroger to buy Harris Teeter for about $2.44B - expand store base while reducing costs - Associated Press through Yahoo - Bree Fowler - July 9, 2013 - Kroger, the country's largest traditional supermarket operator, said Tuesday that it has agreed to buy Harris Teeter Supermarkets Inc. for about $2.44 billion in cash, boosting its presence in key southeastern and mid-Atlantic markets. Under the terms of the agreement, Cincinnati-based Kroger will pay $49.38 for each of the supermarket chain's shares. The price represents a 2 percent increase over the company's Monday closing stock price. "This is a financially and strategically compelling transaction and a unique opportunity for our shareholders and associates," Kroger Chairman and CEO David Dillon said in a statement. The deal has been approved by both companies' boards, but remains subject to Harris Teeter shareholder approval. Harris Teeter announced in February that it was exploring strategic alternatives, including a possible sale.
Harris Teeter operates 212 stores in eight southeastern and mid-Atlantic states and Washington D.C., along with a pair of distribution centers and a dairy facility in North Carolina. Its fiscal 2012 revenue totaled about $4.5 billion. In comparison, Kroger operates 2,419 stores in 31 states. In addition to its flagship brand of supermarkets, it also owns Ralphs, Fry's, Food 4 Less and other brands. The acquisition adds another three states to its store footprint.
Karl Denninger ~ Setting Up for a Financial Collapse Worse than 1929
Friday, July 12, 2013
Inspiring Spaces Presentation - July 9, 2013
Statement from the City of Hickory administration about the Inspiring Spaces Project:
In 2011, the Hickory City Council visited leaders from five southeastern cities to learn how those communities are successfully transitioning to new economic realities. The themes emerging from the success stories included the importance of public investment in the public spaces of their city, the benefit of private/public partnerships, focusing on economic development and redevelopment, providing venues and programming for outstanding special events, and engaging the philanthropic community for their support of activities and projects that will enhance the city.
Since those visits, the City of Hickory has been working with Land Design to develop a comprehensive list of projects that will improve the appearance of Hickory. This plan is called Inspiring Spaces, which will help to chart the course for improvements in the public spaces that will bring about revitalization in many areas of Hickory.
Inspiring Spaces Documents
- Community Meeting Notes 4/18/2013
- Hickory Community Boards Gateways
- Hickory Community Boards Greenways
- Hickory Community Boards Parks
- Hickory Community Boards Special Places
- Hickory Community Boards Streetscape
- Hickory Downtown Opportunities
- Hickory Systems & Project Maps
- Community Boards Results
Associated Documents
- Community Meeting Notes 4/18/2013
- Hickory Community Boards Gateways
- Hickory Community Boards Greenways
- Hickory Community Boards Parks
- Hickory Community Boards Special Places
- Hickory Community Boards Streetscape
- Hickory Downtown Opportunities
- Hickory Systems & Project Maps
- Community Boards Results
- What Inspires You - Results
- Sign-In Sheet - Community 4/18/2013
Community Boards Results
- What Inspires You - Results
- Sign-In Sheet - Community 4/18/2013
Monday, July 8, 2013
Economic Stories of Relevance in Today's World -- July 7, 2013
Have Central Bankers Lost Control? Could The Bond Bubble Implode Even If There Is No Tapering? - The Economic Collapse Blog - July 4, 2013 - Are the central banks of the world starting to lose control of the financial markets? Could we be facing a situation where the bond bubble is going to inevitably implode no matter what the central bankers do? For the past several years, the central bankers of the planet have been able to get markets to do exactly what they want them to do. Stock markets have soared to record highs, bond yields have plunged to record lows and investors have literally hung on every word uttered by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and other prominent central bankers. In the United States, it has been remarkable what Bernanke has been able to accomplish. The U.S. government has been indulging in an unprecedented debt binge, the Fed has been wildly printing money, and the real rate of inflation has been hovering around 8 to 10 percent, and yet Bernanke has somehow convinced investors to lend gigantic piles of money to the U.S. government for next to nothing. But this irrational state of affairs is not going to last indefinitely. At some point, investors are going to wake up and start demanding higher returns. And we are already starting to see this happen in Japan. Wild money printing has actually caused bond yields to go up. What a concept! And that is what should happen - when central banks recklessly print money it should cause investors to demand a higher return. But if bond investors all over the globe start acting rationally, that is going to cause the largest bond bubble in the history of the planet to burst, and that will create utter devastation in the financial markets. Central banks can manipulate the financial system in the short-term, but there is usually a tremendous price to pay for the distortions that are caused in the long-term. In Bernanke's case, all of this quantitative easing seemed to work well for a while. The first round gave the financial system a nice boost, and so the Fed decided to do another. The second round had less effect, but it still boosted stocks and caused bond yields to go down. The third round was supposed to be the biggest of all, but it had even less of an effect than the second round. If you doubt this, just check out the charts in this article. Our financial system has become addicted to this financial "smack". But like any addict, the amount needed to get the same "buzz" just keeps increasing. Unfortunately, the more money that the Fed prints, the more distorted our financial system becomes. The only way that this is going to end is with a tremendous amount of pain. There is no free lunch, and there are already signs that investors are starting to wake up to this fact. As investors wake up, they are going to realize that this bond bubble is irrational and entirely unsustainable. Once the race to the exits begins, it is not going to be pretty. In fact, the are indications that the race to the exits has already begun...
Breaking News–Today’s Job Report - Paul Craig Roberts - July 5, 2013 - Do you remember the promise of the New Economy that was going to replace the lost “dirty fingernail” manufacturing jobs with innovative highly paid New Economy jobs? Well, the promise was just another deception from the elites who have stolen Americans’ future. For the umpteenth consecutive month and year, the June BLS payroll jobs report (released on July 5) shows that the US economy has created no such jobs. The same old tired categories account for the same old lowly paid new domestic service jobs. Of the 195,000 new private sector jobs alleged to have been created, 75,000 or 38% are accounted for by the category “leisure and hospitality.” Within this category there were 52,000 new waitresses and bartenders, and 19,000 jobs in “amusements gambling, and recreation.” Retail trade added 37,000 employees. Is your local shopping center that busy? Wholesale trade added 11,000. Zero Hedge points out that the retail and wholesale jobs numbers seem inconsistent with the latest report from the Institute of Supply Management, which shows a sharp drop in new order components and business activity. http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-07-03/non-manufacturing-ism-crashes-lowest-february-2010-new-orders-devastated-july-2009-l Perhaps the New Economy’s inefficiency requires more people to sell less. Professional and business services added, allegedly, 53,000 jobs, which are largely building management services, janitors, employment services, and temporary help. Ambulatory health care services added 13,000 jobs. Financial activities allegedly added 17,000 jobs despite the Bank of America moving its property appraisals to India. http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/morning-edition/2013/07/bank-of-america-routing-property.html?ana=lnk Local government, despite severe budget cuts, added 13,000 jobs. The BLS news release points out that the number of involuntary part-time workers (the number of people who are unable to find full-time jobs or whose hours were cut back) increased by 322,000 in June to 8.2 million. This deplorable report provided the cover for the market riggers to take the stock market up and the gold market down. Remember that economic theory about “rational markets”? Another deception.
Wonder why America is failing? 53 percent of all American workers make less than $30,000 a year - Social Security Online - (Check out the Stats)
The American Middle Class Under Stress - Sherle R. Schwenninger and Samuel Sherraden - New America Foundation - April 2011
There are fewer Americans working in manufacturing today than there were in 1950 even though the population of the country has more than doubled since then. The United States has lost more than 56,000 manufacturing facilities since 2001, and the bought off politicians and Wall Street types keep pushing to offshore jobs.
Only 47% of Adults Have Full-Time Job - Breitbart - Mike Flynn - July 5, 2013 - The release of the June Jobs' Report Friday was something of a relief for the markets. The Labor Department reported that the economy gained 195,000 jobs in June, which beat economists' expectations. The Department also reported that the economy gained 70,000 more jobs in April and May than it originally estimated. The report, however, also provides clear evidence that the the nation is splitting into two; only 47% of Americans have a full-time job and those who don't are finding it increasingly out of reach. Of the 144 million Americans employed last month, only 116 million were working full-time. Friday's report showed that 58.7% of the civilian adult population of 245 million was working last month. Only 47% of Americans, however, had a full-time job. The market's positive reaction to Friday's report is another sign of how far our economic expectations have fallen. If today the same proportion of Americans worked as just a decade ago, there would be almost 9 million more people working. Just in the last year, almost 2 million Americans have left the labor force. With a majority of the population not holding a full-time job, it isn't surprising that economic growth has been so weak.
Obamacare Strikes: Part-Time Jobs Surge To All Time High; Full-Time Jobs Plunge By 240,000 - Zero Hedge - Tyler Durden - July 5, 2013 - As a reminder: jobs have quantity and quality components. The quantity component was good enough to convince the 10 Year the taper is imminent (if not stocks, which continue to trade dislocated from any and all fundamentals). But how about the quality? In a word: not good. In June, the household survey reported that part-time jobs soared by 360,000 to 28,059,000 - an all time record high. Full time jobs? Down 240,000. And looking back at the entire year, so far in 2013, just 130K Full-Time Jobs have been added, offset by a whopping 557K Part-Time jobs. And there is your jobs "quality" leading to today's market euphoria (if only for now).
06-06-13 - Macro Analytics - Coming cRACK uP BOOM = w/ John Rubino
Breaking News–Today’s Job Report - Paul Craig Roberts - July 5, 2013 - Do you remember the promise of the New Economy that was going to replace the lost “dirty fingernail” manufacturing jobs with innovative highly paid New Economy jobs? Well, the promise was just another deception from the elites who have stolen Americans’ future. For the umpteenth consecutive month and year, the June BLS payroll jobs report (released on July 5) shows that the US economy has created no such jobs. The same old tired categories account for the same old lowly paid new domestic service jobs. Of the 195,000 new private sector jobs alleged to have been created, 75,000 or 38% are accounted for by the category “leisure and hospitality.” Within this category there were 52,000 new waitresses and bartenders, and 19,000 jobs in “amusements gambling, and recreation.” Retail trade added 37,000 employees. Is your local shopping center that busy? Wholesale trade added 11,000. Zero Hedge points out that the retail and wholesale jobs numbers seem inconsistent with the latest report from the Institute of Supply Management, which shows a sharp drop in new order components and business activity. http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-07-03/non-manufacturing-ism-crashes-lowest-february-2010-new-orders-devastated-july-2009-l Perhaps the New Economy’s inefficiency requires more people to sell less. Professional and business services added, allegedly, 53,000 jobs, which are largely building management services, janitors, employment services, and temporary help. Ambulatory health care services added 13,000 jobs. Financial activities allegedly added 17,000 jobs despite the Bank of America moving its property appraisals to India. http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/morning-edition/2013/07/bank-of-america-routing-property.html?ana=lnk Local government, despite severe budget cuts, added 13,000 jobs. The BLS news release points out that the number of involuntary part-time workers (the number of people who are unable to find full-time jobs or whose hours were cut back) increased by 322,000 in June to 8.2 million. This deplorable report provided the cover for the market riggers to take the stock market up and the gold market down. Remember that economic theory about “rational markets”? Another deception.
Wonder why America is failing? 53 percent of all American workers make less than $30,000 a year - Social Security Online - (Check out the Stats)
The American Middle Class Under Stress - Sherle R. Schwenninger and Samuel Sherraden - New America Foundation - April 2011
Wages and Salaries as a percentage of GDP
There are fewer Americans working in manufacturing today than there were in 1950 even though the population of the country has more than doubled since then. The United States has lost more than 56,000 manufacturing facilities since 2001, and the bought off politicians and Wall Street types keep pushing to offshore jobs.
Only 47% of Adults Have Full-Time Job - Breitbart - Mike Flynn - July 5, 2013 - The release of the June Jobs' Report Friday was something of a relief for the markets. The Labor Department reported that the economy gained 195,000 jobs in June, which beat economists' expectations. The Department also reported that the economy gained 70,000 more jobs in April and May than it originally estimated. The report, however, also provides clear evidence that the the nation is splitting into two; only 47% of Americans have a full-time job and those who don't are finding it increasingly out of reach. Of the 144 million Americans employed last month, only 116 million were working full-time. Friday's report showed that 58.7% of the civilian adult population of 245 million was working last month. Only 47% of Americans, however, had a full-time job. The market's positive reaction to Friday's report is another sign of how far our economic expectations have fallen. If today the same proportion of Americans worked as just a decade ago, there would be almost 9 million more people working. Just in the last year, almost 2 million Americans have left the labor force. With a majority of the population not holding a full-time job, it isn't surprising that economic growth has been so weak.
Obamacare Strikes: Part-Time Jobs Surge To All Time High; Full-Time Jobs Plunge By 240,000 - Zero Hedge - Tyler Durden - July 5, 2013 - As a reminder: jobs have quantity and quality components. The quantity component was good enough to convince the 10 Year the taper is imminent (if not stocks, which continue to trade dislocated from any and all fundamentals). But how about the quality? In a word: not good. In June, the household survey reported that part-time jobs soared by 360,000 to 28,059,000 - an all time record high. Full time jobs? Down 240,000. And looking back at the entire year, so far in 2013, just 130K Full-Time Jobs have been added, offset by a whopping 557K Part-Time jobs. And there is your jobs "quality" leading to today's market euphoria (if only for now).
06-06-13 - Macro Analytics - Coming cRACK uP BOOM = w/ John Rubino
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