Agenda about the City Council meeting of October 1, 2013

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 Agenda - October 1, 2013 


( Hound Pre-meeting comment) - Once again nothing stands out in this agenda. Nothing that might create the least bit of controversy will occur before the elections. We will only see self-aggrandizing propaganda sessions until late November and December.


Invocation by Rev. Susan Smith Walker, Assistant Pastor, Exodus Missionary Outreach Church

Special Presentations
A. Proclamation for Fire Prevention Week October 6-12, 2013
B. Branding Video Presentation by Business Development Committee – Laurie Hoover
C. Innovate Catawba
● Introduction of Debbie Shannon, Director and Program Manager for Innovate Catawba
● Update on Reinventing Spaces Workgroup, Stephen Shuford, Shurtape Technologies

Persons Requesting to Be Heard

Consent Agenda:
A. Special Events/Activities Application for Girls on the Run 5K, Lala Kozischek, Senior Wellness Director, Girls on the Run of Catawba Valley, Main Avenue, Union Square, December 7, 2013, 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

B. Special Events/Activities Application for Children’s Advocacy and Protection Center Vigil, Aleia Burwell, Victim Service Coordinator, Hickory Police Department, The Sails on the Square, October 15, 2013, 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

C. Special Events/Activities Application for Hickory’s Christmas Tree Lighting, Mandy Pitts, Communications Director/Brand Manager, The Sails on the Square, November 22, 2013, 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

D. Proclamation for International Walk to School Day, October 9, 2013. (Exhibit VIII.D.)

E. Grant Project Ordinance Number 2.
1. To budget a $9,000 North Carolina Historic Preservation Fund grant award and to budget $6,000 in local match funds from Interfaith Housing Development Corporation for the rehabilitation of the former Ridgeview Public Library. Grant funds will be used for Phase l of the project which includes window restoration, exterior trim repairs, ADA accessibility improvements to the rear entrance and some minor interior demolition. No funding from the City of Hickory is required for the grant project; however city approval is required because the city is the Certified Local Government and must act as the grant recipient.

F. Budget Ordinance Amendment Number 5.
1. To appropriate $60,000 of General Fund Balance (Funds reserved from the US Departments of Treasury and Justice) and budget in the Police Department’s Capital Improvement line items. This amendment is necessary to pay for materials needed to complete the parking lot project adjacent to the Hickory Police Department. Funds are made available to the Police Department from the US Departments of Treasury and Justice and remain in General Fund Balance until appropriated
 2. To appropriate $2,430 of General Fund Balance (Funds reserved from the US Department of Treasury) and budget in the Police Department's Capital Improvement line item. This amendment is necessary to cover an overage in this line item and maintain a balanced budget. Funds are made available to the Police Department from the US Department of Treasury and remain in General Fund Balance until appropriated.
3. To budget $76,500 of North Carolina Department of Commerce revenue for payment to Turbotec Products, Inc. for One North Carolina Fund Disbursement. A grant was approved by the North Carolina Department of Commerce One North Carolina Fund in the amount of $76,500 for local job growth and investment goals. Turbotec Products, Inc. has met the requirements to receive payment in the amount of $76,500.

New Business - Public Hearings
1. Rezoning Petition 13-11 for the Property Located at 1076 Fox Chase Drive, Newton, containing .43 acres. - Ms. Crystal Kuhar has petitioned for rezoning .43 acres of property located at 1076 Fox Chase Drive. The petition is to rezone the property from Catawba County R-20 Residential to City of Hickory Low Density Residential (R-1) This public hearing was advertised on September 20, 2013 and September 27, 2013 in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area.

Hound is the place for Candidate Issues and Discussion

I can't believe what I read in the Hickory Daily Record this morning. To put forth the piddly amounts of money that the current crop of candidates owe in taxes in the Hickory Municipal Elections is ridiculous. What does this have to do with this campaign??? Can you honestly say that this would have a negative effect on how any of them would govern?

Here we are 10 days away from the "Ward Primaries" and "Mayoral Primary" and nary a word on where the candidates stand on issues... nary a word on the direction they would take the city. Two candidate forums have been held and not one person from our local Paper attended. Notice that I called it a Paper, because I would be lying if I added the title News to it.

The Hickory Daily Record has been basically extorting the candidates, in my opinion, and maybe that is where this article comes from. The HDR keeps soliciting the candidates to buy advertising; soliciting them multiple times in multiple ways. They have changed policies on candidates getting their message out multiple times. I have reported it here. Those policies only make sense if you are trying to force candidates to buy space in the Paper to get a message out.

And how effective is their advertising. The Citizens for Equity in Government bought advertising from the Paper and advertised the Million Dollar Tent. The Paper went running to the other side and created a series of articles against the CEG based on the advertisements that they spent a lot of money on. No Steps Backwards morphed into Hickory United PAC and ran some pretty lame advertsing against Dr. Inglefield and Joe Brannock a couple months ago. I know that there were responses to those ads and none of them were run. Jeff Cline wheeled his 96 year old father out from the nursing home a couple days before the referendum election to say "why change something that isn't broken" and the HDR made a story out of that and there was no response afforded to the supporters of the referendum. They say there will be no letter to the editor allowed by candidates and then they allow Hank Guess's "I have a Dream" letter and don't allow anyone to respond.  People can only speculate about what is up with the HDR, their ambiguity, and their lack of consistency about policies.


What about the public service obligation of a newspaper. This is your community Hickory Daily Record. Do you not give a damn about what is going on around here? Maybe, just maybe the HDR should focus more on service and circulation, instead advertising sales. That doesn't mean to create an enemies list like our local government just because you don't like criticism. It mean become better. These policies don't make any sense unless you are attempting to (unfortunately there is no better word for it) extort money from the candidates. Why not allow there to be a back and forth in the editorial section? Why not run real profiles on each candidate, why not attend and report on the forums? The people's governance is what is at stake! Shouldn't the paper be interested in the community making the best and most informed decision?

You might not like what I have to say, but at least you can see that the Hound is attempting to get people involved and interested in their governance. If you support a certain candidate, then get people interested in what that candidate is all about. I do not pretend to be a neutral bystander. I am an advocate. If you want people to have more than a half a clue about what is going on around here, then you are going to have to get them to come here. And I welcome others who have a different opinion to start their own blog. We can't be anything other than better off.

Newsletter about the City Council meeting of September 17, 2013

I began recording the City Council late last year, 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. Beside each agenda item, you will see the minute:second. Now you can click on that minute link and it will take you to that specific point in the meeting. You can 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 September 17, 2013



Special Presentations
A. Business Well Crafted Award to First Security Company, Inc. – Presented by David Gissy
from the Business Development Committee (3:35) - Presented to Joab Cotton

Persons Requesting to Be Heard
Cliff Moone speaks about U.S. Constitution Day (10:45)

Consent Agenda (14:15)

New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Library’s Presentation of Summer Reading Program Highlights (14:30) - Presented by Carol Dennis (Librarian at Ridgeview) and Lisa Neal (Librarian at Patrick Beaver). This is part of youth services and the goal is to get children to want to read. Inspiring long long learning and a lifelong love of reading.

The goal is to fight the summer slump. Children can lose reading achievement when the go back to school after summer break. Children most vulnerable are children in poverty and children of color. There is an incentive program that awards prizes. Over 3,000 children attended. Chikldren could receive up to 5 books. The program lasted 10 weeks. There were 130 separate programs of various varieties. The cost of this program is incorporated into the Library's annual budget.

The Hound: By all accounts the program was a success.

2. Legal Department’s Update Regarding the HUD Housing Discrimination Complaints, re: Billy Sudderth et. al. vs City of Hickory (35:45)

 ( Hound Pre-meeting comment) - Nothing stands out in this agenda. The Departmental Report involving Bill Sudderth vs Hickory Inc. will be a one sided report in which the City Staff attorney will say that HUD inquiries are baseless. Nothing to see here move along type of report.

Hound's Post Meeting assessment - My assessment was as simple and succinct as possible and yet was spot on.

General Comments by the City Council (52:10)
*** Alder Patton was at the renovation of the Hickory Community Theater and accepted a keep from the organization.
*** Alder Fox made copmments about revitalization and Hickory being a happening town.
*** Alderman Guess made spoke about people attending the Neighborhood College program.

10 Questions with Crystal Killian - Candidate Ward 4 2013 Hickory City Council Election

Crystal Killian is a Candidate in the upcoming 4th Ward City Council race. First she will face an October 8th primary against incumbent Hank Guess and challenger Anetia Wright. If she succeeds in being one of the top two vote getters, then she will move on to the November 5th at large election. The questions posed to her are available for all candidates to answer. I have agreed to post them without critique and there will be no critical comments allowed in this article. There will be a "Candidates" Hickory Municipal Elections tab to the Right of this article. It will show anything related top these candidates as we move forward in this process.

1) Can you give us some background and a history of yourself? (Where were you born? What is your educational background? Why did you come to or stay in Hickory? Tell us about your professional accomplishments.)

I was born in Hickory NC and I have always lived in Hickory despite the constant urge to move to the coast. I am a Registered Nurse for Catawba County Home Health. I am certified in Medical-Surgical Nursing, since 2009. I am working on a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing with plans to obtain my Master’s in Physician Assistant.


2)Tell us about the accomplishments you are proudest of achieving in your life? Something besides having a family or raising children. We all recognize that those are common goals that we all aspire to. What’s the most exciting thing you saw/did/experienced/were a part of in your personal life? In your professional life?

My proudest accomplishment is raising a respectful, bright, and intelligent son in today’s world. I know that you state in the question, something besides raising a child, but as a single mother of an African American Son in 2013, when so many of them are being killed over appearances and gestures, the fact that I have gotten him this far is nothing short of a miracle.

3) If I were to ask people that know you to describe you what would they say?

They would say I am a hard worker who goes for what she wants! They would also say I am very intelligent, knowing random medical information is a gift.

4) How much bearing do the opinions of the people around you have on your decisions?

They do not have any bearing on my decisions. I have to live this life and they have to live theirs. If they want to come and live my life for a day, they are more than welcomed. Then and only then, will I allow their “assumptions” to influence me.

5) Can you tell us of a professional mistake that you have made that may have had an impact on who you are today? Does it still bother you? Can you share with us how you came to grips with that error

I don’t feel that I have made any professional mistakes. They felt like mistakes then, but as everything has evolved, they were the best for me. I worked at CVMC for 10 years. When I decided to leave it was a hard decision and I also thought after I left, I should’ve stayed there. But 4 years later, it was the best decision that I have ever made.

6) If you were given enough money to tackle one project (think nearly unlimited) that you felt was important to the Hickory Area, what would that issue be?

Nearly Unlimited: I would set up educational workshops in every neighborhood first and foremost. These workshops would train people, close to home, to perform needed jobs and acquire new skills.

7) Let’s say there is no money available for the foreseeable future. What one project (priority) would you push as part of your agenda that can be done with little or no money

Neighborhood Farmers Markets!!! Allowing the citizens to use benefits: SNAP and WIC Vouchers, to purchase fresh fruits and Vegetables.

8) What is your overall philosophy of the development of this area? Where would you like to see us in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years?

I feel that the development of this area is stagnant!! In 5-20 years I would like to see the larger “big box buildings” revitalized and businesses moving into them offering employment. I would also like to see all areas of Hickory looking healthy, no matter which way you enter the City Limits, there’s growth and liveliness everywhere, be it 127S or 321S or 127N or 321N.

9) If you could define your Personal Legacy what would you like it to be? What would you like to be remembered for?

I would like to be remembered for my kindness and caring personality. Never turning a blind eye to those in need and always giving to those who are in need. I don’t have a lot to give, but what I have I gladly share with all.

10) How do you define Leadership?

I define leadership as someone who is able to make the hard decisions, realizing that some will be affected in a negative way. Leadership consists of a willingness to listen and respect others opinions, and having the knowledge to act responsibly in the best interest of all involved.

Hickory Inc. deleted videos now uploaded

All of the City Council meetings that Hickory Inc. deletes have now been reloaded onto my Youtube page. They are public domain and there is no reason that the city should be deleting these other than the fact that they don't want you to be able to reference them. This goes back to the openness and transparency issue frequently discusses by the challengers during this campaign.

Hickory Inc. City Council Video Recording Archive

Everyone also wants to see these meetings made available on Charter's Government Channel that Charter subscribers pay for. This is a public access channel that does not belong to the government. It belongs to the people. They have used it for governmental advertising and propaganda.  It is time that they use it for what it is intended for. As a tool to give the people better access to their local government.