Had to share something that was forwarded to my e-mail inbox... My assessment. SPOT ON!
February 3, 2014
Dear Editor:
As a Black man in America, I find it appalling that the University of North Carolina’s Black Caucus would choose to issue a declaration of support to defend the UNC even after the University admitted that it “cheated young Black men” out of the best education possible on its campus.
James Dean, UNC executive vice chancellor and provost of UNC, told Bloomberg Businessweek the university offered phony classes for decades, and "Horrible things happened that I’m ashamed of." UNC Chancellor Carol Folt, who only took office in 2013, admitted to UNC trustees that the flagship university failed students for years with a lack of academic oversight.
Even after these admissions of destroying the academic lives of mostly young Black male student/athletes, the Carolina Black Caucus, comprised of Black UNC faculty and staff, defended the University of North Carolina and its destructive actions. Their declaration in support of UNC is more of a “cheer” for their jobs than a principled-stand on the issue of successfully educating all UNC students.
Maybe these esteemed faculty and staff of the Carolina Black Caucus don’t realize that their university students are not just competing among themselves in the big cities and small towns of North Carolina. Maybe they don’t understand that being globally competent is a much “bigger game” to win than football or basketball!
I am appalled by and ashamed of the faculty and staff at UNC, but I am not surprised! This declaration of support is the kind of action I expect from people who have lost touch with the history of Black people in America and have forgotten what it took for Black people to be admitted to attend schools like UNC. These professional men and women are not scholars and leaders; they are cowards!
Recent statistics from the U.S. Department of Education show that only 12% of 8th-grade black boys in Charlotte, North Carolina can read at a proficient level. If the 88% of Black boys in Charlotte who cannot read at a proficient level are lucky enough to win a basketball or football scholarship to UNC, the Carolina Black Caucus will be there to cheer them on, but not to guarantee that they will become functionally literate when, and if, they graduate from UNC.
The University of North Carolina is not the only college in America taking advantage of Black student/athletes for the sake of sports revenue. However, as of today, the Black faculty and staff at the University of North Carolina are the only Black faculty and staff openly encouraging their institution to exploit Black students!
Sincerely,
Phillip Jackson
Executive Director
The Black Star Project
3509 South King Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60653
773.285.9600 phone
Blackstar1000@ameritech.net
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNC Academic Fraud Scandal Sparks Racial Recriminations - Bloomberg Businessweek - Paul M. Barrett - February 4, 2014
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Economic Stories of Relevance in Today's World -- February 2, 2014
Dr. Paul Craig Roberts interview on King World News - Former US Treasury Official, Co-Founder of Reaganomics, Economist & Acclaimed Author - February 1, 2014 - Emerging Market mess created by the Fed created financial chaos (manipulated markets)... Destabilizing other currencies to bolster the Dollar... Gold investors need to consider a downturning economy and deflation. Will the Fed reinstitute and expand Quantitative Easing. The Fed will do this depending on the state of the Dollar in relation to the economy. Russia is considering flushing Dollars out of the system. Other counntries are doing this and moving towards the Chinese Yuan... If we bail out the banks it may cause the end of the dollar as the World Reserve Currency... In the end the Banks have to go or the Dollar has to go. This is the big decision. Will be made (most likely) by June... The biggest danger in the World is the U.S. desire for World Hegemony that can lead to Nuclear War... The biggest Financial concern is the loss of the Dollar as the World Reserve Currency. Does the Fed choose to save the Dollar or save the banks... China is creating value through Manufacturing. The World now wants to hold Yuan. China is in a solid position, especially compared to U.S. Financial exposure. (King World News Interview)
Movement is Life-Catherine Austin Fitts - USA Watchdog.com - Greg Hunter - January 27, 2014 - Investment advisor Catherine Austin Fitts knows the economy is bad, but not all bad. She says, “There are many aspects of the economy where the fundamentals are dreadful, and there are certainly parts of the economy collapsing in an evolving implosion.” Fitts contends capital has shifted out of the old system and into a new system that is high tech and rapidly evolving. Fitts explains, “One of the things that is keeping the slow burn going is that money flowing into the new system is being reinvested, and those parts of the economy are not only growing but growing strongly. . . . . You need to see the fact that we have a global 2.0, which is essentially bankrupt; and we have a global 3.0, which is rich with resources and growing dramatically. . . . The reinvestment in global 3.0 is now accelerating at rapid speeds, and I think it is going surprise everybody of how dramatic the changes are going to be.” Fitts says you can sum up what to do with a line from last year’s Brad Pitt movie about zombies. Fitts says, “Movement is life. It is unbelievable in importance that we all be prepared to shift. When you have this very deep and dramatic shift in technology and investment flows that ripple through all aspects of our lives. . . . So, the guys that are going to be the winners are the guys that can get the high learning speeds.” What is one of the biggest changes coming? Fitts says, “In September of 2011, there were approximately 800 million people on smart phones or tablets or desktops around the world. . . . Since September 2011, another half a billion people have gotten onto smart phones and tablets. . . .That’s astonishing because we have 1.2 billion people on smart phones and tablets who are one market in theory. That’s new. Never in the history of the world have we had 1.2 billion people who shared membership in one consumer market.”
Nearly Half of America Lives Paycheck-to-Paycheck - Time - Christopher Matthews - January 30, 2014 - The economic picture is looking brighter these days. The federal government announced Thursday that economic growth had picked up to its fastest pace in two years, while employment growth over the past five months has averaged a healthy 185,000 new jobs. But as evidenced by a report out Thursday from the Corporation for Enterprise Development, nearly half of Americans are living in a state of “persistent economic insecurity,” that makes it “difficult to look beyond immediate needs and plan for a more secure future.” In other words, too many of us are living paycheck to paycheck. The CFED calls these folks “liquid asset poor,” and its report finds that 44% of Americans are living with less than $5,887 in savings for a family of four. The plight of these folks is compounded by the fact that the recession ravaged many Americans’ credit scores to the point that now 56% percent of us have subprime credit. That means that if emergencies arise, many Americans are forced to resort to high-interest debt from credit cards or payday loans. And this financial insecurity isn’t just affected the lower classes. According to the CFED, one-quarter of middle-class households also fall into the category of “liquid asset poor.” Geographically, most of the economically insecure are clustered in the South and West, with Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Nevada, and Arkansas being the states with the highest percentage of financially insecure.
States see record high in long-term joblessness - Pew/Stateline Though USA Today - Jake Grovum - February 1, 2014 - In 28 states, a third or more of the unemployed have been without a job for six months or longer, leaving them with no unemployment insurance safety net following the expiration of extended benefits in December. In New Jersey, Florida and the District of Columbia, nearly half of the unemployed have been out of work for longer than 26 weeks, according to an analysis from the Economic Policy Institute of data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Among all 50 states and D.C., the average is 33%. Before the Great Recession, the highest the long-term joblessness share ever reached was 26% in mid-1983, according to the EPI analysis. Today, 41 states and D.C. have shares of long-term unemployment above that level.
Economy’s sticky problem: Older and jobless - CNBC - Allison Linn - January 31, 2014 -
How the GOP lost Middle America - Pat Buchanan explains impact of Republican Party 'selling its soul to the multinationals' - World Net Daily Commentary - January 31, 2014 - Out of the Republican retreat on Maryland’s Eastern shore comes word that the House leadership is raising the white flag of surrender on immigration. The GOP will agree to halt the deportation of 12 million illegal aliens and sign on to a blanket amnesty. It only asks that the 12 million not be put on a path to citizenship. Sorry, but losers do not dictate terms. Rich Trumka of the AFL-CIO says amnesty is no longer enough. Illegal aliens must be put on a path to citizenship and given green cards to work – and join unions. Rep. Paul Ryan and the Wall Street Journal are for throwing in the towel. Legalize them all and start them on the path to citizenship. A full and final capitulation. Let’s get it over with. To understand why and how the Republican Party lost Middle America, and faces demographic death, we need to go back to Bush I...
Wal-Mart: Food Stamp Cuts Hurt Our Profits - Wal-Mart’s CFO practically admits that the company largely benefits at the expense of taxpayers - Infowars.com - Kit Daniels - January 31, 2014 - Wal-Mart announced today that cuts in a federal food stamp program as well as record cold temperatures hurt its fourth quarter profits. After previously reporting “relatively flat” sales for the quarter, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. now says that sales for its namesake store and its Sam’s Club locations would be “slightly negative” for the November-January quarter, according to Agence France-Presse. Wal-Mart’s Chief Financial Officer, Charles Holley, blamed the revised forecast on deeper-than-expected cuts to the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the extreme cold weather occurring in the past month. On Nov. 1, the federal government cut $5 billion from the SNAP program due to a planned stimulus withdrawal, which resulted in an average loss of $36 a month for each of the almost 50 million Americans on the program, including many of Wal-Mart’s own employees. Taxpayers are subsidizing Wal-Mart through an endless cycle of purchases made through welfare benefits and public assistance given to supplement its workers’ low wages. A study released last year found that nearly $1 million in public assistance a year went to 300 employees at just one Wal-Mart Supercenter in Wisconsin. Employees at another Wal-Mart in Ohio were asked this past Thanksgiving to donate food items for their co-workers in need so they could also enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner. “This is a perfect example that shows how the quality of the jobs in this country has gone down the toilet,” Michael Snyder wrote on the subject.
James Turk: We’re Living Within A Money Bubble of Epic Proportion - Investment Watch - Chris Martenson - January 26th, 2014 - James Turk believes the time we live in now will be studied by future historians for generations to come. Just as we today marvel at the collective madness that resulted in the South Sea and Dutch tulip manias, our age will be known as the era when society lost sight of what money really is. And as result, the wrong kinds of wealth — today, that’s mostly financial assets — are valued and pursued. And just like those bubbles from centuries ago, when the current asset boom goes bust, the value of paper wealth will vaporize. In contrast, those holding tangible productive assets or real money will fare much better on a relative basis. James and co-author John Rubino (of DollarCollapse.com) have recently published a new book covering the details of this prediction called The Money Bubble: What To Do Before It Pops. Within it, they delve into the reasons for why the world is destined for what Ludwig von Mises termed a “crack up boom”:
Movement is Life-Catherine Austin Fitts - USA Watchdog.com - Greg Hunter - January 27, 2014 - Investment advisor Catherine Austin Fitts knows the economy is bad, but not all bad. She says, “There are many aspects of the economy where the fundamentals are dreadful, and there are certainly parts of the economy collapsing in an evolving implosion.” Fitts contends capital has shifted out of the old system and into a new system that is high tech and rapidly evolving. Fitts explains, “One of the things that is keeping the slow burn going is that money flowing into the new system is being reinvested, and those parts of the economy are not only growing but growing strongly. . . . . You need to see the fact that we have a global 2.0, which is essentially bankrupt; and we have a global 3.0, which is rich with resources and growing dramatically. . . . The reinvestment in global 3.0 is now accelerating at rapid speeds, and I think it is going surprise everybody of how dramatic the changes are going to be.” Fitts says you can sum up what to do with a line from last year’s Brad Pitt movie about zombies. Fitts says, “Movement is life. It is unbelievable in importance that we all be prepared to shift. When you have this very deep and dramatic shift in technology and investment flows that ripple through all aspects of our lives. . . . So, the guys that are going to be the winners are the guys that can get the high learning speeds.” What is one of the biggest changes coming? Fitts says, “In September of 2011, there were approximately 800 million people on smart phones or tablets or desktops around the world. . . . Since September 2011, another half a billion people have gotten onto smart phones and tablets. . . .That’s astonishing because we have 1.2 billion people on smart phones and tablets who are one market in theory. That’s new. Never in the history of the world have we had 1.2 billion people who shared membership in one consumer market.”
Nearly Half of America Lives Paycheck-to-Paycheck - Time - Christopher Matthews - January 30, 2014 - The economic picture is looking brighter these days. The federal government announced Thursday that economic growth had picked up to its fastest pace in two years, while employment growth over the past five months has averaged a healthy 185,000 new jobs. But as evidenced by a report out Thursday from the Corporation for Enterprise Development, nearly half of Americans are living in a state of “persistent economic insecurity,” that makes it “difficult to look beyond immediate needs and plan for a more secure future.” In other words, too many of us are living paycheck to paycheck. The CFED calls these folks “liquid asset poor,” and its report finds that 44% of Americans are living with less than $5,887 in savings for a family of four. The plight of these folks is compounded by the fact that the recession ravaged many Americans’ credit scores to the point that now 56% percent of us have subprime credit. That means that if emergencies arise, many Americans are forced to resort to high-interest debt from credit cards or payday loans. And this financial insecurity isn’t just affected the lower classes. According to the CFED, one-quarter of middle-class households also fall into the category of “liquid asset poor.” Geographically, most of the economically insecure are clustered in the South and West, with Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Nevada, and Arkansas being the states with the highest percentage of financially insecure.
States see record high in long-term joblessness - Pew/Stateline Though USA Today - Jake Grovum - February 1, 2014 - In 28 states, a third or more of the unemployed have been without a job for six months or longer, leaving them with no unemployment insurance safety net following the expiration of extended benefits in December. In New Jersey, Florida and the District of Columbia, nearly half of the unemployed have been out of work for longer than 26 weeks, according to an analysis from the Economic Policy Institute of data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Among all 50 states and D.C., the average is 33%. Before the Great Recession, the highest the long-term joblessness share ever reached was 26% in mid-1983, according to the EPI analysis. Today, 41 states and D.C. have shares of long-term unemployment above that level.
Economy’s sticky problem: Older and jobless - CNBC - Allison Linn - January 31, 2014 -
Let's say you're the boss, and you have an opening for a widget maker. Are you going to choose the person who has been making widgets at your competitor's plant every day for the past two years, or the one who's made lots of widgets in the past—but hasn't worked anywhere for two years? Economists say one big problem with the nation's weak economic recovery is that too many employers have the luxury of choosing the person who's already making widgets—and that's leaving those who are already out of work behind. "If you're not working—and you're not improving your credentials—it's harder to find a job. That's just simply reality," said Joel Naroff, chief economist with Naroff Economic Advisors.
How the GOP lost Middle America - Pat Buchanan explains impact of Republican Party 'selling its soul to the multinationals' - World Net Daily Commentary - January 31, 2014 - Out of the Republican retreat on Maryland’s Eastern shore comes word that the House leadership is raising the white flag of surrender on immigration. The GOP will agree to halt the deportation of 12 million illegal aliens and sign on to a blanket amnesty. It only asks that the 12 million not be put on a path to citizenship. Sorry, but losers do not dictate terms. Rich Trumka of the AFL-CIO says amnesty is no longer enough. Illegal aliens must be put on a path to citizenship and given green cards to work – and join unions. Rep. Paul Ryan and the Wall Street Journal are for throwing in the towel. Legalize them all and start them on the path to citizenship. A full and final capitulation. Let’s get it over with. To understand why and how the Republican Party lost Middle America, and faces demographic death, we need to go back to Bush I...
Wal-Mart: Food Stamp Cuts Hurt Our Profits - Wal-Mart’s CFO practically admits that the company largely benefits at the expense of taxpayers - Infowars.com - Kit Daniels - January 31, 2014 - Wal-Mart announced today that cuts in a federal food stamp program as well as record cold temperatures hurt its fourth quarter profits. After previously reporting “relatively flat” sales for the quarter, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. now says that sales for its namesake store and its Sam’s Club locations would be “slightly negative” for the November-January quarter, according to Agence France-Presse. Wal-Mart’s Chief Financial Officer, Charles Holley, blamed the revised forecast on deeper-than-expected cuts to the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the extreme cold weather occurring in the past month. On Nov. 1, the federal government cut $5 billion from the SNAP program due to a planned stimulus withdrawal, which resulted in an average loss of $36 a month for each of the almost 50 million Americans on the program, including many of Wal-Mart’s own employees. Taxpayers are subsidizing Wal-Mart through an endless cycle of purchases made through welfare benefits and public assistance given to supplement its workers’ low wages. A study released last year found that nearly $1 million in public assistance a year went to 300 employees at just one Wal-Mart Supercenter in Wisconsin. Employees at another Wal-Mart in Ohio were asked this past Thanksgiving to donate food items for their co-workers in need so they could also enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner. “This is a perfect example that shows how the quality of the jobs in this country has gone down the toilet,” Michael Snyder wrote on the subject.
James Turk: We’re Living Within A Money Bubble of Epic Proportion - Investment Watch - Chris Martenson - January 26th, 2014 - James Turk believes the time we live in now will be studied by future historians for generations to come. Just as we today marvel at the collective madness that resulted in the South Sea and Dutch tulip manias, our age will be known as the era when society lost sight of what money really is. And as result, the wrong kinds of wealth — today, that’s mostly financial assets — are valued and pursued. And just like those bubbles from centuries ago, when the current asset boom goes bust, the value of paper wealth will vaporize. In contrast, those holding tangible productive assets or real money will fare much better on a relative basis. James and co-author John Rubino (of DollarCollapse.com) have recently published a new book covering the details of this prediction called The Money Bubble: What To Do Before It Pops. Within it, they delve into the reasons for why the world is destined for what Ludwig von Mises termed a “crack up boom”:
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Agenda about the City Council meeting of February 4, 2014
This Agenda is about the Hickory City Council meeting that took 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
City Council Agenda - February 4, 2014
Invocation by Rev. Mark Andrews, Pastor, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church
Consent Agenda:
A. Special Event/Activities Application for Downtown Hickory Shuck & Peel Party, Connie Kincaid, Executive Director of Hickory Downtown Development Association, Saturday, November 8, 2014 from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Union Square.
B. Special Event/Activities Application for Hickory Hops, Connie Kincaid, Executive Director of Hickory Downtown Development Association, Saturday, April 26, 2014 from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Government Avenue SW and Second Street SW, (Event Time 1:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.)
C. Special Event/Activities Application for Downtown Hickory Art Crawls 2014, Connie Kincaid, Executive Director of Hickory Downtown Development Association, Thursday, May 15, 2014; Thursday, September 18, 2014; and Wednesday, October 29, 2014 from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Union Square, 3rd Street NW, 2nd Street NW, 1st Avenue NW, 1st Avenue SW, Government Avenue SW, and 2nd Street SW.
D. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from James A. Owenby, Single to David Dauler, Single, in Oakwood Cemetery.
E. Acceptance of Offer to Purchase and Contract for Property Located at 1747 Whitewater Court, in the Waterford Hills Subdivision. - Staff requests consideration of the Offer to Purchase and Contract for property located at 1747 Whitewater Court, in the Waterford Hills Subdivision. The property was originally purchased by the City because it was on the route of the proposed Southern Cross-Town Thoroughfare. The route for the future thoroughfare has since been amended, and the property is no longer needed. Albert Mark Schudde is interested in purchasing this lot because it is adjacent to his home. He is offering $16,500 for this lot. Staff recommends that City Council accept the Offer to Purchase and Contract and authorize staff to advertise for upset bids. Once the property is advertised other parties will have ten days to submit upset bids.
F. Acceptance of Offers to Purchase and Contracts for Properties Located at 1840 and 1845 Waterbury Court, in the Waterford Hills Subdivision. - Staff requests consideration of the Offers to Purchase and Contracts for properties located at 1840 and 1845 Waterbury Court, in the Waterford Hills Subdivision. The properties were originally purchased by the City because they were on the route of the proposed Southern Cross-Town Thoroughfare. The route for the future thoroughfare has since been amended, and the properties are no longer needed. Ioan Aron and wife, Carmen Aron are interested in purchasing these lots in order to construct singe family dwellings. They are offering $15,000 per lot. Staff recommends that City Council accept the Offers to Purchase and Contracts and authorize staff to advertise for upset bids. Once the property is advertised other parties will have ten days to submit upset bids.
G. Approval to Apply for a Historic Preservation Fund Pass-Through Grant to Update the City’s Survey of Historic Properties. - As a Certified Local Government, the City of Hickory and nonprofits within the city are eligible to apply for grants from the State of North Carolina to undertake a variety of different projects to advance historic preservation in communities throughout the state. The Historic Preservation Commission is interested in applying for a grant to update its survey of historic properties within the community. This survey was last updated in 1999, and that update was focused on only a few neighborhoods in the immediate vicinity of the downtown area. The proposed survey would update all of the existing survey records and also study properties throughout the city as budget constraints will allow. This will most certainly include the city’s industrial and commercial properties along with post-war subdivisions throughout the community. The estimated project cost for the grant is currently $20,000. The grant will pay 60 percent of the project costs or $12,000. The required city match will be $8,000. If the grant is approved, the project will take place in the fall of 2014. The Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously to recommend moving forward with the grant application at their January 14, 2014 meeting.
H. Approval to Modify the Historic Preservation Commission Work Plan to Include Plaque Program and Identification Signage for Historic Districts. - The Historic Preservation Commission requests amending the Historic Preservation Commission’s Work Plan in order to fund identification signage for Historic Districts and properties along with the creation of a plaque program for owners of historic properties. I. Acceptance of an Offer to Purchase and Contract for Properties Located at 11 3rd Street SE, 17 3rd Street SE, 21 3rd Street SE, and 27 3rd Street SE, the City owns 10.7143% Interest in the Lots. (Exhibit VIII.I.) Staff requests consideration of the Offer to Purchase and Contract for properties located at 11 3rd Street SE, 17 3rd Street SE, 21 3rd Street SE, and 27 3rd Street SE. The Patrick Beaver Memorial Library was one of eight beneficiaries of the will of George L. Lylerly, Jr. In July 2009, the trustee presented the beneficiaries with the option to accept an $8,000 offer to purchase the property or the option to approve the distribution of the property. Council rejected the offer to purchase and approved the distribution of the property from the trust at the July 21, 2009 Council meeting. The City of Hickory was conveyed a 10.7143% interest in the lots. In January 2013, staff received an offer to purchase the property for $44,386 from Prism Commercial Real Estate on behalf of the buyer, Tony Jarrett. All eight owners of the property must consent to the offer to purchase.
J. Budget Ordinance Amendment Number 14.
1. To budget a $300 Grant from the North Carolina Department of Administration, Division of Youth Advocacy and Involvement Office, in the Youth Council budget. The Hickory Youth Council will use funds to purchase jump ropes, water bottles and string bags for a free sports camp for youth aged 7-13 to encourage staying active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
2. To budget $8,534 of General Fund Contingency in the North Carolina League of Municipalities Conference expenditure line item. Area local governments, Hickory Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau and the League of Municipalities contributions helped fund expenses associated with hosting the North Carolina League of Municipalities Conference. There is $8,534 of remaining expenditures not covered by the contributions, therefore a budget amendment is necessary to pay for those costs.
New Business - Public Hearings
1. Resolution and Order for Petition of Moretz Mills, LLC to Close a Portion of E Avenue SE. - On December 6, 2013, Patrick, Harper & Dixon, Attorneys at Law, presented a petition on behalf of Moretz Mills LLC, one of the property owners of property abutting a portion of E Avenue SE, requested the City to abandon a portion of this right-of-way.
New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. (a) Request to Amend the Parking Ordinance for the Farmer’s Market to Include Last Year’s Ordinance #13-06, with a Time Change and Day. - Change the Farmer’s Market No Parking hours from the current ordinance language which calls for Wednesdays from 8:30 AM until 4:00 PM and Saturdays from 6:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. to the new hours for 2014 which includes Wednesdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturdays 6:20 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. from April 16, 2014 through November 29, 2014 (excluding Saturday, October 11, 2014 which is Oktoberfest weekend) for the spaces south of Union Square on the north side of the parking lot road connecting the east and west parking lots as well as along the west parking lot to include the first three (3) angled parking spaces. Also, change the parking ordinance from the previous year from Monday from 8:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., May 6, 2013 through October 7, 2013 to now include the new Thursday market evening covered by no parking hours of Thursdays 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. from June 5, 2014 through August 28, 2014 in the west parking lot specifically to include the first three (3) angled parking spaces only. Previously, all of the west lot spaces were included for the Monday
market.
2013 Market Hours 2014 Market Hours Dates
Monday 4-7pm Thursday 5-8pm June 5 through August 28, 2014
Wednesday 10am-3pm Wed 10am-3pm April 16 through November 29, 2014
Saturday 8am-1pm Sat 8am-1pm April 16 through November 29, 2014
1. (b) Special Event/Activities Application for Downtown Hickory Farmers’ Market,Sarah T. Wood, Market Manager, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, April 16, 2014 through November 1, 2014, and a Holiday Market, November 22, and November 29, 2014, on Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Thursdays from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; and Saturdays from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Union Square. (These times reflect set-up and clean-up.)
2. (a) Approval of an Agreement for Professional Services with HDR Engineering, Inc. of the Carolinas in the amount of $288,000. - Staff requests approval of this agreement for Engineering Services with HDR Engineering, Inc. of the Carolinas to perform professional engineering services related to design on sanitary sewer infrastructure to serve the Murray Basin service area, which is located between Springs Road, Section House Road and Highland Avenue, in the amount of $288,000. Funds are budgeted in FY 2013/2014 fiscal year capital budget.
2. (b) Capital Project Ordinance Number 2. - To budget a $288,000 transfer from the Water and Sewer Capital – Sewer Lines account to the Murray Basin Capital Project. This transfer is necessary to pay for Engineering Services related to design on sanitary sewer infrastructure to serve the Murray Basin Service Area. This project is budgeted in the FY13-14 capital budget.
At right of this page under Main Information links is an Hickory's City Website link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the left of the page you will see the Agenda's and Minutes link you need to click. This will give you a choice of PDF files to upcoming and previous meetings.
You will find historic Agenda and Minutes links. Agendas show what is on the docket for the meeting of that date. The Minutes is an actual summary of the proceedings of the meeting of that date. You can also look in the upper right hand corner of the front page of the Hickory Hound and (will soon) find the link to the past history of Hickory City Newsletters.
Here is a summary of the agenda of the meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below:
Please remember that pressing Ctrl and + will magnify the text and page and pressing Ctrl and - will make the text and page smaller. This will help the readability for those with smaller screens and/or eye difficulties.
City Website has changed - Here is a link to the City of Hickory Document Center
City Council Agenda - February 4, 2014 Invocation by Rev. Mark Andrews, Pastor, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church
Consent Agenda:
A. Special Event/Activities Application for Downtown Hickory Shuck & Peel Party, Connie Kincaid, Executive Director of Hickory Downtown Development Association, Saturday, November 8, 2014 from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Union Square.
B. Special Event/Activities Application for Hickory Hops, Connie Kincaid, Executive Director of Hickory Downtown Development Association, Saturday, April 26, 2014 from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Government Avenue SW and Second Street SW, (Event Time 1:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.)
C. Special Event/Activities Application for Downtown Hickory Art Crawls 2014, Connie Kincaid, Executive Director of Hickory Downtown Development Association, Thursday, May 15, 2014; Thursday, September 18, 2014; and Wednesday, October 29, 2014 from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Union Square, 3rd Street NW, 2nd Street NW, 1st Avenue NW, 1st Avenue SW, Government Avenue SW, and 2nd Street SW.
D. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from James A. Owenby, Single to David Dauler, Single, in Oakwood Cemetery.
E. Acceptance of Offer to Purchase and Contract for Property Located at 1747 Whitewater Court, in the Waterford Hills Subdivision. - Staff requests consideration of the Offer to Purchase and Contract for property located at 1747 Whitewater Court, in the Waterford Hills Subdivision. The property was originally purchased by the City because it was on the route of the proposed Southern Cross-Town Thoroughfare. The route for the future thoroughfare has since been amended, and the property is no longer needed. Albert Mark Schudde is interested in purchasing this lot because it is adjacent to his home. He is offering $16,500 for this lot. Staff recommends that City Council accept the Offer to Purchase and Contract and authorize staff to advertise for upset bids. Once the property is advertised other parties will have ten days to submit upset bids.
F. Acceptance of Offers to Purchase and Contracts for Properties Located at 1840 and 1845 Waterbury Court, in the Waterford Hills Subdivision. - Staff requests consideration of the Offers to Purchase and Contracts for properties located at 1840 and 1845 Waterbury Court, in the Waterford Hills Subdivision. The properties were originally purchased by the City because they were on the route of the proposed Southern Cross-Town Thoroughfare. The route for the future thoroughfare has since been amended, and the properties are no longer needed. Ioan Aron and wife, Carmen Aron are interested in purchasing these lots in order to construct singe family dwellings. They are offering $15,000 per lot. Staff recommends that City Council accept the Offers to Purchase and Contracts and authorize staff to advertise for upset bids. Once the property is advertised other parties will have ten days to submit upset bids.
G. Approval to Apply for a Historic Preservation Fund Pass-Through Grant to Update the City’s Survey of Historic Properties. - As a Certified Local Government, the City of Hickory and nonprofits within the city are eligible to apply for grants from the State of North Carolina to undertake a variety of different projects to advance historic preservation in communities throughout the state. The Historic Preservation Commission is interested in applying for a grant to update its survey of historic properties within the community. This survey was last updated in 1999, and that update was focused on only a few neighborhoods in the immediate vicinity of the downtown area. The proposed survey would update all of the existing survey records and also study properties throughout the city as budget constraints will allow. This will most certainly include the city’s industrial and commercial properties along with post-war subdivisions throughout the community. The estimated project cost for the grant is currently $20,000. The grant will pay 60 percent of the project costs or $12,000. The required city match will be $8,000. If the grant is approved, the project will take place in the fall of 2014. The Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously to recommend moving forward with the grant application at their January 14, 2014 meeting.
H. Approval to Modify the Historic Preservation Commission Work Plan to Include Plaque Program and Identification Signage for Historic Districts. - The Historic Preservation Commission requests amending the Historic Preservation Commission’s Work Plan in order to fund identification signage for Historic Districts and properties along with the creation of a plaque program for owners of historic properties. I. Acceptance of an Offer to Purchase and Contract for Properties Located at 11 3rd Street SE, 17 3rd Street SE, 21 3rd Street SE, and 27 3rd Street SE, the City owns 10.7143% Interest in the Lots. (Exhibit VIII.I.) Staff requests consideration of the Offer to Purchase and Contract for properties located at 11 3rd Street SE, 17 3rd Street SE, 21 3rd Street SE, and 27 3rd Street SE. The Patrick Beaver Memorial Library was one of eight beneficiaries of the will of George L. Lylerly, Jr. In July 2009, the trustee presented the beneficiaries with the option to accept an $8,000 offer to purchase the property or the option to approve the distribution of the property. Council rejected the offer to purchase and approved the distribution of the property from the trust at the July 21, 2009 Council meeting. The City of Hickory was conveyed a 10.7143% interest in the lots. In January 2013, staff received an offer to purchase the property for $44,386 from Prism Commercial Real Estate on behalf of the buyer, Tony Jarrett. All eight owners of the property must consent to the offer to purchase.
J. Budget Ordinance Amendment Number 14.
1. To budget a $300 Grant from the North Carolina Department of Administration, Division of Youth Advocacy and Involvement Office, in the Youth Council budget. The Hickory Youth Council will use funds to purchase jump ropes, water bottles and string bags for a free sports camp for youth aged 7-13 to encourage staying active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
2. To budget $8,534 of General Fund Contingency in the North Carolina League of Municipalities Conference expenditure line item. Area local governments, Hickory Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau and the League of Municipalities contributions helped fund expenses associated with hosting the North Carolina League of Municipalities Conference. There is $8,534 of remaining expenditures not covered by the contributions, therefore a budget amendment is necessary to pay for those costs.
New Business - Public Hearings
1. Resolution and Order for Petition of Moretz Mills, LLC to Close a Portion of E Avenue SE. - On December 6, 2013, Patrick, Harper & Dixon, Attorneys at Law, presented a petition on behalf of Moretz Mills LLC, one of the property owners of property abutting a portion of E Avenue SE, requested the City to abandon a portion of this right-of-way.
New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. (a) Request to Amend the Parking Ordinance for the Farmer’s Market to Include Last Year’s Ordinance #13-06, with a Time Change and Day. - Change the Farmer’s Market No Parking hours from the current ordinance language which calls for Wednesdays from 8:30 AM until 4:00 PM and Saturdays from 6:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. to the new hours for 2014 which includes Wednesdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturdays 6:20 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. from April 16, 2014 through November 29, 2014 (excluding Saturday, October 11, 2014 which is Oktoberfest weekend) for the spaces south of Union Square on the north side of the parking lot road connecting the east and west parking lots as well as along the west parking lot to include the first three (3) angled parking spaces. Also, change the parking ordinance from the previous year from Monday from 8:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., May 6, 2013 through October 7, 2013 to now include the new Thursday market evening covered by no parking hours of Thursdays 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. from June 5, 2014 through August 28, 2014 in the west parking lot specifically to include the first three (3) angled parking spaces only. Previously, all of the west lot spaces were included for the Monday
market.
2013 Market Hours 2014 Market Hours Dates
Monday 4-7pm Thursday 5-8pm June 5 through August 28, 2014
Wednesday 10am-3pm Wed 10am-3pm April 16 through November 29, 2014
Saturday 8am-1pm Sat 8am-1pm April 16 through November 29, 2014
1. (b) Special Event/Activities Application for Downtown Hickory Farmers’ Market,Sarah T. Wood, Market Manager, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, April 16, 2014 through November 1, 2014, and a Holiday Market, November 22, and November 29, 2014, on Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Thursdays from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; and Saturdays from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Union Square. (These times reflect set-up and clean-up.)
2. (a) Approval of an Agreement for Professional Services with HDR Engineering, Inc. of the Carolinas in the amount of $288,000. - Staff requests approval of this agreement for Engineering Services with HDR Engineering, Inc. of the Carolinas to perform professional engineering services related to design on sanitary sewer infrastructure to serve the Murray Basin service area, which is located between Springs Road, Section House Road and Highland Avenue, in the amount of $288,000. Funds are budgeted in FY 2013/2014 fiscal year capital budget.
2. (b) Capital Project Ordinance Number 2. - To budget a $288,000 transfer from the Water and Sewer Capital – Sewer Lines account to the Murray Basin Capital Project. This transfer is necessary to pay for Engineering Services related to design on sanitary sewer infrastructure to serve the Murray Basin Service Area. This project is budgeted in the FY13-14 capital budget.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Midnight has struck for the UNC Board of Governors
Unfortunately the University of North Carolina Board of Governors have chosen not to take the bull by the horns and act on the transgressions at UNC-Chapel Hill, where sports rules over academics, and now all sorts of information is coming together about who did what and eventually we will know the origins of the Athletic-Academic fraud that has been going on there for years.
This has been embarrassing for a while now. The PTB hoped to keep a lid on this corruption by utilizing the web created to keep the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as the De Facto absolute dictator of political power in our State, but now we have a national event that is exposing the conflicts of interest that run rampant on many levels in North Carolina.
Not only is this taking a huge toll on the Academic Integrity of the Oldest University in our State Higher Educational System, when it all comes out it is going to expose the real state of politics and corruption in our government. For you who do not know, that is what happened with the Southern Methodist University Football scandal back in the 1980s, which led to what was called the "Death Penalty" for SMU football.
I have nothing to do with this information that is coming out, but since I am reading the source material as it comes forward, fast and furious, I will attempt to document it and help those providing the information to get it out to the public utilizing this little ole blog as one outlet.
What is clear is that there needs to be a thorough cleansing of the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors and the playing field needs to be leveled. There should be more equal representation amongst the 17 schools in the system. It defies logic to believe that the current Governors of the Higher Education system haven't known what was going on here. They could have reined this in long ago, but this is what you get with a stacked deck. They have been too busy worrying about the image of UNC-CH, the University overwhelmingly represented by the BoG, instead of getting to the root of these issues of corruption. It is obvious there has been a lot of "Don't ask.. Don't tell" going on here.
These transgressions are not broad based at all 17 campuses in the UNC system. These transgressions are rooted at Chapel Hill. It is clear that there has been a cover-up of these corrupt athletic schemes going on for years. It is clear that the mission of that place is out of whack.
Who is going to stand up and be the adult. The transgressors should not be allowed to make the decisions about the remedies. They have been allowed to manipulate the situation for far too long and they have always tilted everything in their favor. Only fools believe these people have been cooperative. It is time for the lessons to be learned here. Stop rewarding corruption.
This has been embarrassing for a while now. The PTB hoped to keep a lid on this corruption by utilizing the web created to keep the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as the De Facto absolute dictator of political power in our State, but now we have a national event that is exposing the conflicts of interest that run rampant on many levels in North Carolina.
Not only is this taking a huge toll on the Academic Integrity of the Oldest University in our State Higher Educational System, when it all comes out it is going to expose the real state of politics and corruption in our government. For you who do not know, that is what happened with the Southern Methodist University Football scandal back in the 1980s, which led to what was called the "Death Penalty" for SMU football.
Report: Texas Governor Ordered Pay For Smu Players - United Press International - June 20, 1987
I have nothing to do with this information that is coming out, but since I am reading the source material as it comes forward, fast and furious, I will attempt to document it and help those providing the information to get it out to the public utilizing this little ole blog as one outlet.
What is clear is that there needs to be a thorough cleansing of the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors and the playing field needs to be leveled. There should be more equal representation amongst the 17 schools in the system. It defies logic to believe that the current Governors of the Higher Education system haven't known what was going on here. They could have reined this in long ago, but this is what you get with a stacked deck. They have been too busy worrying about the image of UNC-CH, the University overwhelmingly represented by the BoG, instead of getting to the root of these issues of corruption. It is obvious there has been a lot of "Don't ask.. Don't tell" going on here.
These transgressions are not broad based at all 17 campuses in the UNC system. These transgressions are rooted at Chapel Hill. It is clear that there has been a cover-up of these corrupt athletic schemes going on for years. It is clear that the mission of that place is out of whack.
Who is going to stand up and be the adult. The transgressors should not be allowed to make the decisions about the remedies. They have been allowed to manipulate the situation for far too long and they have always tilted everything in their favor. Only fools believe these people have been cooperative. It is time for the lessons to be learned here. Stop rewarding corruption.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Newsletter about the City Council meeting of January 21, 2014
I began video recording the City Council in 2012, because of my desire that the City do it on their own as any modern 21st century community began doing long ago. I had people tell me that they couldn't make it to the meetings, but they would like to see what is going on. I was also told by some council members that my summaries did not truly reflect the record, so having a video/audio recording cannot be misinterpreted.
So below is the City Council meeting. With each agenda item, you can click on the links and it will take you to that specific point in the meeting. You can always drag the marker on the video display to the point in the broadcast that you are interested in seeing.
Agenda about the City Council meeting of January 21, 2014
- Go to this link if you would like more information about the Agenda items.
Highlighted Links below take you straight to that point in the video.
Special Presentations
A. Ryan Lovern, Business Development Committee, Presentation of the Business Well Crafted Award to Bisanar Company Jewelers
B. Unveiling the Ceremonial Key to the City and Presentation to Hickory Chair
Persons Requesting to Be Heard
Ms. Catherine Scott, Regarding Hunting in between Geitner and Glenn Hilton Parks - Ms. Scott is worried about Domesticated Ducks being hunted in this area and asks that ordinances be established to stop this from an area apparently not covered by the city's codes and ordinances.
Consent Agenda
New Business - Public Hearings
1. Public Hearing – for the Consideration of an Economic Development Agreement between the City of Hickory and Hickory Springs Manufacturing Solutions (HSM Solutions)
New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Presentation by Architect Scott Mitchell to Show Plans for the Convention Center Parking Deck
2. Quarterly Financial Report
3. Appointments to Boards and Commissions
Hound's Comment: This was a fairly routine meeting. A couple of Ceremonial "Feel Good" awards were handed out to Bisanar's Jewelers and Hickory Chair. Hickory Springs is getting a kick back for the taxes they will pay in relation to some jobs and commerce they are bringing to Hickory, which seems to be the status quo for economic development on the l;ocal front these days.
Mrs. Scott's presentation about the ducks along Lake Hickory was interesting. I don't think it is a safety issue as Mr. Guess believes, but Ms. Scott has a valid point about the ducks basically being baited and domesticated at this point, because people are hand feeding them. They are basically pets and deserve sanctuary in this particular area.
The presentation about the Convention Center Parking Deck was not very informative. It was hard to follow along and would have been much better as a Power Point presentation with better renderings. It didn't seem like anything was ironed down moving forward, but I could be wrong, because as I said, I couldn't follow the presentation.
Warren Wood's presentation about the Quarterly Financial report seemed to show that the city is in a holding pattern as far as the Economics of the area goes. There seems to be some growth in activity with new building permits showing a dramatic rise in comparison to the non-activity that has taken place over the last several years, but much of this could be attributable to necessary pent up growth from the non-activity of the past several years. I am sure we will be finding out in short order, one way or the other, over the next few quarters. All other growth can be attributed to inflation. Sales tax income is one example where we are still below where we were seven years ago. That is right, we are earning less per quarter in sales tax revenue than we were in 2007.
Other issues that Warren addressed were Privilege License fees that may be changing due to NC State legislation and the delivery of a ladder truck that has not occurred, because the company American LaFrance is having financial difficulty. The Council has started a legal process of default notifying the Insurance Bonding company that American LaFrance is in default. The City will receive the truck or be reimbursed and have to purchase a truck elsewhere. The City hopes to receive the order. If delivered, a third party will stand behind the warranty. Operationally we need the truck.
What happened to fire-engine icon American LaFrance? - The Post and Courier of Charleston, SC - John McDermott - January 26, 2014
American LaFrance - Google Search
So below is the City Council meeting. With each agenda item, you can click on the links and it will take you to that specific point in the meeting. You can always drag the marker on the video display to the point in the broadcast that you are interested in seeing.
Agenda about the City Council meeting of January 21, 2014
- Go to this link if you would like more information about the Agenda items.
Highlighted Links below take you straight to that point in the video.
Special Presentations
A. Ryan Lovern, Business Development Committee, Presentation of the Business Well Crafted Award to Bisanar Company Jewelers
B. Unveiling the Ceremonial Key to the City and Presentation to Hickory Chair
Persons Requesting to Be Heard
Ms. Catherine Scott, Regarding Hunting in between Geitner and Glenn Hilton Parks - Ms. Scott is worried about Domesticated Ducks being hunted in this area and asks that ordinances be established to stop this from an area apparently not covered by the city's codes and ordinances.
Consent Agenda
New Business - Public Hearings
1. Public Hearing – for the Consideration of an Economic Development Agreement between the City of Hickory and Hickory Springs Manufacturing Solutions (HSM Solutions)
New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Presentation by Architect Scott Mitchell to Show Plans for the Convention Center Parking Deck
2. Quarterly Financial Report
3. Appointments to Boards and Commissions
Hound's Comment: This was a fairly routine meeting. A couple of Ceremonial "Feel Good" awards were handed out to Bisanar's Jewelers and Hickory Chair. Hickory Springs is getting a kick back for the taxes they will pay in relation to some jobs and commerce they are bringing to Hickory, which seems to be the status quo for economic development on the l;ocal front these days.
Mrs. Scott's presentation about the ducks along Lake Hickory was interesting. I don't think it is a safety issue as Mr. Guess believes, but Ms. Scott has a valid point about the ducks basically being baited and domesticated at this point, because people are hand feeding them. They are basically pets and deserve sanctuary in this particular area.
The presentation about the Convention Center Parking Deck was not very informative. It was hard to follow along and would have been much better as a Power Point presentation with better renderings. It didn't seem like anything was ironed down moving forward, but I could be wrong, because as I said, I couldn't follow the presentation.
Warren Wood's presentation about the Quarterly Financial report seemed to show that the city is in a holding pattern as far as the Economics of the area goes. There seems to be some growth in activity with new building permits showing a dramatic rise in comparison to the non-activity that has taken place over the last several years, but much of this could be attributable to necessary pent up growth from the non-activity of the past several years. I am sure we will be finding out in short order, one way or the other, over the next few quarters. All other growth can be attributed to inflation. Sales tax income is one example where we are still below where we were seven years ago. That is right, we are earning less per quarter in sales tax revenue than we were in 2007.
Other issues that Warren addressed were Privilege License fees that may be changing due to NC State legislation and the delivery of a ladder truck that has not occurred, because the company American LaFrance is having financial difficulty. The Council has started a legal process of default notifying the Insurance Bonding company that American LaFrance is in default. The City will receive the truck or be reimbursed and have to purchase a truck elsewhere. The City hopes to receive the order. If delivered, a third party will stand behind the warranty. Operationally we need the truck.
What happened to fire-engine icon American LaFrance? - The Post and Courier of Charleston, SC - John McDermott - January 26, 2014
American LaFrance - Google Search
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