Newsletter about the City Council meeting of December 7, 2010

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 12/7/2010 meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below:

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Invocation by Rev. David E. Roberts, II of Morning Star First Baptist Church

Election of Mayor Pro Tempore for Calendar Year 2011 Pursuant to NC General Statues §260A-70 and Section 2-54 of the Hickory City Code. Alderman Bruce Meisner was unanimously appointed to be the Mayor Pro Tempore for the upcoming year.

Appointment of a City Attorney for Calendar Year 2011 Pursuant to the Hickory City Code, Section 4.151 of the Charter. John W Crone was unanimously appointed as City Attorney for Calendar Year 2011.

Special Presentations:
A. Proclamation Recognizing Hickory Christian Academy Men’s Varsity Soccer Team for Winning the National Association of Christian Athletes (NACA) Division II National Title - Homepage - Hickory Christian Academy Facebook Page

The Proclamation congratulated the school for winning 17 games and losing only 2 including 13 shutouts. The proclamation commends the team for competitiveness, sportsmanship, and academics. And the Mayor added "their commitment to leading a good, christian life."

B. Proclamation Presented to Mr. Cliff Moone Declaring December 15, 2010 as “Bill of Rights Day” in the City of Hickory.

The Proclamation celebrates the Bill of Rights, which was ratified on December 15, 1791. The Bill guarantees citizens their most basic and unalienable rights. The State of North Carolina refused to sign the Constitution until a Bill of Rights was included. This day was first recognized by Franklin Roosevelt and observed in 1941. Mr. Moone stated that the North carolina Civil libirties Union and the Human Rights Coalition of North Carolina contacted Mr. Moone in the past about bringing this to the attention of the area. He stated that we need to fight hard every day to remember and preserve these rights.


C. Presentation of Diplomas by Mayor Wright to the 2010 Neighborhood College Graduating Class - Neighborhood College - The program is a series of professionally led sessions designed to teach citizens about the City of Hickory and the services it provides. Neighborhood College is an educational experience that will give participants insight into Hickory's history and its governmental process. Participants are encouraged to share the knowledge they receive from the program with their neighbors.

Consent Agenda:
A. Call for Public Hearing for Consideration of a Proposed Zoning Text Amendment to the Current Land Development Code Regarding Electronic Sweepstakes Establishments (Authorize Public Hearing for December 21, 2010)

B. Approval to Apply For a Non-Matching Grant Through The NC Firefighters’ Burned Children Fund Grant Program to Purchase Safety Education Material - The NC Firefighters’ Burned Children Fund Grant Program offers opportunities for fire departments to fund new and innovative fire and life safety education programs. The Hickory Fire Department wishes to apply for a non-matching grant to purchase an interactive safety education display to be used at community events, schools and civic organizations. The age appropriate equipment and educational supplies will cost a total of $1,000. This is a non-matching grant and requires no budgetary action.

C. Approval to Apply For a Non-Matching Grant Through The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation to Purchase Fire Safety Equipment - Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation is dedicated to improving the life-saving capabilities of emergency service entities by providing funding, resources and support. The Hickory Fire Department, if approved, will acquire air monitoring devices. This
equipment will be used to sample the ambient air environment for several different gases ensuring that firefighting personnel and investigators work in a safe environment.

D. Approval of Community Relations Council Grant Recommendations for Fall 2010
Requesting Agency Project – Grant – Request Amount – CRC - Recommended Amount
LRU Visiting Writers Series Outreach Project – At Risk Teenagers $2,000 - $ 500
Centro Latino Leading to a Latin Beat $1,200 - $ 500
Greater Hickory CCM - Helping Hickory Residents Maintain Living Arrangements - $1,500 - $1,500
Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont - Leadership for Life Program - $1,350 - $ 300
Girls on the Run of Catawba Valley Scholarship Assistance Fund - $1,500 - $1,500
Women’s Resource Center - Construct Your Life Plan - $1,000 - $ 500
Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spearman - Mario A. Mitchell Summer and Saturday Academy - $1,500 - $ 500
Total $5,300

E. Request From Charity Chase for Use of Union Square to Hold the “Charity Chase Half Marathon” Event on June 4, 2011 From 4:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

F. Amendment to Traffic Ordinance by Reducing the Speed Limit From 55 mph to 45 mph Along US 321 in Hickory From a Point Approximately 500 Feet North From the Intersection With SR 1314 (Old Lenoir Rd NW) South to a Point Approximately 1,147 Feet North of the Intersection With SR 1306 (2nd Ave NW) and Joining an Existing 45 mph Speed Zone For an Overall Length of 6,670 Feet - The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) engineers, project inspectors and City staff determined that the Clement Connector Project required a design speed less than 60 mph. Much of US 321 within City limits has a regulatory speed limit of 45 mph. By extending the existing 5,023 foot 45 mph speed zone by approximately 6,670 feet, the entire segment of US 321 through Hickory will be a continuous 45 mph speed zone.

G. Approve Consultant Services Agreement With Mekuria Engineering, Inc. for Development of Traffic Signal Coordination Plans and Implementation for the Clement Connector Project in the Amount of $75,000 - Entering in the Agreement with Mekuria Engineering, Inc. will assist in the development of traffic signal coordination plans and implementation along US 321 NW and the new Clement Connector corridor. It will enable progressive traffic flow along both corridors, especially during peak travel demand periods. The development of new traffic signal and electrical plans are necessary for three (3) NCDOT traffic signals. Mekuria Engineering’s response to our Request for Proposals provides the needed traffic engineering services for a lump sum of $75,000.

This item was removed from the consent agenda, because Alderman Guess questioned the actual intent of the agreement (whether it was a study). Public Services Director Hansen explained the plans are to implement and coordinate the timing of the traffic signals for smooth flowing traffic in conjunction with the Clement Boulevard Project. Mr. Hanson also stated that the speed limit will be lowered to 45 mph from the I-40 area coming onto the old 321 section to past the Clement Center Boulevard project near the Catawba River Bridge.

H. Approval to Purchase Property From Walter Little and Elizabeth Allen (PIN 3782-18-41-3237) in the Amount of $33,000 and From Jerry L. Huffman and Ruby L. Huffman (PIN 3782-18-31-7496) in the Amount of $6,500 With Estimated Closing Costs of $3,000 to Complete the Hickory-Catawba WWTP Project - These two (2) pieces of property are necessary to accommodate the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources guidelines for all new and/or renovated WWTP’s to possess a 50-ft. buffer from all property lines. The Hickory-Catawba WWTP Project is an upgrade/expansion project planned in cooperation with Catawba County for wastewater service provision in the Sherrill’s Ford, Town of Catawba, Highway 150 and Claremont areas. Both tracts lie within the Town of Catawba town limits, but are essential to the upgrade. One piece is 2.72 acres with a purchase price of $33,000 and the other is a 0.33 acre lot with a purchase price of $6,500 with estimated closing costs of $3,000. These properties will be purchased from the facility fees previously collected and Public Utilities fund balance and will be credited towards the City’s commitment to the project. Due to seller’s request to close by December 24, 2010, staff requests two readings be held on December 7, 2010.

I. Resolution Recognizing Lee Douglas Bumgarner’s Retirement From Catawba County Government With Thirty-Nine Years of Service

J. Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 10
1. To budget a $1,343 insurance claim check from Geico Insurance Company in the Police Departments Maintenance and Repair line item. This payment is for damage sustained to a police vehicle on 08-02-10.
2. To appropriate $75,000 of General Fund Balance and budget in the Clement Boulevard project Construction line item. Funds are needed to pay Mekuria Engineering, Inc. for professional traffic engineering services. Services include the development of traffic signal coordination plans and implementation, traffic signal and electrical plans, and traffic signal timing plans for Clement Connector
project. In addition, services include the fine tuning of new coordination timing plans along both US 321 NW and Clement Connector corridors.
3. To transfer $79,727 in District Court funds unspent in FY09-10 from the General Fund to the District Court Capital Reserve Fund.
4. To budget a $526 insurance claim check from Liberty Insurance Company in the Water and Sewer Pipes, Hydrants and Meters line item. This payment is for damage sustained to a fire hydrant on 10-27-10.
5. To appropriate $4,878 of Restricted Government Revenue from the City of Claremont and budget in the Claremont Division Repair of Equipment line item. This payment is for billable work the Water and Sewer department completed at the Claremont Plant.
6. To transfer $39,000 of Water and Sewer Contingency to the Contracted Services line item. This transfer is to pay for the paving at Glen Hilton Park which was necessary after the Cripple Creek Project.
7. To appropriate $20,000 of Water and Sewer Fund Balance Appropriated and transfer to the Hickory-Catawba Wastewater Treatment Plant Capital upgrade/expansion project. NC-DENR (North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources) mandates all new and/or renovated wastewater treatment plants to possess a 50-ft buffer from all property lines. In order for this site to accomplish this requirement, additional property must be purchased surrounding the Hickory-Catawba Wastewater Treatment Plant. The total cost of the land purchase is $42,500 with the Water and Sewer Appropriated
Fund Balance funding $20,000 and the projects Facilities Fees funding $22,500.
8. To appropriate $4,390 of Capital Reserve Fund Balance to the Public Buildings Maintenance and Repair line item. This appropriation is to pay for materials and labor to make various repairs on the upper level of the Parking Deck. Repairs include removal of all loose and failing concrete back to sound edges, removal of existing materials on noted areas, cleaning of each work area, installation of conditioner/binder and the final installation of patching compound. In addition, work will include a pressure washing of the deck.

Informational Items:
A. Report of City Manager Berry’s Travel to Winston-Salem, NC for the NCLM Annual
Conference From October 25 – 26, 2010; registration - $285; parking - $10

New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Second Reading - Approval to Purchase Property From Walter Little and Elizabeth Allen in the Amount of $33,000 and From Jerry L. Huffman and Ruby L. Huffman in the Amount of $6,500 to Complete the Hickory-Catawba WWTP Project Due to seller’s request to close by December 24, 2010, staff requests two readings be held on December 7, 2010.

2. Review and Acceptance of the Carolina Thread Trail Master Plan for Catawba County - The Carolina Thread Trail is a fifteen (15) county, two (2) State initiative designed to facilitate the creation of a regional network of trails, blueways, greenways and conservation corridors to link more than 2.3 million citizens. Catawba Lands Conservancy is the lead agency and is working in partnership with the Foundation for the Carolinas. In 2009 the planning process began in Catawba County and a steering committee was developed with a representative from local governments within the county. The steering committee completed its work in September 2010 by accepting the Carolina Thread Trail Master Plan for Catawba County. Local governments are being asked to consider acceptance prior to its consideration by the Catawba County Board of Commissioners on December 20, 2010. The master plan was endorsed by the Parks and Recreation Commission on November 9, 2010. Acceptance does not take the place of any existing master plans nor does it commit the City of Hickory to fund any implementation of the plan. Carolina Thread Trail staff will continue to work with local municipalities in Catawba County to secure funding. http://www.carolinathreadtrail.org/ - Mack McLeod, Director of Parks and Recreation made the presentation - The information he went over is presented thoroughly below.

The Hound believes that this effort can lead to the viability of walkability in our community. I first heard of this effort while attending a Hickory by Choice meeting earlier in the year. This is definitely an exciting prospect because it ties together existing infrastructure and scenic landscapes. This effort costs very little other than posting of signage. We need to enhance pedestrian lifestyles in this community and make walking safer for everyone. This is healthy for the community as a whole. Catawba County Master Plan Draft




3. Rental Property Task Force Recommendations -Addendum on the Rental Property Task Force Recommendations(Added) Alderman Guess moved and was seconded that the recommendations of the Task Force be approved with the exceptions that Recommendation No. 2 be changed to the Task Force reconvening within six (6) months instead of 6-months to a year and to change Recommendation No. 3 to add an additional code enforcement officer immediately. Motion failed. (AYE – Alderman Guess, Alderwoman Patton, Alderwoman Fox; NAY – Mayor Wright, Alderman Seaver, Alderman Meisner)

Mayor Wright made a substitute motion and was seconded that the recommendations of the Task Force be approved with the exceptions that the Task Force should reconvene within six (6) months and in Recommendation No. 3 it be added that Lt. Baer, City Manager Berry and Police Chief Adkins meet to discuss various aspects of this issue, costs, priority and come back to Council with a recommendation for consideration regarding personnel by the end of January, 2011. (AYE – Mayor Wright, Alderman Guess, Alderman Seaver, Alderman Meisner, Alderwoman Patton; NAY – Alderwoman Fox) - City Council formed the Rental Property Task Force in September 2010 to research rental property issues and to determine if additional rules and regulations were needed to address those issues in the City of Hickory. The Task Force met on several occasions during the past three (3) months, whereby General Statutes and the City’s Code were studied and reviewed along with researching other municipality’s rental property issues.

4. Public Services Director, Chuck Hansen to Update City Council on the Opening of the Clement Boulevard/US Highway 321 Intersection - (added) Public Services Director Hansen stated the opening of the Clement Boulevard/US Highway 321 intersection would be mid morning on Thursday, December 9, 2010.

Newsletter about the City Council meeting of December 7, 2010 - Addendum on the Rental Property Task Force Recommendations

The third departmental report of the evening's agenda was the issue of recommendations brought forth by the Rental Property Task Force. This task force was proposed by Hank Guess at the City Council meeting of July 20, 2010. The Following is a summary of what was introduced at that meeting.

***Alderman Guess at the end of the meeting brought up the subject that he stated he has heard at neighborhood meetings. The issue of Landlords and Tenants. We hear about the conditions that tenants live in and the issue that they have with landlords. It appears that many times the police department has to intervene and rectify the situation with those tenants. He asked Manager Berry to appoint the appropriate staff necessary to take a look at the issues and concerns that the people and the community have with regards to landlords and tenants, just like we're doing with the pools and come back with some recommendations... Most of the issues deal with the tenants and once they are in there it takes some time to get them evicted. And generally that falls upon the burden of the police department. Hopefully there is something we can do that will help in that type of situation.

Manager Berry stated that City Council looked at that issue a year and a half or two years ago. They will certainly revisit that again. It's not easy. It is a very difficult issue to deal with. You have federal housing laws. Mayor Wright added that it is frustrating for other tenants to have a bad tenant and you can't get them out. Alderman Guess stated that it seems like a revolving door and there must be some kind of way to stop that revolving door. It does put a burden on the police department....

Alder Fox asked if he was talking about tenants or absentee landlords? Alderman Guess said he thinks it is both. Alder Fox stated that they have looked at the landlords and that's a problem ... Manager Berry stated that they would be glad to revisit it again, but there is no silver bullet. To do what other cities have done (That they've looked into) was going to be a costly, burdensome program. Alderman Guess said that he has heard that some communities require a background check on tenants.

Announced at the City Council Meeting of September 7, 2010 - RENTAL PROPERTY TASK FORCE - (Terms expire December 6, 2010)
Objective: Recommend approaches to City Council which will assist rental property owners in knowing and responding to illegal and nuisance behaviors being perpetrated by tenants. Recommend approaches to assist neighbors of rental property in reporting problems and understanding the City and rental owners’ response to concerns. Recommendations should be as simple and straightforward as possible and take into consideration impact on city staff and property owners, and the rights of citizens who rent property. This objective is to be completed in 90 days and will be assisted by City staff and the analysis of crime and nuisance data. Council announced the people who will fill these positions.

(From this meeting 12/7/2010) - Rental Property Task Force Recommendations - City Council formed the Rental Property Task Force in September 2010 to research rental property issues and to determine if additional rules and regulations were needed to address those issues in the City of Hickory. The Task Force met on several occasions during the past three months, whereby General Statutes and the City’s Code were studied and reviewed along with researching other municipality’s rental property issues.

After Reed Baer's presentation, Alder Fox asked if a grace period would be allowed for "Chronic Violators?" Captain Baer stated no grace period will be given. Alder Patton asked to see specifics relating to chronic violators. Alderman Guess interjected a proposed amendment that he would like to see the Task Force come back in six months to reassess the situation. He also interjected that he would like to see an additional officer added to Code Enforcement. Alder Patton said that this would allow this department to be proactive, instead of reactive, and this would put the commitment behind Code Enforcement to clean up the neighborhoods. Alder Fox added that she agrees with what has been said, because these properties effect all of the folks who live around them. Alderman Guess stated that he wants someone (hired) who can devote themselves to this issue (code enforcement). The Mayor stated that he would like to see more information and does not disagree, but he would like to see a stronger case built to see what we get from that, that we are not getting now. He added that he had no basis to agree to this proposed amendment. Alderman Meisner stated that is why he would like to see a recommendation come from staff. He stated that he would like to see the City Manager, Police Chief Adkins, and Captain Baer come forward with recommendations. The motion set forth by Alderman guess was voted on and Alderman Guess, Alder Fox, and Alder Patton supported it, while the Mayor, Alderman Meisner, and Alderman Seaver voted against it. Therefore the motion failed.

An alternate motion was put forth by the Mayor to reconvene the Task Force in 6 months and Captain Baer have come forward with recommendations detailing costs and whether it is the top priority by the end of January. Alderman Seaver stated that this could not be done immediately, because it would take a mid year budget amendment to do that. Alders Fox and Patton stated that this is done all the time. The Mayor interjected that he did not have time to consider this, but amendments generally come from staff -- doesn't have to, but generally does. Alder Fox stated that this issue has been around for years. It is something that maybe we have chosen not to deal with, but it is an issue that is out there that people deal with every day. Alder Patton added that if you lived next to this that you would want the issue to be dealt with. Alder Fox added that the Council chose not to go with the more complex ordinances,. they chose three fairly simple steps to an issue that is not an overnight issue. The issue that she has dealt with in West Hickory has been there since she has been in on Council and it's not going away. The Mayor stated that he doesn't disagree that it is an issue, but we have lots of other issues. Alderman Seaver stated that we need to see how the Code enforcement Unit has done this year and see what recommendations may come out of that we have not heard that. The Council voted 5-1 (Alder Fox voted no) to accept the task force recommendations with the addition that the Task Force will reconvene in six months (Alderman Lail was absent).



The Hound did not fully grasp this issue as Alderman Guess presented it in the beginning. It appears that we have shortsighted interests that are protecting a cabal of rental property owners who are worried about being held accountable for all of their properties.

The largest property owners in the area think that each property that they own should be looked upon as an entity in and of itself. They don't want to be held accountable for their properties as a collective. If they own property in a run down section of town that has several strikes against it, they don't want those strikes lumped in to have a bearing on their upscale properties in the "nice" part of town.

Those of you who have read this blog will understand that my issue with Code Enforcement and the nuisance ordinances is the arbitrary nature in which they have been enforced. Middle Class home owners and small business owners do not receive the same consideration as the heavyweight developers, the real estate brokers, and other connected people receive, because these business owners will call in their markers to extend and delay the process to their benefit, while no such consideration is given to those less fortunate.

This arbitrary nature of enforcement has been a pet peeve of all those associated with the Hound. We have seen it time and time again. There is a feeling of a loss of confidence in the leadership of this community that festers underneath the surface. When those who pass laws do not administer those laws with equality of justice it hurts class, race, and other cultural relations within the community. That is why the city is having a hard time filling positions on Boards and Commissions, because the average citizen feels that they have no real input into the system. They feel disenfranchised.

There have been too many of these task forces and commissions where the city staff has gone against the majority's will or the will of the people. There have been too many instances where these issues get pushed to the back burner, if the recommendations do not fall in line with the priorities set forth by the Mayor and City Manager. There have been too many instances where these commissions are stacked with people who are placed in their position not to find the best answers, but instead to carry out the personal wishes of the Council member that they represent.

There was a certain member of this Rental Property Task Force that did not want to set forth any recommendations. Basically, that is currently what would be coming forward from this process at this time, if not for the firm stand taken by Alderman Guess, Alder Fox, and Alder Patton.

Some people believe that the Chronic Violator ordinance set to go into effect on January 1, 2011 will take care of this issue. If in six months the statistics come back and the issues are still not settled, will those who have stood against doing something proactive regarding out of control properties finally confess that they are wrong about their direction, which is no direction, and admit something needs to be done? Probably not, they will probably say that it needs to be given more time, because these egos don't ever want to admit that they might be wrong.

The main issues involving these properties are not the nuisance code violations related to physical property. The main issues are the criminal element. There are drug, domestic violence issues, vandalism, and other criminal aspects associated with most of these properties in question. These aren't nick nack paddy whack issues. These are properties where landlords are not putting a check on reckless, out of control behavior. These are hardcore issues of properties that are dragging down neighborhoods and communities. How would you like to live next to one of these properties?

This is the exact same issue as when the City created the Drinking Ordinance and told the Drinking Establishments (Bars) that it was their responsibility to police the parking lots of their establishments and know what their patrons were doing outside (and even off) of their properties. If a bar owner can be held accountable for his patrons outside of the establishment, why can you not hold a landlord responsible for his tenants behavior on the owners property or when they are disturbing their neighbor's peace?

A landlord is no different than a bar owner. They are both business owners. You are providing a service and/or good for your customer. This shows the mentality and mindset of double standards that are practiced in this community. How is being a slumlord supposed to be more prestigious than owning what some might consider a honky-tonk? Why don't we create an ordinance to zone the ghettos or are these already unwritten zones that have fostered these areas within our community based upon wink and nod governance?

This type of implied acceptance of problem properties is having a negative effect on properties in Kenworth, Ridgeview, Green Park, and West Hickory. The majority of landlords have been responsible with their properties. The numbers are showing that a few rental property owners are having problems at multiple properties, because they ignore what is going on at their properties, which are their responsibility. There really are no valid excuses. These people don't secure their properties, because they are cheap and they just don't want to pay the cost to properly maintain their business.

There have been too many people in this community who have benefited from insider politics. Getting a scoop and running with it or using inside information and personal relationships to their advantage without regard to adverse effects to the community at large.

I would just like to understand what the Mayor, , Alderman Seaver, and Alderman Meisner are thinking. Nothing that Alderman Guess proposed was outlandish. Alderman Guess praised the Code Enforcement team. What he wants to do is let them be more proactive towards nuisance problems, instead of waiting for neighbors to have to call up with a complaint, which can lead to hostility. I don't think that Alderman Guess is proposing that Code Enforcement go snooping around seeking to find petty physical property violations. I think many of us know where the problem areas are. I think that Alderman Guess, as well as Alders Patton and Fox see this process as a conduit to help restore neighborhoods that are hurting and have been hurting for a long time.

One of the issues that truly has me perplexed is the Mayor, Alderman Meisner, and Alderman Seaver stating that they generally don't make mid year appropriation amendments to the budget unless the issue is brought to them by staff. Why do we have a City Council? Because this sort of ideology basically renders the Council to a ceremonial status. Logically if City Staff is there to bring all issues forward and the role of the Council is to rubber stamp what "Staff Recommends," then we don't need a City Council or a Mayor!

We don't need an impotent City Council. We need a vibrant City Council. I understand that the Council should be appreciative of City staff, but the Council is in charge and that is what most of the citizens of this community expect. They expect the Council to take an active role in solving the issues that effect them on a daily basis and believe me if you live next to one of these rogue properties, then you want the Council member from your ward to have input on this issue.

That is really something that upsets me about Mr. Meisner's and Mr. Seaver's position on this issue. There are known problems in the Highland area and in the Kenworth and Green Park areas that need some resolution and these men punted on the issue, when it directly effects their constituents. What is behind that? There has to be something behind that!

The Council hired the City Manager and the City Manager is the boss of the City Staff. The City Manager serves at the pleasure of the City Council who serve at the pleasure of the citizens of Hickory. How did everything related to governance ever become so perverted around here. What we see now is that when Council members want to hide behind an issue they point to the city bureaucracy. When they don't want to make a decision, they point to city staff. Well, in the end you cannot hide behind the decisions that you make. In the end, you will be accountable for decisions that are made or are not made, because it is my argument that this mentality is a big part of the reason why nothing ever gets done around here and that is a big part of the reason for the stagnation we see in this community. The art of "Pass the Buck" has been perfected in the City of Hickory!

It was insinuated that the Mayor needed time to study this issue; when, as Alder Fox stated, this issue has been going on for years. Alder Fox is completely in the right here. What the Mayor was saying is that this issue blindsided him and it wasn't discussed at the meeting before the meeting and he wasn't going to make a decision in this arena at this moment. The Mayor had been put on the spot and that was obvious, but it is now clear that he stands on the side of rental property owners who don't want to be held accountable for their properties.

I would like to thank Alderman Guess for bringing this issue forward and Alder Fox and Alder Patton for taking a firm stand on this issue. This is leadership. You may think that this issue doesn't effect you and it may not today, but with the way that the current economy is suffering and the change in the nature of the make-up of our community, it could honestly effect you at a point in time in the near future.

What if you have been living somewhere for years (say 20) and a rental property owner takes over a foreclosed property next door and puts just anybody in there. What if drugs start being sold out of that property or the people who rent the property are irresponsible and/or rowdy? What if 50 strange cars start coming by your house every day? Then this issue will come to bear; and if you don't understand it now, you will understand it then. This not only effects your peace of mind, it effects your property value and therefore your investment.

I think that Council members need to divulge whether they are rental property owners or not before they vote on this issue, so that the public can see whether they have a conflict of interest on this issue or not. It is time that the Council starts representing the community that put them into office, instead of what benefits their own personal interests!

Why We Must Act! - Citizens for Equity in Government

“USA Today Response; At Expense of Quality of Life”
November 23, 2010

Lack of leadership and sensitivity has lost Hickory millions of stimulus dollars for jobs and economics for continuous growth in these economic hard times in a city that has always thrived. Money that could have gone to weatherize and retrofit homes and funds for jobs rebuilding poor neighborhoods in their communities lost and the City Manager‘s office and City Council representation continue to turn a blind eye.

City staff as well as the city council has proven incapable of making the decisions to ensure a just and healthy community. The current city council:

AQUATICS
• Taxpayers dollars spent on a pool survey were the results were not used by council.
• Taxpayer’s dollars spent on a consultant group with no background in aquatics.
• Free advice from experts in Aquatics not used.
• Grants for pool repairs not applied for (Virginia Graeme Baker)

As IMPORTANT as it is the pool issue should not have been part of The USA Today article

ECONOMICS
• Have not heeded advice for local news outlets on “Economic Rebound in Our Area”.
• Would not accept suggestions on job creation and development by local non-profit.

This list could go on ad-infinitum. This does not take away from the fact that Hickory is and has always been a great city. Something drastic has happened that is called incompetent leadership.

We are glad the mayor “stood in” at the pool in the USA Today article, it is a simple reminder that the pools are merely a mirror into a number of other issues in our city government. We are faced with the need for good jobs and economic development, effective education and the nurturing of our children; and electing and holding accountable our city officials for their part in decision making that affects the citizens of this city.

Making sure that elitism and discrimination are not the continuous by product of decision making.

All this is said to give this advice – “never ignore the will of the people.” The people (citizens) spoke in the pool survey and community meetings that cost taxpayers approximately $30,000 and council ignored the voice of the people, who elected them to be their voice and representation in city government.

“I've stated time and time again; we have seen, ineffective leadership from the elected officials that we have put in office and we have not seen any accountability be placed at their feet. It is most certainly time to hold their feet to the fire. And if they don't deliver, then it's time to kick them all out of office.”
(The Hickory Hound) Dec 1, 2010

“An All American City deserves First Class Leadership” (Hickory Hound)

We are “One City, One People, United for the good of all people”

Why Do Mexican Workers Head North?

Nearly 23,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico since a US-backed military crackdown on cartels began more than three years ago. The report said 2009 was the deadliest year in the drug war, with over 9,600 people killed. The death toll is on track to be even higher in 2010. Amy Goodman, Democracy Now, speaks with reporter Charles Bowden, author of Murder City: Ciudad Juárez and the Global Economy's New Killing Fields, concerning the current state of affairs in Mexico.

NAFTA's Ultimate Effect on Mexico - Interview with Reporter Charles Bowden



Timothy Wise: Mexican agriculture was undermined by NAFTA and companies like Smithfield



The promise was that NAFTA would allow Mexico to export goods instead of people. Manufacturing has created very few jobs, because it has destroyed the Manufacturing economy by allowing foreign investment to come in and buy up and put local Mexican companies out of business. It has also decimated Mexico's agri-business. Corn tariffs were dissolved and wholesale prices went down 66%, but this has not translated to the wholesale market. 2.3 million people have left agriculture since NAFTA. These people have come to America. That is where the illegal immigrant problem has come from.

IT IS TIME TO RE-EXAMINE NAFTA!!!

Ross Perot debates Al Gore in 1993 and once again is prescient about what has happened. If you want to know where that Mack truck came from that hit our economy, then watch this historic video.

Gold $1,413.70 - Silver $29.40

Gold to Silver Ratio down to 48.08x. The Gold to silver ratio was over 60x up until last year.

Silver Bells, Silver Bells - It's the Bankers or Us

It is time to blow up the fiat currency system created by the World's central banks. Look at the articles that we have seen over the last few weeks. The brazen arrogance of the Federal Reserve. This is a lawless organization foisted upon America in 1913 through a corrupt process.

Several pieces of the puzzle fell in line created by the global system of the time. First, the global bankers met at Jekyll Island off of the coast of Georgia in 1910.

Planning of the Federal Reserve System

At the end of November 1910, Senator Nelson W. Aldrich and Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Department A. Piatt Andrew, and 5 more of the country's leading financiers, who together represented about one-fourth of the world's wealth[citation needed], arrived at the Jekyll Island Club to discuss monetary policy and the banking system, an event led to the creation of the current Federal Reserve. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the 1910 Jekyll Island meeting resulted in draft legislation for the creation of a U.S. central bank. Parts of this draft (the Aldrich plan) were incorporated into the 1913 Federal Reserve Act. On November 5 - 6, 2010, Ben Bernanke stayed on Jekyll Island to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of this original meeting.

The Federal Reserve Act of 1913
The Federal Reserve Act (ch. 6, 38 Stat. 251, enacted December 23, 1913, 12 U.S.C. ch.3) is the Act of Congress that created the Federal Reserve System, the central banking system of the United States of America, and granted it the legal authority to issue legal tender. The Act was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson.

For nearly eighty years the U.S. had been without a central bank since the charter for the Second Bank of the United States was allowed to expire. After various financial panics, particularly a severe one in 1907, some Americans became convinced that their country needed some sort of banking and currency reform that would, when threatened by financial panics, provide a ready reserve of liquid assets, and furthermore allow for currency and credit to expand and contract seasonally within the U.S. economy.

In the election of 1912, the populist-leaning Democratic Party won control of the White House and both chambers of Congress and that year's party platform stated strong opposition "to the so called Aldrich bill for the establishment of a central bank." However, the platform also called for a systematic revision of banking laws in ways that would provide relief from financial panics, unemployment, and business depression and protect the public from the "domination by what is known as the Money Trust."

This is history from long ago, but as you can see the Federal Reserve Act was passed on December 23, 1913 two days before Christmas when many of the Senators were not even in town. It was also passed after The Seventeenth Amendment (Amendment XVII) to the United States Constitution established direct election of United States Senators by popular vote.

The amendment supersedes Article I, § 3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution, under which Senators were elected by state legislatures. It also alters the procedure for filling vacancies in the Senate, to be consistent with the method of election. It was adopted on April 8, 1913.

And as one reads, it was passed and signed by Woodrow Wilson even after he and the Democrats ran in 1912 on a platform opposing Aldrich's plan of a central bank. In 1913 the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution was passed making Senators directly elected by the people of the State they represent. That was not the intent of the Founding fathers and many people believe that these two acts enabled the Federal government to lose its checks and balances with the States and begin the journey towards the giant monolith it has become today.

Repeal the Seventeenth Amendment - by Thomas J. DiLorenzo:

S.J. Res. 35 reads: "Resolved . . . . The seventeenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed." That's Section 1. Section 2 reads that "The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the legislature thereof, for six years . . ."

This was the original design of the founding fathers; U.S. senators were not directly elected by the voting public until 1914. Thus, S.J. Res. 35 proposes a return to founding principles and is therefore a most revolutionary idea. A good overview of the history of the Seventeenth Amendment is Ralph A. Rossum's book, Federalism, the Supreme Court, and the Seventeenth Amendment. Rossum correctly points out that the system of federalism or "divided sovereignty" that the founding fathers created with the Constitution was never intended to be enforced by the Supreme Court alone. Congress, the president, and most importantly, the citizens of the states, were also to have an equal say on constitutional matters.

The citizens of the states were to be represented by their state legislatures. As Roger Sherman wrote in a letter to John Adams: "The senators, being . . . dependent on [state legislatures] for reelection, will be vigilant in supporting their rights against infringement by the legislative or executive of the United States."

Rossum also quotes Hamilton as saying that the election of senators by state legislatures would be an "absolute safeguard" against federal tyranny. George Mason believed that the appointment of senators by state legislatures would give the citizens of the states "some means of defending themselves against encroachments of the National Government."

The Federal reserve has been allowed to become a separate branch of the Government with unfettered power or check and balances. This has allowed the Federal Reserve, holding the purse strings, to become the most powerful organization in the Federal System. Look at the information that has come out over the last few days.

Fed aid in financial crisis went beyond U.S. banks to industry, foreign firms - Washington Post - 12/2/2010

The financial crisis stretched even farther across the economy than many had realized, as new disclosures show the Federal Reserve rushed trillions of dollars in emergency aid not just to Wall Street but also to motorcycle makers, telecom firms and foreign-owned banks in 2008 and 2009.....

The Fed launched emergency programs totaling $3.3 trillion in aid, a figure reached by adding up the peak amount of lending in each program.

Companies that few people would associate with Wall Street benefited through the Fed's program to ease the market for commercial paper, a form of short-term debt used by major corporations to fund their daily activities...

Foreign-owned banks also benefited from the Fed's commercial-paper facility. The Korean Development Bank, owned by the South Korean government, used the program to the tune of billions of dollars, including a $407 million short-term loan on a single day. Many foreign banks, including the French BNP Paribas, the Swiss UBS and the German Deutsche Bank, took extensive advantage of various programs. Even a major bank in Bavaria benefited, as well as another one headquartered in Bahrain, a tiny island country in the Middle East....

Sanders, for one, said these banks got off easy while receiving extraordinary aid. In rescuing these firms, the Fed never required them to lend to small businesses, modify the mortgages of homeowners or invest in a way that would create jobs.

"We bailed these guys out, but the requirements placed upon them had very little positive impact on the needs of ordinary Americans," Sanders said.

Fed Withholds Collateral Data for $885 Billion in Financial-Crisis Loans - Bloomberg - 12/1/2010

The Hound says listen to Max Keiser. Buy just a little. Take down the derivatives market and the Fiat Currency Empire. It is us versus them. Is it fair for the Banks to hold us hostage, when it was our money that they were bailed out with.

If you buy silver, you will help dry up the market and force the banking cartel to cover their short positions. The price of silver will begin to escalate. This movement will feed off of itself. The banks have shorted silver to the extent that they are in positions several times the multiple of the physical silver stock available to the world.

What the banks have done is unethical and illegal. It is time that their bluff is called. If the stock market is going to crash, which it will anyway without real economic growth and tangibility, then let it crash. It is time to regain control of our currency and exposing the fractional reserve, fiat system is the best way to do this.

Only the ignorant are powerless. It is time to educate yourself about what I am speaking of. Don't take my word for this. Learn that true power comes from mass. The American people are not powerless, if they work together under a common focus and objectives.

Perseverance and Acceptance

Over the last couple of years. I have shown you that my interest is in the economic development of the Hickory Metro area. We cannot look at our area as an entity in and of itself. Hickory does not stand alone in the world. National and State economics have a direct bearing on this area, but we cannot believe that we don't have any input in our own development and growth.

If we fail to stand up and fight for our rights to succeed as a community, then we will be doomed to failure, that is a given. How we are going to stand up for ourselves is the question. Why do we act like we are so powerless? I know one thing and that is this area has for a long time put our eggs into the Republican basket and it is most certainly time to reap the rewards of that loyalty, but will we?

I've stated time and time again; we have seen, ineffective leadership from the elected officials that we have put in office and we have not seen any accountability be placed at their feet. It is most certainly time to hold their feet to the fire. And if they don't deliver, then it's time to kick them all out of office.

The problems that we face have very little to do with the common man. Creating measures of austerity are not going to help us to get out of the economic mess that we're in. The amounts of money we cut are a pittance compared to the debt load we face. We need more than symbolic measures to get us out of this hole. We need retribution from those who created this mess.

The major issues that we face have been caused by the loose monetary policy of the Federal Reserve system, the corruption of Wall Street, the spendthrift ways of all levels of government when it comes to taking care of special interests, and the subsequent creation of the Corporatocracy. It has been a matter, of all levels of government, being bought off like prostitutes at the expense of the people who have been loyal to this country.

Jay Adams spoke about Hickory's mindset nearly 2 years ago at the first meeting of Future Economy Council. Summarizing, he said that "over the last nine years (11 now), we have become lean and that has in many ways put us in a strong position, but we have adapted down and become accepting of this extreme level of cost containment at the expense of growth."

That has been the ingrained focus of our community at the expense of everything else. It has led to an acceptance of mediocrity, because if we aren't willing to take chances and make investments, we will eventually get to the least common denominator, which always leads to nothing. As I've said before, you have to look towards growth, because cost-containment does not create anything.

This reminds me of Matthew 25:14-30:

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants [1] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, [2] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. [3] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

In the story, the slave who was given the least thought that he was doing the righteous thing by burying the Masters property (talents). The slave was protective over the Masters property, because of the fear of losing it, while the others were interested in creating more and wanting to please the Master. Look what the third slave says to the master, “I know you to be a hard man, Reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. So I was afraid and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here have what is yours.”

Is the above not the story of Hickory?

The leaders of our community have complained about Raleigh and Washington constantly and they have been right on many counts, but this should not be our sole focus. Certainly we have not received our fair share, but have we made the most of opportunities that have been presented to this community. Have we become so obsessed with losing that we have forsaken winning? I don't believe that our community has been devoid of opportunity. Should we believe that opportunity rests solely in the hands of money and opportunity afforded by Raleigh and Washington?

Even when we have made statements about the issues of corruption and unfair policies that hurt our community, what good has it done? There has been no focused initiative to rectify what has happened as far as the destruction of our manufacturing capacity and ability to compete against unfair trade practices. It takes more than just complaining or writing a letter. It takes some rabble rousing and getting our local public focused on the issue in a meaningful way, but our top-heavy politics in this area takes away the capability of the people to become involved in issues that affect them personally.

Our local populace has no clue about what is going on around them. We see inflation truly taking root and it blows my mind that some people know that something's wrong, but they can't place their finger on something that is right in front of their face. I do what I believe is right and I engage people on the issues that we face, when I think the timing is right, but people compartmentalize what is going on and most can't understand the big picture.

I speak with my family constantly about these issues. I know the economic realities that we face are very complex, especially when you want to trust people to be honest -- trustworthy. I have been able to be prescient about some of the economic realities that we face, because I have been honest with myself in the assessment of these issues. My one grandmother says that one out of million people might understand what the hell I am talking about. I laughed and told her that it's not that bad. It's probably more like one in 10,000.

I believe that I can look at these economic tea leaves and read them better than others, because I have nothing to lose. People who own businesses and have to take care of their families want to believe that things can continue on in a positive manner and the current situation will right itself given enough time. I've been told before by people that things will work out in the end. I have seen things work out and not work out for those people. I cannot live my life in such a manner -- blind faith!

Most likely we're going to see silver rally above $30 this week and gold rally above $1,400 an ounce. This is not happening because people have come to a revelation about the value of precious metals. This is happening, because of what the Federal Reserve is doing to our currency. This is happening, because those in the know, when it comes to finance, understand the economic realities that the United States is facing.

I know that I am preaching to the choir with most of the people who read this blog. You care. You are educated and most of you think outside of the box. None of what I write is meant to besmirch the readership of this blog. If you didn't understand the message of the Hickory Hound, then you would not keep coming back. And I want to thank you for being the leaders of this community.

What I ask is that you walk out a little further on the limb and understand that we have nothing to lose. If we aren't willing to take a chance, we could lose everything. What we need to do is start preaching the message to the masses. We need to wake people up. They may become a little upset, but in the end, the truth is all that matters, isn't it?

Don't be afraid to tell people about this blog. I am not telling you this, because I want to increase the readership. You should know by now that I'm not doing this for the money. I am doing this, because I believe that the message -- a message -- is important. Sometimes this is overwhelming. I don't even know what my old lifestyle was all about.

I was just like everybody else. Watching the TV and going out and hanging out and doing nothing. There was no meaning. I have never made good money, but I was doing alright, but I didn't use my money towards productive means. I lost money in the stock market. I spent money on things that I didn't really need. When I was wasting money, I really didn't even think about it. Now I think about it!

I am by no means destitute at this point in time. I'm not making as much money as I once did, but that is not the issue. It is that the contexts of the economic and financial realities that I personally face have taken on a new meaning. I have cut way back on any money that I spend and the end result must justify the means of those dollars.

That does not mean that I've cut out all spending. That does not mean that I've cut out the enjoyment of living life. That means that I have refocused my priorities. An example is with my gardening and trying to make my home more efficient and more of a homestead. I have been building a greenhouse and you may have noticed some of the other things that I have done and talked about. I have spent my free time building this greenhouse that will be very innovative and will be a truly fruitful endeavor. It has made me feel a sense of satisfaction to see this thing come together. It gives me a sense of accomplishment.

This is the kind of investing that I think people need to be doing to prepare for the economic storm that we will continue to endure. I think that you would serve yourself better to buy food, instead of invest in the stock market or leave your money in a bank. The financial institutions will fee you to death until you get no return on your assets. Will the banks guarantee you a 10% return on your investment for the upcoming year? I can guarantee you that food prices are going to rise by more than 10% in the upcoming year.

Last year I bought a 50 pound bag of sugar for a little over $25. That same 50 pound bag of sugar now costs over $30. By this time next year, it could easily cost over $35. The same can be said for corn and flour. When you go to the grocery store, and there's something for sale, you need to go ahead and buy a little extra. This will buy you time. You actually need to keep a pantry full of canned goods and dry goods. Any necessities that are used on a daily basis, you should go ahead and stock up on. Inflation is a nasty thing. It is a hidden tax. It will rob you of your purchasing power and destroy your wealth. You should always hedge against it.

I was just watching an episode of Glenn Beck from last week, which was devoted to the five stages of grief. It blew my mind, because this is something that I devoted attention to last year in an article entitled Heroes of the Future, which was developed around the presentation of a video by Warren Pollock on YouTube. All of this stuff is remaining relevant, because most people are unwilling to face up to reality. I hope that you will go and check out that article.

To summarize, at the end of this article from December 28th, 2009, I state that I believe that we have entered the anger stage of the Kubler-Ross model and by the end of 2010 that we will have met that phase full-on. No matter what we do, there'll be a tough road ahead, and by the spring of 2011, we will enter the bargaining phase. I still believe that this is on target.

At that time I was depressed, but I have come to accept the realities that we face. That is the reason why I am preparing to the best of my ability to free myself from the grid as much as possible. If the system is broken, then why be a part of that system. I believe people understand that we are in a bad fix. They are angry and the election showed that anger and the reality is going to set in, when they realize the plans of the government.

That plan is austerity; President Obama as much as said so today and has been hinting at this for some time.

I can assure you that I take no solace in being right about any of this. It is a nightmare to sit here and watch my thoughts come to reality. This goes back to the beginning of this mission that we call the Hickory Hound. This goes back to the beginning of what I saw on the local front. This goes back to the beginning of the bank bailouts. This goes back to the 2008 election. It goes back to being disenfranchised. It goes back to the perseverance of the message that we bring and the endurance of the objectives we set forth.

The world will never be the same. I wish it were just me, but we can look and see all that is surrounding us and the history that is being made on a daily basis during these times. A few years ago no one would've believed it. Would you have believed it?