This has certainly been a cold winter so far. Winter officially began nearly three weeks ago, so there are 10 weeks left and we have had two significant winter storms so far. Snow began falling around 3am and has continued throughout the day, with mixed precipitation intermittently and that is what it is doing now at midnight. Video of my ride into work is below:
29th ave NE, 16th st NE (Sandy Ridge Road), 21st ave NE, 5th st NE, 14th ave NE
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Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Spinning Unemployment Numbers in a Collapsing Economy - Dr. Paul Craig Roberts
Prisonplanet.com - January 10, 2011 - The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Friday that the economy gained only 103,000 new jobs in December—not enough to keep up with population growth—but the rate of unemployment (U.3) fell from 9.8% to 9.4%. If you are confused by the report, you are among the many.
Why does the media focus on the unemployment measure that does not count any discouraged workers?
In truth, what fell was not the number of unemployed people but the number of unemployed people who are actively looking for work. Those who have become discouraged and have ceased looking for work are not considered to be in the work force and are not counted as unemployed in the U.3 measure. The unemployment rate fell because discouraged workers increased, not because employment rose.
The BLS counts short-term discouraged workers (less than one year) in its U.6 measure of unemployment. That unemployment rate is 16.7%. When statistician John Williams (shadowstats.com) adds the long-term discouraged, the US unemployment rate as of December 2010 was 22.4%.
The question to ask yourself is: why does the media focus on the unemployment measure that does not count any discouraged workers? The answer is that the U.3 measurement only counts 42% of the unemployed and makes the situation appear to be a lot better than it is.
Where are the 103,000 new jobs? As I have reported for years, the jobs are in non-tradable domestic services: waitresses and bar tenders, health care and social assistance (primarily ambulatory health care services), and retail and wholesale trade.
Today the United States has only 11,670,000 manufacturing jobs, less than 9% of total jobs. Yet, despite America’s heavy dependence on foreign manufactures and foreign creditors, the idiots in Washington think that they are a superpower standing astride the world like a colossus.
John Williams reports that “the level of payroll employment still stands below where it was a decade ago, despite the U.S.population growing by more than 10% in the same period. The structural impairments to U.S. economic activity continue to constrain normal commercial activity, preventing any meaningful recovery in business activity.”
Another way of saying this is that American corporations have taken American jobs offshore and given them to the Chinese. So much for big business patriotism.
Williams also reports that, unless it is finagled, next month’s BLS benchmark revision of payroll employment data will lower the level of previously reported employment by more than 500,000.
Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke used his testimony before the Senate Budget Committee last Friday to warn that the U.S. government must get its budget deficit under control or “the economic and financial effects would be severe.” Here Bernanke is acknowledging that the Federal Reserve cannot indefinitely print money in order to finance wars and bailouts of the mega-rich.
But how is the government to get its budget under control? The U.S. government, regardless of political party or president, is committed to American hegemony over the world. The Congress has just passed the largest military budget in history, and there is no indication that any of America’s wars and military occupations are near an end.
The financial crisis is not over, with more foreclosures and more losses for the financial sector that will result in more taxpayer bailouts for those “too big to fail.” John Williams says that the double-dip is already happening, just disguised by faulty statistics, and that the deficit implications are horrendous and are likely to result in hyperinflation as the Federal Reserve will have to monetize the otherwise un-financeable deficits.
The dollar is also in danger, its role as reserve currency undermined by the Federal Reserve’s creation of more and more dollars. Temporarily, the dollar is buttressed by the grief that Wall Street’s sale of fraudulent derivative financial instruments to Europe has caused the euro.
The Republicans will try to destroy Social Security and Medicare in order to pay for wars and bailouts. If Americans are capable of realizing that they are threatened on a much greater level by the Republicans’ evisceration of the social safety net than they are by terrorists, the Republican assault on what they call “the welfare state” will fail.
The fallback target will be private pensions, assuming any survive plunder by the Wall Street investment banks. Pension funds could be required to invest in Treasury debt or they could face a levy. In the Clinton administration, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Alicia Munnell proposed confiscating 15% of all pension assets on the grounds that they had accumulated tax free. Certainly Washington will steal Americans’ pensions, just as Washington has stolen Americans’ civil liberties, in order to continue the empire’s wars of hegemony.
Increasingly, the rest of the world views America as the single source of its financial and political woes. While the superpower massacres Muslims in the Middle East and Central Asia, people in the rest of the world have learned from WikiLeaks that the U.S. government manipulates, bribes, threatens, and deceives other governments in order to have those governments serve the U.S. government’s interest at the expense of the interests of their own peoples.
The American Imperial Empire rests on puppet governments that are increasingly distrusted and hated by the peoples under their rule. Like the Soviet Union’s Eastern European empire, the American Empire is ruled not directly but through puppet states.
Puppet governments are caught between the empire’s power and the power of the local population. To the extent that Europeans have a moral conscience, they will find America’s foreign policy increasingly repugnant. To the extent that Muslim solidarity grows, the Muslim puppet governments that support America’s and Israel’s massacres of Muslims will find themselves threatened from within.
The American Empire is on the rocks, despite its vast arsenal of nuclear weapons and its control over the foreign and domestic policies of its subservient puppet states in Western and Eastern Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, parts of Africa, the Middle East, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, the Baltic states, Georgia, Kosovo, Mexico, Central America, Columbia, and, no doubt, others.
A country that is the font of war and oppression, whose dominance rests on the weak reed of puppet states, and whose economy is collapsing will not long remain dominant.
Paul Craig Roberts [email him] was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury during President Reagan’s first term. He was Associate Editor of the Wall Street Journal. He has held numerous academic appointments, including the William E. Simon Chair, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Georgetown University, and Senior Research Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University.
Why does the media focus on the unemployment measure that does not count any discouraged workers?
In truth, what fell was not the number of unemployed people but the number of unemployed people who are actively looking for work. Those who have become discouraged and have ceased looking for work are not considered to be in the work force and are not counted as unemployed in the U.3 measure. The unemployment rate fell because discouraged workers increased, not because employment rose.
The BLS counts short-term discouraged workers (less than one year) in its U.6 measure of unemployment. That unemployment rate is 16.7%. When statistician John Williams (shadowstats.com) adds the long-term discouraged, the US unemployment rate as of December 2010 was 22.4%.
The question to ask yourself is: why does the media focus on the unemployment measure that does not count any discouraged workers? The answer is that the U.3 measurement only counts 42% of the unemployed and makes the situation appear to be a lot better than it is.
Where are the 103,000 new jobs? As I have reported for years, the jobs are in non-tradable domestic services: waitresses and bar tenders, health care and social assistance (primarily ambulatory health care services), and retail and wholesale trade.
Today the United States has only 11,670,000 manufacturing jobs, less than 9% of total jobs. Yet, despite America’s heavy dependence on foreign manufactures and foreign creditors, the idiots in Washington think that they are a superpower standing astride the world like a colossus.
John Williams reports that “the level of payroll employment still stands below where it was a decade ago, despite the U.S.population growing by more than 10% in the same period. The structural impairments to U.S. economic activity continue to constrain normal commercial activity, preventing any meaningful recovery in business activity.”
Another way of saying this is that American corporations have taken American jobs offshore and given them to the Chinese. So much for big business patriotism.
Williams also reports that, unless it is finagled, next month’s BLS benchmark revision of payroll employment data will lower the level of previously reported employment by more than 500,000.
Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke used his testimony before the Senate Budget Committee last Friday to warn that the U.S. government must get its budget deficit under control or “the economic and financial effects would be severe.” Here Bernanke is acknowledging that the Federal Reserve cannot indefinitely print money in order to finance wars and bailouts of the mega-rich.
But how is the government to get its budget under control? The U.S. government, regardless of political party or president, is committed to American hegemony over the world. The Congress has just passed the largest military budget in history, and there is no indication that any of America’s wars and military occupations are near an end.
The financial crisis is not over, with more foreclosures and more losses for the financial sector that will result in more taxpayer bailouts for those “too big to fail.” John Williams says that the double-dip is already happening, just disguised by faulty statistics, and that the deficit implications are horrendous and are likely to result in hyperinflation as the Federal Reserve will have to monetize the otherwise un-financeable deficits.
The dollar is also in danger, its role as reserve currency undermined by the Federal Reserve’s creation of more and more dollars. Temporarily, the dollar is buttressed by the grief that Wall Street’s sale of fraudulent derivative financial instruments to Europe has caused the euro.
The Republicans will try to destroy Social Security and Medicare in order to pay for wars and bailouts. If Americans are capable of realizing that they are threatened on a much greater level by the Republicans’ evisceration of the social safety net than they are by terrorists, the Republican assault on what they call “the welfare state” will fail.
The fallback target will be private pensions, assuming any survive plunder by the Wall Street investment banks. Pension funds could be required to invest in Treasury debt or they could face a levy. In the Clinton administration, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Alicia Munnell proposed confiscating 15% of all pension assets on the grounds that they had accumulated tax free. Certainly Washington will steal Americans’ pensions, just as Washington has stolen Americans’ civil liberties, in order to continue the empire’s wars of hegemony.
Increasingly, the rest of the world views America as the single source of its financial and political woes. While the superpower massacres Muslims in the Middle East and Central Asia, people in the rest of the world have learned from WikiLeaks that the U.S. government manipulates, bribes, threatens, and deceives other governments in order to have those governments serve the U.S. government’s interest at the expense of the interests of their own peoples.
The American Imperial Empire rests on puppet governments that are increasingly distrusted and hated by the peoples under their rule. Like the Soviet Union’s Eastern European empire, the American Empire is ruled not directly but through puppet states.
Puppet governments are caught between the empire’s power and the power of the local population. To the extent that Europeans have a moral conscience, they will find America’s foreign policy increasingly repugnant. To the extent that Muslim solidarity grows, the Muslim puppet governments that support America’s and Israel’s massacres of Muslims will find themselves threatened from within.
The American Empire is on the rocks, despite its vast arsenal of nuclear weapons and its control over the foreign and domestic policies of its subservient puppet states in Western and Eastern Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, parts of Africa, the Middle East, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, the Baltic states, Georgia, Kosovo, Mexico, Central America, Columbia, and, no doubt, others.
A country that is the font of war and oppression, whose dominance rests on the weak reed of puppet states, and whose economy is collapsing will not long remain dominant.
Paul Craig Roberts [email him] was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury during President Reagan’s first term. He was Associate Editor of the Wall Street Journal. He has held numerous academic appointments, including the William E. Simon Chair, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Georgetown University, and Senior Research Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Hard Facts about Deindustrialization
19 Facts About The Deindustrialization Of America That Will Blow Your Mind - From the Blog "The Economic Collapse" - 9/24/2010
Outside View: Jobs drought confronts president and Republicans - UPI.com - 1/6/2011 - Peter Morici, professor at the Smith School of Business, University of Maryland School.
#1 The United States has lost approximately 42,400 factories since 2001.
#2 Dell Inc., one of America’s largest manufacturers of computers, has announced plans to dramatically expand its operations in China with an investment of over $100 billion over the next decade.
#3 Dell has announced that it will be closing its last large U.S. manufacturing facility in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in November. Approximately 900 jobs will be lost.
#4 In 2008, 1.2 billion cellphones were sold worldwide. So how many of them were manufactured inside the United States? Zero.
#5 According to a new study conducted by the Economic Policy Institute, if the U.S. trade deficit with China continues to increase at its current rate, the U.S. economy will lose over half a million jobs this year alone.
#6 As of the end of July, the U.S. trade deficit with China had risen 18 percent compared to the same time period a year ago.
#7 The United States has lost a total of about 5.5 million manufacturing jobs since October 2000.
#8 According to Tax Notes, between 1999 and 2008 employment at the foreign affiliates of U.S. parent companies increased an astounding 30 percent to 10.1 million. During that exact same time period, U.S. employment at American multinational corporations declined 8 percent to 21.1 million.
#9 In 1959, manufacturing represented 28 percent of U.S. economic output. In 2008, it represented 11.5 percent.
#10 Ford Motor Company recently announced the closure of a factory that produces the Ford Ranger in St. Paul, Minnesota. Approximately 750 good paying middle class jobs are going to be lost because making Ford Rangers in Minnesota does not fit in with Ford's new "global" manufacturing strategy.
#11 As of the end of 2009, less than 12 million Americans worked in manufacturing. The last time less than 12 million Americans were employed in manufacturing was in 1941.
#12 In the United States today, consumption accounts for 70 percent of GDP. Of this 70 percent, over half is spent on services.
#13 The United States has lost a whopping 32 percent of its manufacturing jobs since the year 2000.
#14 In 2001, the United States ranked fourth in the world in per capita broadband Internet use. Today it ranks 15th.
#15 Manufacturing employment in the U.S. computer industry is actually lower in 2010 than it was in 1975.
#16 Printed circuit boards are used in tens of thousands of different products. Asia now produces 84 percent of them worldwide.
#17 The United States spends approximately $3.90 on Chinese goods for every $1 that the Chinese spend on goods from the United States.
#18 One prominent economist is projecting that the Chinese economy will be three times larger than the U.S. economy by the year 2040.
#19 The U.S. Census Bureau says that 43.6 million Americans are now living in poverty and according to them that is the highest number of poor Americans in the 51 years that records have been kept.
Outside View: Jobs drought confronts president and Republicans - UPI.com - 1/6/2011 - Peter Morici, professor at the Smith School of Business, University of Maryland School.
Since July 2009, spending by consumers, businesses and federal and state governments increased at a 3.8 percent annual pace but imports and the trade deficit have jumped 17 and 37 percent, respectively. Simply, too many stimulus dollars are being spent on goods from China and too few of those dollars return to purchase U.S. exports.
By the end of 2013, about 13 million private sector jobs must be added to move unemployment down to 6 percent and current policies aren't creating conditions for businesses to hire 350,000 workers each month.
... the undervalued yuan is responsible for about half the U.S. trade deficit and high unemployment in the United States.
Imposing a tax on the conversion of U.S. dollars into yuan in proportion to Beijing's currency market intervention -- either for the purpose of importing Chinese products or investing in China -- would offset the effects China's currency market intervention on the U.S. economy. Such a tax would significantly rebalance trade, instigate more investment and jobs creation in the United States, and reduce federal and state budget shortfalls.
Whatever the merits of free trade internationally and laissez faire domestically, trade with China is hardly free now. Chinese mercantilism and a U.S. government that hasn't answered it are victimizing too many unemployed Americans.
Friday, January 7, 2011
A message to the Kool-Aid Sippers - What Recovery?
I don't see where anyone can honestly believe that we are in a Recovery or that an Economic Recovery is on the way. I have been a student of Finance and Economics all of my life. I can separate the hyperbole from the substance. I do not profess to be perfect in my interpretations, but there is a thought process behind them.
I think there are individuals that want to predict the Economic cycle like a weatherman. If you change the forecast enough times eventually something will stick. The cool thing to do right now is the New Year's Resolution forecast, "It's the beginning of the year, so if we don't say anything bad, sing Kumbaya, cross our toes, and talk about green shoots; then maybe our dreams will come true.
I think that if you are in a leadership position of public trust and you take the above approach to economic forecasting, then you are responsible for fiduciary malpractice. There are people that depend on leaders for solid information. Two years ago people voted for hope and all they are left with now is change. We cannot afford anymore of this approach. It is time for a honest, realistic, reliable, and focused approach to get this country and this community back on its feet.
The Trends:
Retailers report surprisingly weak December - The News & Observer - 1/6/2011
Jobless claims rise more than expected - MSNBC - 1/6/2011
GALLUP: Broader underemployment worsened to 19% in December -- up sharply from 17.2% at end of Nov - Gallup - 1/6/2011
IRS tax liens jump 60% - USA Today - 1/6/2011
The Hound suggests, don't read the headline, read the story!!! Most of the time the headline is a psychological message meant to program the readership. In the end, the story speaks for itself. I am not a person whose opinion is easily swayed by the strategic wording of a headline. I look at a story and if I find it interesting, then I look elsewhere for a second opinion and dig deeper into the subject material.
The economy is not in good shape. We are in the beginning phases of an inflationary event that at the least will be similar to the 1970s. Oil is not up due to demand. Oil is up, because of the systematic devaluation of our currency by the Federal Reserve's actions. Look at the commodity prices of Gold, Silver, Wheat, Cotton, Sugar (Look at the stories related to this).
What initially kicked us into the funk we have been in was when Oil prices soared in 2008. At its current rate of increase, the price of oil will be back to $150 per barrel during some point in the upcoming year. that will mean $4 gas and all that goes with it. Have we learned from the 2008 Energy Crisis yet? NOPE!
The housing crisis kicked into gear, because people did not have a cushion. The housing market was affected by bubble demand associated with easy monetary policy associated with the Federal Reserve and easy lending practices associated with mortgage lenders. These lenders did not follow their fiduciary obligations and 100% only worried about a role as salespeople. They worried about fees and commissions. Who appraises the houses? The Banks. The salespeople, including bankers and brokers, encouraged people to buy houses that were too high of a percentage of their income and net worth. When the energy crisis hit, the people with little to no cushion were the first to tumble.
That is what has precipitated the events that have followed. This event has fed off of itself and the Federal Reserve, politicians, and bureaucrats have conspired to paper the reality over with more cheap fiat money. That is what has led us to the inflationary event that we are now in. The beginning of this event will mimic a recovery, because the increased prices of goods and services will reflect an increased percentage of sales, but what you have to look at is the underlying cost of those sales associated with wholesale prices (a direct reflection of the cost of commodities).
I know that people don't have time to look at the big picture. I can lay this out to you on a macro or a micro scale. What has to happen is that we need to realize that we have given away the farm. We have to have a productive capacity in this country. That would help us on the local level also, because we are a manufacturing center. I believe we need balance and we don't need a 50%+ manufacturing based economy like we have had in the past, but free-for-all trade has not and will not work for the viability of the United States of America. It is time to start discussing tariffs!
The discussion we need to have should be one that offers solutions and brings all of the issues to the table. Fair Trade, Tariffs, Financial Re-Regulation, and rebuilding the middle class are in my opinion necessities to getting the economy back on track. In order to make this economy work, we need to gear it back towards the American people and not the elite 1% and the corporations they represent!!!
I think there are individuals that want to predict the Economic cycle like a weatherman. If you change the forecast enough times eventually something will stick. The cool thing to do right now is the New Year's Resolution forecast, "It's the beginning of the year, so if we don't say anything bad, sing Kumbaya, cross our toes, and talk about green shoots; then maybe our dreams will come true.
I think that if you are in a leadership position of public trust and you take the above approach to economic forecasting, then you are responsible for fiduciary malpractice. There are people that depend on leaders for solid information. Two years ago people voted for hope and all they are left with now is change. We cannot afford anymore of this approach. It is time for a honest, realistic, reliable, and focused approach to get this country and this community back on its feet.
The Trends:
Retailers report surprisingly weak December - The News & Observer - 1/6/2011
Jobless claims rise more than expected - MSNBC - 1/6/2011
GALLUP: Broader underemployment worsened to 19% in December -- up sharply from 17.2% at end of Nov - Gallup - 1/6/2011
IRS tax liens jump 60% - USA Today - 1/6/2011
The Hound suggests, don't read the headline, read the story!!! Most of the time the headline is a psychological message meant to program the readership. In the end, the story speaks for itself. I am not a person whose opinion is easily swayed by the strategic wording of a headline. I look at a story and if I find it interesting, then I look elsewhere for a second opinion and dig deeper into the subject material.
The economy is not in good shape. We are in the beginning phases of an inflationary event that at the least will be similar to the 1970s. Oil is not up due to demand. Oil is up, because of the systematic devaluation of our currency by the Federal Reserve's actions. Look at the commodity prices of Gold, Silver, Wheat, Cotton, Sugar (Look at the stories related to this).
What initially kicked us into the funk we have been in was when Oil prices soared in 2008. At its current rate of increase, the price of oil will be back to $150 per barrel during some point in the upcoming year. that will mean $4 gas and all that goes with it. Have we learned from the 2008 Energy Crisis yet? NOPE!
The housing crisis kicked into gear, because people did not have a cushion. The housing market was affected by bubble demand associated with easy monetary policy associated with the Federal Reserve and easy lending practices associated with mortgage lenders. These lenders did not follow their fiduciary obligations and 100% only worried about a role as salespeople. They worried about fees and commissions. Who appraises the houses? The Banks. The salespeople, including bankers and brokers, encouraged people to buy houses that were too high of a percentage of their income and net worth. When the energy crisis hit, the people with little to no cushion were the first to tumble.
That is what has precipitated the events that have followed. This event has fed off of itself and the Federal Reserve, politicians, and bureaucrats have conspired to paper the reality over with more cheap fiat money. That is what has led us to the inflationary event that we are now in. The beginning of this event will mimic a recovery, because the increased prices of goods and services will reflect an increased percentage of sales, but what you have to look at is the underlying cost of those sales associated with wholesale prices (a direct reflection of the cost of commodities).
I know that people don't have time to look at the big picture. I can lay this out to you on a macro or a micro scale. What has to happen is that we need to realize that we have given away the farm. We have to have a productive capacity in this country. That would help us on the local level also, because we are a manufacturing center. I believe we need balance and we don't need a 50%+ manufacturing based economy like we have had in the past, but free-for-all trade has not and will not work for the viability of the United States of America. It is time to start discussing tariffs!
The discussion we need to have should be one that offers solutions and brings all of the issues to the table. Fair Trade, Tariffs, Financial Re-Regulation, and rebuilding the middle class are in my opinion necessities to getting the economy back on track. In order to make this economy work, we need to gear it back towards the American people and not the elite 1% and the corporations they represent!!!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Newsletter about the City Council meeting of January 4, 2011
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 1/18/2010 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.
Invocation by Robert Ford, Chaplain for Frye Regional Medical Center
Consent Agenda:
A. Call for Public Hearing to Approve Hickory By Choice 2030 Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Code and Official Zoning Map - On December 1, 2010, the Hickory Regional Planning Commission voted to recommend that City Council approve the Hickory By Choice 2030 Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Code and Official Zoning Map. Staff requests authorization to hold a public hearing on January 18, 2011 for City Council’s consideration.
B. Approval of Tax Refund as Recommended by Catawba County Tax Office to Graystone Ophthalmology Associates, PA in the Amount of $4,327.00 - Graystone Ophthalmology listed and paid for leased equipment located at their Hickory office and First Citizens leased equipment listed and paid for the same equipment. Graystone Ophthalmology is requesting a refund of taxes paid in 2009. The records have been checked and verified by the Tax Collector’s office. Staff recommends approval.
C. Approve Priority Use Agreement With Catawba Valley Youth Soccer Association For Use of City-Owned Soccer Fields Located at the Henry River Regional Recreation Park - The Catawba Valley Youth Soccer Association (CVYSA) wishes to enter into a new agreement for the use of five (5) soccer fields located at the Henry River Regional Recreation Park for a period of eleven (11) years commencing July 1, 2010. Their current agreement expired on June 30, 2010. The CVYSA will pay $5,000.00 per year for the priority use of five (5) soccer fields for practices and games. The first year payment will be waived due to their initial contribution of $163,000.00 towards the parks development. The City agrees to convert Field #1 into a premier field while CYVSA agrees to reimburse the City 50% of the cost to install a fence not to exceed $12,000.00. The agreement also contains terms regarding sponsorship signs, maintenance, light usage fees, concessions and replacement of field equipment. On December 14, 2010 the Parks and Recreation Commission endorsed entering into said agreement and staff recommends approval.
D. Award Bid to Bakers Waste Equipment for the Replacement of Two (2) Compactor Units Located at the City of Hickory Transfer Station in the Amount of $284,128.00 - The purchase of two (2) compactors is needed to replace the current units that are dated back to 1985. These will be a permanent upgrade for the facility and supports long-term usage of the facility. Bids were received and opened on December 21, 2010 and were turn key bids meeting the City’s specifications. Two bids were received with Bakers Waste Equipment having the low bid in the amount of $284,128.00. Once approved and notice given to the vendor, the project will be completed within sixty days with minimal interference to normal operations. The project will be coordinated and overseen by City staff. The upgrade was planned and funds budgeted in the 2010-11 budget.
E. Request From Hickory Downtown Development Association for Use of Union Square for 2011 Hickory Hops Event on April 16, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
F. Budget Ordinance Amendments -
1. To budget a $1,348 insurance claim check from Trident Insurance Company in the Police Departments Maintenance and Repair line item. This payment is for damage sustained to a police vehicle on 12-05-10.
2. To transfer $25,900 of General Fund Balance Appropriated to the Police Department Capital Buildings account code. This amendment is to pay for the purchase of a vacant house situated on .41 acres of property adjacent to City owned property located at 347 2nd Avenue, SW. This property is next to the Hickory Police Department and purchase of the property could allow for potential expansion of the Hickory Police Department.
3. To transfer $47,000 of Water and Sewer Contingency to the Collection System Maintenance and Repair line item. This transfer is to pay for repairs to the Moose Club Pump Station including a Bar Screen, Variable Frequency Drive and the Front Head of the Pump.
4. To re-appropriate $18,240 of General Fund Balance Appropriated and to appropriate an additional $17,365 of General Fund Balance Appropriated-Designated Rural Fire District Capital Reserve Funds and budget in the Fire Department's Specialized Equipment account. This amendment is necessary to complete the mobile generator project for stations 2, 3, 5, 6 and the Maintenance Facility. Funds were budgeted in FY09-10 and a portion of the project was completed however due to time constraints the purchasing process for the acquisition of the mobile generator was not completed. At year end $18,240 rolled into General Fund Balance and therefore an appropriation is necessary in addition to a $17,365 appropriation of Rural Fire District Funds to complete the project.
New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Approval of 2011 State Legislative Agenda - City staff has prepared a State Legislative Agenda for 2011 which lists key issues and talking points to discuss with our legislative delegation, which contains the City’s views on potential legislation or initiatives to change current laws along with projects that the City is seeking additional funding for with the help of members of our delegation. The Legislative Agenda is an important communication tool that guides staff and city leaders to successfully deliver the message on key issues. City Council will use this agenda with our State delegation in Raleigh during the 2011 Long Session.
Presentation by Assistant City Manager Andrea Surratt -
The above image is the sequence of PowerPoint's that Ms. Surratt presented to the Council on the subject of the State legislative agenda set forth by the City of Hickory administration. In relation to economic development, Ms. Surratt stated that the city feels that the tiering structure formula is out of step with what the goals of the tier status would allow. Counties that have high unemployment aren't necessarily the ones that would get a favorable tier status such as tier 1. Some of the neighboring counties have that status, but our county does not. There are factors that are included in in the formula that aren't applicable to our situation and the city would like to explore recommending some changes in the formula to the Department of Commerce.
She also added to the subject by stating that it the city feels that it is not good practice for counties, cities, or jurisdictions to compete with other counties in jurisdictions in North Carolina for economic development projects; where one area is going to be giving a state grant or state funding. That gives them a leg up. There have been recent projects that have been given state grants, where Hickory competed, but was not given access to these grants.
Ald. Lail stated that we need consistency between our legislative agenda and our economic development incentive policy. Ms. Surratt stated, what is not consistent is that the grants provided by the Department of Commerce for some counties were not provided to our county. Ald. Lail stated that if there is an opportunity to recruit a business to Hickory and they are relocating from say New Hanover county, our economic development policy needs to allow that and we shouldn't be inconsistent. Ms. Surratt stated that she doesn't believe that we are being inconsistent there. She believes that if the State is going give funding to a project coming from out of state, and we are competing with our neighbor, it should be a level playing field. Alder Fox asked, what are the chances of that. Level of the playing field?
Ms. Surratt next glossed over the collective bargaining issue and the state budget shortfall. The city wants the message carried forth that they do not want funding cut and funding taken away from local government. Some of the city's departments are greatly affected by state funding.
Ms. Surratt next went over the agenda involving the Inner Basin Transfer (IBT) and water issues in general. There were several bills pending in the Legislature affecting this issue. They are listed above. The city would like to restore the funding that shares revenue between this municipality and the Catawba County government. This money we get E911 money paid to Catawba County back into the local Hickory dispatch.
Next, she went over planning and information technology issues. These included the opposition of Sweepstakes gambling Establishments. Next, the support of reasonable annexation law changes to allow cities to involuntarily annex properties and an opposition to limitations on municipal broadband, which would allow municipal authorities to implement data transmission services (cable, telephone, internet) in their own communities.
It is the city's hope that the state will not cut any funding. That is to be directed towards the city's infrastructure. The city needs sources of funding for water sewer and streets. If the city has a large, capital project, then they have a place to go for that funding. Such as a revolving loan fund or state bond package.
The City wants to use natural resources wisely and there are a lot of legislative issues wrapped up in this. The City wants to make sure that regulatory efforts by the State create efficiencies involving water, wastewater and storm water permitting. The City wants this process to be streamlined and more efficient.
Ald. Lail stated that one issue that he is concerned about is transportation and he does not believe that our area gets its fair share of monies from the state involving transportation. There are some new funding proposals that are out there that the DOT is considering and it would behoove us to support those as opposed to the way that the highway trust fund is implemented now. Ms. Surratt stated that they will include that.
City Manager Berry added that the North Carolina League of Municipalities is going through a new process to adopt their legislative goals. He sat on the committee that did quite a bit of work to put together a segment of goals related to finance and administrative issues. They are inviting all of the city councils and elected officials from around the State to come together on January 20 to finalize the meeting process and adopt a legislative agenda. There will be a voting process, and the city needs to designate a person to vote on this agenda.
Ald. Seaver stated that he thinks that a trip to Raleigh other than the town hall meeting day might be up way for us to be heard better. Manager Berry said that was a great point and one of the things that they did last year was to work with a group of citizens that went to Raleigh and had a series of meetings with the representatives. The General Assembly has a lot of special interests knocking on their doors and it is effective when citizens can come and say that this is an issue for me as a resident in the city of Hickory. The city plans to do that again this year.
Alder Fox introduced the subject of the lack of competition with computer data systems (I presume CenturyTel broadband/modem) and her frustrations involving her son and the lack of service that he experienced recently involving the services. This was related to the issue that the city discussed involving IT issues involving the limitations on broadband development by communities. She stated that this has a negative effect on small business.
The Hound agrees with much of this agenda, but what I would really like to see is the City put the thumbscrews to our representation in Raleigh about the issues of unfair trade policies and the Race to the Bottom culture that has been promoted in our State and in the nation in general.
Our State is doing everything it can to support business owners, but it is doing this at the expense of the average everyday working man who has been forgotten in these processes. What is this State going to do to invest in its middle class?
The State tells us that children need to be educated and the cost of education continues to escalate to the point where middle class parents are put into a bind. The State wants children to be certified towards minimum prescribed goals, instead of teaching them the process of obtaining knowledge. Our State has lost hundreds of thousands of jobs over the last several years, but it surely seems that legislative efforts have been geared towards temporary fixes to make numbers look less negative, instead of addressing the long term issues we face.
On the local front, I don't see how it correlates to ask the State to keep funding City of Hickory objectives, while demanding that the State get its fiscal house in order. The State should take care of its obligations and Hickory should take care of its own. This tangled funding shell game web will never get us anywhere and in the end will lead to the State confiscating Hickory dollars and if the State pays for City of Hickory projects, then they can point to that very fact in doing so.
This City can't make its books look better by not spending on its own objectives and having the State of North Carolina do so. I believe there are ways to get some things done around here through public-private partnerships. I remember the talks two years ago of a public-private partnership to fund the Cloninger Mill Park. I also think that this could be done to get monies for the library system and to get the ball rolling towards building an aquatics facility.
As far as the Broadband issue. We are into the New Year and at points this year I am going to express my opinion about the Google effort, once they make their decision. I know that the Broadband issue must be addressed and I don't believe the current telecom stakeholders in the community are going to solve the problems. First, they are salesmen and salesmen don't understand the technical issues of Broadband. Second, the problems with current Broadband capacity are starting to show, but the average layman can't feel it or understand it and they won't complain until the issue becomes overwhelming. Broadband is telecommunications (TV, Phone, and Data Communications). This is Infrastructure and it is an Infrastructure issue. A Traffic flow bottleneck is coming and it will be here in the next couple of years. This needs to be a priority!!!
2. Update Regarding Proposed Hickory By Choice 2030/Land Development Code Revisions - Following numerous public workshops, committee meetings, Council workshops and a Planning Commission public hearing there remain a few items requiring clarification. These items include certain signage limitations, zoning of Nell Propst Thomas property and concerns regarding R-1 and R-2 zoning districts.
Presentation by Brian Frazier Head of the Planning Department:
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 1/18/2010 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.
Invocation by Robert Ford, Chaplain for Frye Regional Medical Center
Consent Agenda:
A. Call for Public Hearing to Approve Hickory By Choice 2030 Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Code and Official Zoning Map - On December 1, 2010, the Hickory Regional Planning Commission voted to recommend that City Council approve the Hickory By Choice 2030 Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Code and Official Zoning Map. Staff requests authorization to hold a public hearing on January 18, 2011 for City Council’s consideration.
B. Approval of Tax Refund as Recommended by Catawba County Tax Office to Graystone Ophthalmology Associates, PA in the Amount of $4,327.00 - Graystone Ophthalmology listed and paid for leased equipment located at their Hickory office and First Citizens leased equipment listed and paid for the same equipment. Graystone Ophthalmology is requesting a refund of taxes paid in 2009. The records have been checked and verified by the Tax Collector’s office. Staff recommends approval.
C. Approve Priority Use Agreement With Catawba Valley Youth Soccer Association For Use of City-Owned Soccer Fields Located at the Henry River Regional Recreation Park - The Catawba Valley Youth Soccer Association (CVYSA) wishes to enter into a new agreement for the use of five (5) soccer fields located at the Henry River Regional Recreation Park for a period of eleven (11) years commencing July 1, 2010. Their current agreement expired on June 30, 2010. The CVYSA will pay $5,000.00 per year for the priority use of five (5) soccer fields for practices and games. The first year payment will be waived due to their initial contribution of $163,000.00 towards the parks development. The City agrees to convert Field #1 into a premier field while CYVSA agrees to reimburse the City 50% of the cost to install a fence not to exceed $12,000.00. The agreement also contains terms regarding sponsorship signs, maintenance, light usage fees, concessions and replacement of field equipment. On December 14, 2010 the Parks and Recreation Commission endorsed entering into said agreement and staff recommends approval.
D. Award Bid to Bakers Waste Equipment for the Replacement of Two (2) Compactor Units Located at the City of Hickory Transfer Station in the Amount of $284,128.00 - The purchase of two (2) compactors is needed to replace the current units that are dated back to 1985. These will be a permanent upgrade for the facility and supports long-term usage of the facility. Bids were received and opened on December 21, 2010 and were turn key bids meeting the City’s specifications. Two bids were received with Bakers Waste Equipment having the low bid in the amount of $284,128.00. Once approved and notice given to the vendor, the project will be completed within sixty days with minimal interference to normal operations. The project will be coordinated and overseen by City staff. The upgrade was planned and funds budgeted in the 2010-11 budget.
E. Request From Hickory Downtown Development Association for Use of Union Square for 2011 Hickory Hops Event on April 16, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
F. Budget Ordinance Amendments -
1. To budget a $1,348 insurance claim check from Trident Insurance Company in the Police Departments Maintenance and Repair line item. This payment is for damage sustained to a police vehicle on 12-05-10.
2. To transfer $25,900 of General Fund Balance Appropriated to the Police Department Capital Buildings account code. This amendment is to pay for the purchase of a vacant house situated on .41 acres of property adjacent to City owned property located at 347 2nd Avenue, SW. This property is next to the Hickory Police Department and purchase of the property could allow for potential expansion of the Hickory Police Department.
3. To transfer $47,000 of Water and Sewer Contingency to the Collection System Maintenance and Repair line item. This transfer is to pay for repairs to the Moose Club Pump Station including a Bar Screen, Variable Frequency Drive and the Front Head of the Pump.
4. To re-appropriate $18,240 of General Fund Balance Appropriated and to appropriate an additional $17,365 of General Fund Balance Appropriated-Designated Rural Fire District Capital Reserve Funds and budget in the Fire Department's Specialized Equipment account. This amendment is necessary to complete the mobile generator project for stations 2, 3, 5, 6 and the Maintenance Facility. Funds were budgeted in FY09-10 and a portion of the project was completed however due to time constraints the purchasing process for the acquisition of the mobile generator was not completed. At year end $18,240 rolled into General Fund Balance and therefore an appropriation is necessary in addition to a $17,365 appropriation of Rural Fire District Funds to complete the project.
New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Approval of 2011 State Legislative Agenda - City staff has prepared a State Legislative Agenda for 2011 which lists key issues and talking points to discuss with our legislative delegation, which contains the City’s views on potential legislation or initiatives to change current laws along with projects that the City is seeking additional funding for with the help of members of our delegation. The Legislative Agenda is an important communication tool that guides staff and city leaders to successfully deliver the message on key issues. City Council will use this agenda with our State delegation in Raleigh during the 2011 Long Session.
Presentation by Assistant City Manager Andrea Surratt -
The above image is the sequence of PowerPoint's that Ms. Surratt presented to the Council on the subject of the State legislative agenda set forth by the City of Hickory administration. In relation to economic development, Ms. Surratt stated that the city feels that the tiering structure formula is out of step with what the goals of the tier status would allow. Counties that have high unemployment aren't necessarily the ones that would get a favorable tier status such as tier 1. Some of the neighboring counties have that status, but our county does not. There are factors that are included in in the formula that aren't applicable to our situation and the city would like to explore recommending some changes in the formula to the Department of Commerce.
She also added to the subject by stating that it the city feels that it is not good practice for counties, cities, or jurisdictions to compete with other counties in jurisdictions in North Carolina for economic development projects; where one area is going to be giving a state grant or state funding. That gives them a leg up. There have been recent projects that have been given state grants, where Hickory competed, but was not given access to these grants.
Ald. Lail stated that we need consistency between our legislative agenda and our economic development incentive policy. Ms. Surratt stated, what is not consistent is that the grants provided by the Department of Commerce for some counties were not provided to our county. Ald. Lail stated that if there is an opportunity to recruit a business to Hickory and they are relocating from say New Hanover county, our economic development policy needs to allow that and we shouldn't be inconsistent. Ms. Surratt stated that she doesn't believe that we are being inconsistent there. She believes that if the State is going give funding to a project coming from out of state, and we are competing with our neighbor, it should be a level playing field. Alder Fox asked, what are the chances of that. Level of the playing field?
Ms. Surratt next glossed over the collective bargaining issue and the state budget shortfall. The city wants the message carried forth that they do not want funding cut and funding taken away from local government. Some of the city's departments are greatly affected by state funding.
Ms. Surratt next went over the agenda involving the Inner Basin Transfer (IBT) and water issues in general. There were several bills pending in the Legislature affecting this issue. They are listed above. The city would like to restore the funding that shares revenue between this municipality and the Catawba County government. This money we get E911 money paid to Catawba County back into the local Hickory dispatch.
Next, she went over planning and information technology issues. These included the opposition of Sweepstakes gambling Establishments. Next, the support of reasonable annexation law changes to allow cities to involuntarily annex properties and an opposition to limitations on municipal broadband, which would allow municipal authorities to implement data transmission services (cable, telephone, internet) in their own communities.
It is the city's hope that the state will not cut any funding. That is to be directed towards the city's infrastructure. The city needs sources of funding for water sewer and streets. If the city has a large, capital project, then they have a place to go for that funding. Such as a revolving loan fund or state bond package.
The City wants to use natural resources wisely and there are a lot of legislative issues wrapped up in this. The City wants to make sure that regulatory efforts by the State create efficiencies involving water, wastewater and storm water permitting. The City wants this process to be streamlined and more efficient.
Ald. Lail stated that one issue that he is concerned about is transportation and he does not believe that our area gets its fair share of monies from the state involving transportation. There are some new funding proposals that are out there that the DOT is considering and it would behoove us to support those as opposed to the way that the highway trust fund is implemented now. Ms. Surratt stated that they will include that.
City Manager Berry added that the North Carolina League of Municipalities is going through a new process to adopt their legislative goals. He sat on the committee that did quite a bit of work to put together a segment of goals related to finance and administrative issues. They are inviting all of the city councils and elected officials from around the State to come together on January 20 to finalize the meeting process and adopt a legislative agenda. There will be a voting process, and the city needs to designate a person to vote on this agenda.
Ald. Seaver stated that he thinks that a trip to Raleigh other than the town hall meeting day might be up way for us to be heard better. Manager Berry said that was a great point and one of the things that they did last year was to work with a group of citizens that went to Raleigh and had a series of meetings with the representatives. The General Assembly has a lot of special interests knocking on their doors and it is effective when citizens can come and say that this is an issue for me as a resident in the city of Hickory. The city plans to do that again this year.
Alder Fox introduced the subject of the lack of competition with computer data systems (I presume CenturyTel broadband/modem) and her frustrations involving her son and the lack of service that he experienced recently involving the services. This was related to the issue that the city discussed involving IT issues involving the limitations on broadband development by communities. She stated that this has a negative effect on small business.
The Hound agrees with much of this agenda, but what I would really like to see is the City put the thumbscrews to our representation in Raleigh about the issues of unfair trade policies and the Race to the Bottom culture that has been promoted in our State and in the nation in general.
Our State is doing everything it can to support business owners, but it is doing this at the expense of the average everyday working man who has been forgotten in these processes. What is this State going to do to invest in its middle class?
The State tells us that children need to be educated and the cost of education continues to escalate to the point where middle class parents are put into a bind. The State wants children to be certified towards minimum prescribed goals, instead of teaching them the process of obtaining knowledge. Our State has lost hundreds of thousands of jobs over the last several years, but it surely seems that legislative efforts have been geared towards temporary fixes to make numbers look less negative, instead of addressing the long term issues we face.
On the local front, I don't see how it correlates to ask the State to keep funding City of Hickory objectives, while demanding that the State get its fiscal house in order. The State should take care of its obligations and Hickory should take care of its own. This tangled funding shell game web will never get us anywhere and in the end will lead to the State confiscating Hickory dollars and if the State pays for City of Hickory projects, then they can point to that very fact in doing so.
This City can't make its books look better by not spending on its own objectives and having the State of North Carolina do so. I believe there are ways to get some things done around here through public-private partnerships. I remember the talks two years ago of a public-private partnership to fund the Cloninger Mill Park. I also think that this could be done to get monies for the library system and to get the ball rolling towards building an aquatics facility.
As far as the Broadband issue. We are into the New Year and at points this year I am going to express my opinion about the Google effort, once they make their decision. I know that the Broadband issue must be addressed and I don't believe the current telecom stakeholders in the community are going to solve the problems. First, they are salesmen and salesmen don't understand the technical issues of Broadband. Second, the problems with current Broadband capacity are starting to show, but the average layman can't feel it or understand it and they won't complain until the issue becomes overwhelming. Broadband is telecommunications (TV, Phone, and Data Communications). This is Infrastructure and it is an Infrastructure issue. A Traffic flow bottleneck is coming and it will be here in the next couple of years. This needs to be a priority!!!
2. Update Regarding Proposed Hickory By Choice 2030/Land Development Code Revisions - Following numerous public workshops, committee meetings, Council workshops and a Planning Commission public hearing there remain a few items requiring clarification. These items include certain signage limitations, zoning of Nell Propst Thomas property and concerns regarding R-1 and R-2 zoning districts.
Presentation by Brian Frazier Head of the Planning Department:
High limitations on freestanding signs -- right now, the signs range in height from 4 feet to 25 depending on the zoning district that they are located in. The city is looking to reduce the height requirements and size requirements of signs and their complexity. What is being recommended is that the signs be reduced to 10 feet. The maximum square footage is currently 150 square feet for some properties. There has been discussion of reducing the square footage of sign area to 100 sq feet or 125 sq feet. Ald. Seaver asked if that would be the square footage for all signs together, or per sign. Mr. Frasier answered that that would be the maximum per sign -- a pylon sign for a building will be a maximum of 150 sq feet. Some development entries would be allowed multiple signs.
Ald. Lail wanted clarification on multi-tenant properties. Multi-tenant signs have to go in that one 150 sq foot sign? Mr. Fraser stated that for an industrial park, a monument sign, each building within the industrial park can have their own 150 sq foot sign. Ald. Lail asked about a property such as the Office Depot? Mr. Fraser stated that in that case, the tenants would have to share the one sign and then they would have their own wall sign. There are certain signs in the city that are grandfathered in. Prior to 2001 and implementation of rules about signs related to the land development code of that time.
One concern that was brought forth at the last HBC 2030 meeting held at the airport was that duplexes should not be allowed in all the residential zones within the city. Under proposed guidelines, duplexes will not be allowed in R1 and R2 zones. They will be allowed in all of the other residential zones. Ald. Meisner asked what this would do to the new phase of Moore's Ferry that will have duplexes? Mr. Fraser answered that what ever is approved already will continue to be approved and grandfathered in. The planning commission recommended unanimously ten to zero in favor of recommending the maps and the plan and the land development code to Council with several modifications and recommendations and this is one of the bigger issues.
Mr. Frazier next went to the proposed zoning at 3220 Kool Park Rd., which had been zoned residential prior to the land development code. In the late 90s, a proposed Wal-Mart brought a rezoning of the property. The planning commission had voted for the rezoning and council approved by a four to three margin. This property was rezoned as a plan development in the summer of 1998, and it stayed that way. The statute of limitations had run out on the zoning in 2005. The applicants never came back to Council. Wal-Mart dropped the proposal and moved on, and nothing else has been applied for since that date. The planning commission, staff, the applicant, and the applicant attorney should have made the map amendment and moved the property back to residential and that did not happen. Staff and the advisory committee all recommended to have the property rezoned back to a lowered density residential. This would've allowed low density residential only.
Mr. Frazier and staff spoke to the broker, representatives of the property, and the heirs of the property and they were quite upset with staff in terms of saying they can't have this. They want the property to remain a planned development, to try and attract a big box store development. They met a couple of times and reached a compromise, and everyone seems satisfied to where the neighborhood core will become residential three (R3) and also allow for neighborhood commercial (NC), which will allow retail and commercial office of a high quality design standards.
Alder Fox asked if this neighborhood core will be about the size of all of the other neighborhood cores or if they were going to make an exception? Mr. Frasier stated that this neighborhood core will only be a radius of 750 feet and there are two or three other smaller ones like this, such as the one on Sandy Ridge Road across from Sandy Ridge Baptist Church.
Most of the other centers that we have are 1000 foot radius. These will be very high architectural standards. Alder Fox asked if this particular core will allow a big box? Mr. Frasier stated that this core could allow a big box, but the architectural standards would be such that it would be the best looking Wal-Mart in the State. There will not be an alignment of Section House and Kool Park Rd. for another 20 years. Hickory by Choice 2030 shows that there will not be enough sewer or sewer capacity in that area to sustain that kind of development. With the standards required and our current economy, they would have to go through staff and commission and Council in order to make this happen. Is it possible, yes. Is it likely, highly unlikely.
The Hound believes that Planning Director Brian Frasier's presentation speaks for itself. I just wish that Alder Fox didn't have this fixation against Big Box developments. Bring up the idea of a large scale commercial development and she goes into a tizzy. This type of stringent adherence to a closed minded ideal is not good for commerce in our area and I don't think that trying to stamp out future development is wise. I understand the desire for high architectural standards and I agree. I believe the best way to do this is to set rules and guidelines for architects and builders. To me, we get lost in the facade and we don't pay enough attention to the quality of the structure itself.
Another issue that I don't agree with is the strict, stifling sign code. We might not want to see the Las Vegas Strip, but the ban on LED signs is ridiculous. I look at the one across the Hwy 321 bridge in Caldwell County and I would like to see more of those and yet they are being banned, Why? What is wrong with this sign? Please someone explain what is wrong with this? Not allowing businesses to market their businesses in order to satisfy some need to control every facet of commerce is VERY business UNfriendly.
Personally, I would like to see more densification of apartments and true core development, but we have to encourage this sooner rather than later and I would like to see a specific strategy to take us in that direction. I pray that HBC 2030 will move us a step closer to such a direction and public transportation definitely needs to be addressed in this venture.
A Special Note
*** Condolences to Alder Jill Patton at the passing of her father on Tuesday January 4, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Welcome to 2011
The Hickory Hound saw viewership increase by 17.6% in 2010. I believe that the people who are seeking a deeper understanding about what is going on in this community come here. They are the people living on the cutting edge. They are seeking news, not awaiting its arrival.
We are here to go under under the rug to get closer to reality. I know that our message isn't optimistic. We are not here to pass out happy pills. We are here to help the people of this community understand the challenges that we face. We are here for those seeking knowledge, not soundbites or slogans.
What most people who have read this blog will understand is that I do not believe that there are any easy answers or quick solutions to the problems that we face in this community. I am not optimistic about the short term future of our community, but neither am I overly pessimistic.
Why be dower, when statistics and analytical analysis from every survey show that we are already at the bottom of the totem pole in this nation. Folks, we can't fall any further, but we can sure as heck tread water down here.
It took until late 2007, for most of the leaders in this community to formally recognize that we were in a funk and most wanted and still want to calm the masses and soothe their souls with unnecessary rhetoric.
This year needs to be about more than that. We have spent alot of time thinking and talking and that is good. Communication is good, but this needs to be a year to take action. It is time to take actions towards tangible goals!
We talk about this area being an entrepreneurial area. I do believe and history does show that this area has been an entrepreneurial hotbed in the past. Ideas are not the problem. I believe that we have leadership from the "Powers That Be" in this community (Elected Officials, their Supporters, and the Bureaucracy) that are very, very risk averse. They want someone to show that an investment has a 100% chance of success, before they are willing to allow investment capital to be utilized for any entrepreneurial efforts. The problem is that innovation comes with no such guarantees and this type of mindset stifles ingenuity.
We need private investors who are willing to place loss-leader dollars into an incubation effort to get the ball rolling. I understand that there are public efforts, such as with the Small Business and Technology Development Center, the Manufacturing Solutions Center, and other efforts, but what we need to see is a private incubator, such as Thomas Edison's Menlo Park facility that fostered so much innovation. I honestly believe that focused energy can lead to innovation. But, it takes tangible actions and capital investment to move in such a direction and although we have seen the initial steps, we have not seen the follow through. This year needs to be about the follow through.
I believe in education, but I believe that the most important issue that we face in our area isn't necessarily the lack of education. The problem that I see is the lack of ambition when it comes to seeking knowledge. Knowledge should be a lifelong endeavor. We have too many people who cannot grasp that concept. Education is not about achieving goals through certifications. Education in any such manner will always become antiquated. I can tell you that any subject evolves over time. Look at Science. Understanding is constantly evolving. There are no constants.
I look up to older citizens and I trust their judgment, but there has to be balance. We have to balance this sage advice and experience with youth's energy and vigor. This community has always had a mindset of telling younger generations keep quiet and wait their turn. Youth is where most innovation comes from, because new ideas generally take energy to be seen through to fruition. The younger generations need to be invited to the decision making table.
I believe, the more people work together to make decisions, the better the decisions will be, and the more accountable we will all be for our actions. We cannot afford the Status Quo. No one is asking the community to change to a mindset of a Riverboat Gambler. We are saying that we need balance! In this rapidly changing world, we cannot afford to stand pat. We must move forward! We must be nimble!
I would like to thank the thousands of people who have read this blog so far. Whether you agree with me or not, it makes me feel good to know that people have spent time reading and interpreting my thoughts.
Thank You and God Bless You this Year,
James Thomas Shell
We are here to go under under the rug to get closer to reality. I know that our message isn't optimistic. We are not here to pass out happy pills. We are here to help the people of this community understand the challenges that we face. We are here for those seeking knowledge, not soundbites or slogans.
What most people who have read this blog will understand is that I do not believe that there are any easy answers or quick solutions to the problems that we face in this community. I am not optimistic about the short term future of our community, but neither am I overly pessimistic.
Why be dower, when statistics and analytical analysis from every survey show that we are already at the bottom of the totem pole in this nation. Folks, we can't fall any further, but we can sure as heck tread water down here.
It took until late 2007, for most of the leaders in this community to formally recognize that we were in a funk and most wanted and still want to calm the masses and soothe their souls with unnecessary rhetoric.
This year needs to be about more than that. We have spent alot of time thinking and talking and that is good. Communication is good, but this needs to be a year to take action. It is time to take actions towards tangible goals!
We talk about this area being an entrepreneurial area. I do believe and history does show that this area has been an entrepreneurial hotbed in the past. Ideas are not the problem. I believe that we have leadership from the "Powers That Be" in this community (Elected Officials, their Supporters, and the Bureaucracy) that are very, very risk averse. They want someone to show that an investment has a 100% chance of success, before they are willing to allow investment capital to be utilized for any entrepreneurial efforts. The problem is that innovation comes with no such guarantees and this type of mindset stifles ingenuity.
We need private investors who are willing to place loss-leader dollars into an incubation effort to get the ball rolling. I understand that there are public efforts, such as with the Small Business and Technology Development Center, the Manufacturing Solutions Center, and other efforts, but what we need to see is a private incubator, such as Thomas Edison's Menlo Park facility that fostered so much innovation. I honestly believe that focused energy can lead to innovation. But, it takes tangible actions and capital investment to move in such a direction and although we have seen the initial steps, we have not seen the follow through. This year needs to be about the follow through.
I believe in education, but I believe that the most important issue that we face in our area isn't necessarily the lack of education. The problem that I see is the lack of ambition when it comes to seeking knowledge. Knowledge should be a lifelong endeavor. We have too many people who cannot grasp that concept. Education is not about achieving goals through certifications. Education in any such manner will always become antiquated. I can tell you that any subject evolves over time. Look at Science. Understanding is constantly evolving. There are no constants.
I look up to older citizens and I trust their judgment, but there has to be balance. We have to balance this sage advice and experience with youth's energy and vigor. This community has always had a mindset of telling younger generations keep quiet and wait their turn. Youth is where most innovation comes from, because new ideas generally take energy to be seen through to fruition. The younger generations need to be invited to the decision making table.
I believe, the more people work together to make decisions, the better the decisions will be, and the more accountable we will all be for our actions. We cannot afford the Status Quo. No one is asking the community to change to a mindset of a Riverboat Gambler. We are saying that we need balance! In this rapidly changing world, we cannot afford to stand pat. We must move forward! We must be nimble!
I would like to thank the thousands of people who have read this blog so far. Whether you agree with me or not, it makes me feel good to know that people have spent time reading and interpreting my thoughts.
Thank You and God Bless You this Year,
James Thomas Shell
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