What if you made public information requests to the city government regarding a project for five months. Finally, you are invited to city hall to look at the information the city has put together. You are given a 500 page file of unorganized receipts, non-descript invoices, and confusing internal accounting spreadsheets. You have questions. You simply can't make sense of the information provided, so you ask questions and you are met with a wall.
Germany 1942 or Hickory 2013... It's getting more and more difficult to tell.
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Monday, August 5, 2013
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Economic Stories of Relevance in Today's World -- August 4, 2013
America: Where Hard Working, Productive Members Of Society Pay For The Health Care Of Everyone Else - Economic Collapse Blog - Michael Snyder - August 4th, 2013 - Everybody in America wants health care - but most Americans seem to want someone else to pay for it. In the United States today, the way that our system works is that the hard working, productive members of society pay for the health care of everyone else. At least under socialism everyone gets the same benefits. Our system of health care is a very twisted version of socialism where millions upon millions of very hard working people are forced to pay for the health care of others, but often can't afford to purchase decent health insurance for themselves. Personally, I don't have a big employer paying for my health care so I have to buy it myself, and I just got a letter from my health insurance company telling me that I have another massive rate increase coming up. Have you gotten a similar letter? Health insurance premiums are going up all over America, and this is just the beginning. In fact, the CEO of Aetna says that health insurance rates for many Americans will double when the major provisions of Obamacare kick in next year. It would be bad enough if hard working Americans just had to pay for their own health insurance. But no, they are also expected to pay for the health care of members of Congress, employees of the IRS and other federal agencies, state and local government employees, their adult kids (because they can't afford health insurance), the elderly, the poor, and now under Obamacare they will also be expected to subsidize the health plans of tens of millions of other Americans that are not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid. When you add it all up, the hard working, productive members of society are at least partially subsidizing the health care of well over half of all Americans while having to pay for their own health care at the same time. Needless to say, it isn't too hard to see who is getting the raw end of the deal. Members of Congress certainly don't want to pay for their own health care. There was panic in the halls of Congress recently when they started realizing that due to certain provisions in Obamacare they may soon be forced to pay for their own health insurance plans. There was widespread moaning and complaining about how they would be facing "thousands of dollars in additional premium payments" every year. Things got so bad that Barack Obama got personally involved in the effort to find a solution. Thankfully, members of Congress can relax because a ruling is being issued that will allow the federal government to continue to subsidize 75 percent of the cost of their health plans... Lawmakers and staff can breathe easy — their health care tab is not going to soar next year. The Office of Personnel Management, under heavy pressure from Capitol Hill, will issue a ruling that says the government can continue to make a contribution to the health care premiums of members of Congress and their aides, according to several Hill sources. A White House official confirmed the deal and said the proposed regulations will be issued next week. And the IRS, which has been put in charge of imposing the rules of Obamacare on all the rest of us, is freaking out about the fact that some members of Congress would like to force them to personally participate in Obamacare... The union that represents IRS employees is urging its members to write to their congressmen to help get the union out of Obamacare. The following are some excerpts from a letter that the union that represents IRS employees sent to members of Congress... “H.R. 1780 would put federal employees in a special class where they would be prohibited from receiving health insurance through their employer. It would treat federal employees differently from state and local government employees and most employees of large private sector companies who receive health insurance benefits through their employer. The primary purpose of the Affordable Care Act was to provide a marketplace for the sale and purchase of health insurance for those who do not have such coverage – not to take coverage away from employees who already receive it through their employers,” the letter reads. “I work hard and am proud of the services that I provide to your constituents every day. One of the main benefits I receive as a federal employee is the ability to purchase health insurance coverage through the FEHBP with an employer contribution towards those benefits. Please let me know your views on this legislation. I look forward to hearing back from you,” the letter concludes. This is just shameful. If the IRS is going to impose Obamacare on the rest of America, then it should be good enough for them too. Just check out acting IRS chief Danny Werfel begging for employees of his agency not to have to go on Obamacare...
Why Are The Chinese Gobbling Up Real Estate And Businesses In Detroit? - End of the American Dream - Michael Snyder - July 30, 2013 - Something very strange is happening to Detroit. Once upon a time, it was the center of American manufacturing and it had the highest per capita income in the United States. But now the city is dying and the Chinese are moving in to pick up the pieces. Lured by news stories that proclaim that you can buy homes in Detroit for as little as one dollar, Chinese investors are eagerly gobbling up properties. In some cases, this is happening dozens of properties at a time. Not only that, according to the New York Times “dozes of companies from China” are investing in businesses and establishing a presence in the Detroit area. If this continues, will Detroit eventually become a city that is heavily dominated by China?
At this point, not too many others appear interested in saving Detroit. Right now, there are approximately 78,000 abandoned buildings in Detroit and about one-third of the entire city is either vacant or derelict. People have been moving out in droves and there are only about 700,000 residents left. For many Americans, Detroit is about the last place that they would want to live. But to many Chinese, this sounds like a perfect buying opportunity. According to a recent Fox News report, real estate agents in Detroit are being overwhelmed with inquiries from China… Downtown Detroit is home to one of the worst housing markets in the country, as prices of homes have collapsed and foreclosures have soared in the city’s depressed economy. But some Chinese investors hungry for real estate are hoping Detroit’s losses will be their gain. After Detroit filed for bankruptcy July 18, Motor City property has been a hot topic on China’s social media platform, Weibo, according to a Quartz.com report. News of the bankruptcy, coupled with a Chinese TV report in March that claimed you could buy two houses in Detroit for the same price as a pair of leather shoes, has piqued investors’ interest.
And these buyers appear to be quite serious. One buyer reportedly bought 30 properties recently, and other buyers say that they want to purchase even more homes than that… And it appears to be translating into real interest; Caroline Chen, a real estate broker in Troy, Michigan, says she’s received “tons of calls” from people in mainland China. “I have people calling and saying, ‘I’m serious—I wanna buy 100, 200 properties,’” she tells Quartz, noting that one of her colleagues recently sold 30 properties to a Chinese buyer. “They say ‘We don’t need to see them. Just pick the good ones.’” Meanwhile, according to the New York Times, dozens of Chinese companies are moving into the city… Dozens of companies from China are putting down roots in Detroit, part of the country’s steady push into the American auto industry. Chinese-owned companies are investing in American businesses and new vehicle technology, selling everything from seat belts to shock absorbers in retail stores, and hiring experienced engineers and designers in an effort to soak up the talent and expertise of domestic automakers and their suppliers. While starting with batteries and auto parts, the spread of Chinese business is expected to result eventually in the sale of Chinese cars in the United States.
Shocking: Black Teen Unemployment Rate 41.6% - Breitbart - Mike Flynn - August 2, 2013 - Friday's jobs report was disappointing, but it also contained a truly heartbreaking statistic. Black teen unemployment is a shocking 41.6%. In July last year, the unemployment was considerably lower, at 36%. That almost half of black teens who want to work can't find jobs is a stain on Obama's economic policies. This isn't a numbers trick. This isn't a rate based on the whole black teen population in the country. This is the proportion of the black teen population that is looking for work but can't find a job. Just in March, the number was eight points lower at 33%. The white teen unemployment rate is half the black rate, although still high at 20%. The heartbreaking thing is that these teens haven't given up hope and left the job market, something that has artificially lowered the overall unemployment rate. The unemployment rate is based on those who want a job and are trying to find one. In recent months, President Obama and national Democrats have increased calls to raise the minimum wage or impose "living wages" on certain companies in urban areas. Minimum wage jobs, however, are often "first jobs," providing that critical first rung on the jobs' ladder. Indeed, more than two-thirds of minimum wage employees receive a raise within the first year on the job. You can't get a raise, however, without first having a job. Our economic policies are abandoning a generation and threatening to create a permanent underclass. It is shameful.
House Of Raeford Farms Closing With 1,000 Layoffs - AP through WFMY Greensboro - August 1, 2013 - RAEFORD, N.C. -- The last day of work has come for about 1,000 employees of a House of Raeford Farms turkey plant in Hoke County. The last workers start their layoff Thursday afternoon in the rural region where unemployment was 9.2 percent in June. The plant has been processing poultry since the 1950's and some employees have worked there for 20 years or more. The business is a casualty of dropping customer demand for frozen turkeys. Some employees will be transferred to a second plant in Raeford that employs 400 and processes lunch meat, ground turkey and chicken. The company says it will provide severance packages to eligible workers. The newly unemployed will receive state jobless benefits that were reduced this July in both amount and length of time workers can collect.
Greensboro's state universities brace for job cuts - Greensboro News and Record - July 29, 2013 - University system budget cuts may mean job cuts at UNCG and N.C. A&T. The General Assembly passed this year’s state budget Wednesday. It includes about $80.5 million less money for universities than the state provided last year. The system’s Board of Governors must decide how to divide the cuts among the system’s universities. The board meets next on Aug. 9. Officials at Greensboro’s universities, and at others across the state, are preparing for bad news. “It looks like positions will be considered (for cuts),” said Mike Tarrant, UNCG’s director of strategic initiatives. “The question will be, how many and whether they’re filled.” Robert Pompey, vice chancellor for business and finance at A&T, said there’s “definitely potential” for layoffs, since the universities largest cost, by far, is salaries. There are a number of university system cuts in the state budget, including:
$10 million for “administrative and operational efficiencies.”
$5.8 million for “instructional efficiencies”
$65 million in “flexibility” reductions.
The system’s Board of Governors is supposed to distribute the cuts later this year, and has instructions from the legislature not to just distribute them across the board. The General Assembly laid out a number of criteria for the board to use, but some campuses will take bigger hits than others. “We know that everyone has to make sacrifices,” Pompey said. The cuts come on top of reductions in other years. Democrats made changes during the depths of the recent recession, then Republicans took over in 2010 with a promise to make government leaner and taxes lower. Part of the reason for this year’s cuts was a tax package that will lower income and corporate tax rates. To lower the budget impact, the legislature and governor authorized a round of tuition increases for out-of-state undergraduates, which will take effect in 2014. Those, too, vary by campus. UNCG will see a 6 percent increase in out-of-state tuition. A&T’s will go up 12.3 percent. These increases are on top of broader increases the Board of Governors approved in April.
Hiding Economic Depression With Spin - Paul Craig Roberts - August 1, 2013 - (Excerpt frpm Article) - ... The scary part of the pending economic crisis occurs when the federal budget deficit widens as the economy contracts and the Fed finds itself in a situation where it cannot print yet more dollars without causing a loss in confidence in the dollar and US Treasury bonds. What does a desperate government do in such a situation? It confiscates what remains of private pensions, piles on taxes, and drives the people and the economy deeper into the ground. This is the path that US economic policy is on. What is the solution? Capitalism could be allowed to work and the banks to fail. It is cheaper to bail out depositors than to bail out the banks. Corporations could be taxed on the basis of the geographical location at which value is added to their product. If corporations create the goods abroad that they market to Americans, they would have a high tax rate. If they create value domestically with US labor, they would have a low tax rate. The tax difference could be used to offset the labor cost advantage of offshored production. It would take time, but jobs would come back to the US. Cities, states, and the federal government would slowly see their tax bases rebuilt. Consumer incomes would again rise with productivity, and the economy could be put back together. As for the federal deficit, it could be significantly reduced by ending Washington’s wars. As various experts have established, these wars are extremely expensive, adding trillions of dollars to the financing needs of the US government. As other experts have shown, the wars do not benefit anyone but a narrow clique of military/security industries. Obviously, it is not democratic to destroy a people’s future for the sake of special interests.
Can these solutions be implemented or are the entrenched special interests too strong and too short-sighted? There is no prospect of finding out as long as the financial press and economic commentators are immune to reality. Until the real situation is understood, nothing can be done. It is difficult to sell a solution when the problem is not recognized and understood. That is why I focus on explaining the problems.
Obamacare Full Frontal: Of 953,000 Jobs Created In 2013, 77%, Or 731,000 Are Part-Time - Tyler Durden - August 2, 2013 - When the payroll report was released last month, the world finally noticed what we had been saying for nearly three years: that the US was slowly being converted to a part-time worker society. This slow conversion accelerated drastically in the last few months, and especially in June, when part time jobs exploded higher by 360K while full time jobs dropped by 240K. In July we are sad to report that America's conversation to a part-time worker society is not "tapering": according to the Household Survey, of the 266K jobs created (note this number differs from the establishment survey), only 35% of jobs, or 92K, were full time. The rest were... not.
Why Are The Chinese Gobbling Up Real Estate And Businesses In Detroit? - End of the American Dream - Michael Snyder - July 30, 2013 - Something very strange is happening to Detroit. Once upon a time, it was the center of American manufacturing and it had the highest per capita income in the United States. But now the city is dying and the Chinese are moving in to pick up the pieces. Lured by news stories that proclaim that you can buy homes in Detroit for as little as one dollar, Chinese investors are eagerly gobbling up properties. In some cases, this is happening dozens of properties at a time. Not only that, according to the New York Times “dozes of companies from China” are investing in businesses and establishing a presence in the Detroit area. If this continues, will Detroit eventually become a city that is heavily dominated by China?
At this point, not too many others appear interested in saving Detroit. Right now, there are approximately 78,000 abandoned buildings in Detroit and about one-third of the entire city is either vacant or derelict. People have been moving out in droves and there are only about 700,000 residents left. For many Americans, Detroit is about the last place that they would want to live. But to many Chinese, this sounds like a perfect buying opportunity. According to a recent Fox News report, real estate agents in Detroit are being overwhelmed with inquiries from China… Downtown Detroit is home to one of the worst housing markets in the country, as prices of homes have collapsed and foreclosures have soared in the city’s depressed economy. But some Chinese investors hungry for real estate are hoping Detroit’s losses will be their gain. After Detroit filed for bankruptcy July 18, Motor City property has been a hot topic on China’s social media platform, Weibo, according to a Quartz.com report. News of the bankruptcy, coupled with a Chinese TV report in March that claimed you could buy two houses in Detroit for the same price as a pair of leather shoes, has piqued investors’ interest.
And these buyers appear to be quite serious. One buyer reportedly bought 30 properties recently, and other buyers say that they want to purchase even more homes than that… And it appears to be translating into real interest; Caroline Chen, a real estate broker in Troy, Michigan, says she’s received “tons of calls” from people in mainland China. “I have people calling and saying, ‘I’m serious—I wanna buy 100, 200 properties,’” she tells Quartz, noting that one of her colleagues recently sold 30 properties to a Chinese buyer. “They say ‘We don’t need to see them. Just pick the good ones.’” Meanwhile, according to the New York Times, dozens of Chinese companies are moving into the city… Dozens of companies from China are putting down roots in Detroit, part of the country’s steady push into the American auto industry. Chinese-owned companies are investing in American businesses and new vehicle technology, selling everything from seat belts to shock absorbers in retail stores, and hiring experienced engineers and designers in an effort to soak up the talent and expertise of domestic automakers and their suppliers. While starting with batteries and auto parts, the spread of Chinese business is expected to result eventually in the sale of Chinese cars in the United States.
Shocking: Black Teen Unemployment Rate 41.6% - Breitbart - Mike Flynn - August 2, 2013 - Friday's jobs report was disappointing, but it also contained a truly heartbreaking statistic. Black teen unemployment is a shocking 41.6%. In July last year, the unemployment was considerably lower, at 36%. That almost half of black teens who want to work can't find jobs is a stain on Obama's economic policies. This isn't a numbers trick. This isn't a rate based on the whole black teen population in the country. This is the proportion of the black teen population that is looking for work but can't find a job. Just in March, the number was eight points lower at 33%. The white teen unemployment rate is half the black rate, although still high at 20%. The heartbreaking thing is that these teens haven't given up hope and left the job market, something that has artificially lowered the overall unemployment rate. The unemployment rate is based on those who want a job and are trying to find one. In recent months, President Obama and national Democrats have increased calls to raise the minimum wage or impose "living wages" on certain companies in urban areas. Minimum wage jobs, however, are often "first jobs," providing that critical first rung on the jobs' ladder. Indeed, more than two-thirds of minimum wage employees receive a raise within the first year on the job. You can't get a raise, however, without first having a job. Our economic policies are abandoning a generation and threatening to create a permanent underclass. It is shameful.
House Of Raeford Farms Closing With 1,000 Layoffs - AP through WFMY Greensboro - August 1, 2013 - RAEFORD, N.C. -- The last day of work has come for about 1,000 employees of a House of Raeford Farms turkey plant in Hoke County. The last workers start their layoff Thursday afternoon in the rural region where unemployment was 9.2 percent in June. The plant has been processing poultry since the 1950's and some employees have worked there for 20 years or more. The business is a casualty of dropping customer demand for frozen turkeys. Some employees will be transferred to a second plant in Raeford that employs 400 and processes lunch meat, ground turkey and chicken. The company says it will provide severance packages to eligible workers. The newly unemployed will receive state jobless benefits that were reduced this July in both amount and length of time workers can collect.
Greensboro's state universities brace for job cuts - Greensboro News and Record - July 29, 2013 - University system budget cuts may mean job cuts at UNCG and N.C. A&T. The General Assembly passed this year’s state budget Wednesday. It includes about $80.5 million less money for universities than the state provided last year. The system’s Board of Governors must decide how to divide the cuts among the system’s universities. The board meets next on Aug. 9. Officials at Greensboro’s universities, and at others across the state, are preparing for bad news. “It looks like positions will be considered (for cuts),” said Mike Tarrant, UNCG’s director of strategic initiatives. “The question will be, how many and whether they’re filled.” Robert Pompey, vice chancellor for business and finance at A&T, said there’s “definitely potential” for layoffs, since the universities largest cost, by far, is salaries. There are a number of university system cuts in the state budget, including:
$10 million for “administrative and operational efficiencies.”
$5.8 million for “instructional efficiencies”
$65 million in “flexibility” reductions.
The system’s Board of Governors is supposed to distribute the cuts later this year, and has instructions from the legislature not to just distribute them across the board. The General Assembly laid out a number of criteria for the board to use, but some campuses will take bigger hits than others. “We know that everyone has to make sacrifices,” Pompey said. The cuts come on top of reductions in other years. Democrats made changes during the depths of the recent recession, then Republicans took over in 2010 with a promise to make government leaner and taxes lower. Part of the reason for this year’s cuts was a tax package that will lower income and corporate tax rates. To lower the budget impact, the legislature and governor authorized a round of tuition increases for out-of-state undergraduates, which will take effect in 2014. Those, too, vary by campus. UNCG will see a 6 percent increase in out-of-state tuition. A&T’s will go up 12.3 percent. These increases are on top of broader increases the Board of Governors approved in April.
Hiding Economic Depression With Spin - Paul Craig Roberts - August 1, 2013 - (Excerpt frpm Article) - ... The scary part of the pending economic crisis occurs when the federal budget deficit widens as the economy contracts and the Fed finds itself in a situation where it cannot print yet more dollars without causing a loss in confidence in the dollar and US Treasury bonds. What does a desperate government do in such a situation? It confiscates what remains of private pensions, piles on taxes, and drives the people and the economy deeper into the ground. This is the path that US economic policy is on. What is the solution? Capitalism could be allowed to work and the banks to fail. It is cheaper to bail out depositors than to bail out the banks. Corporations could be taxed on the basis of the geographical location at which value is added to their product. If corporations create the goods abroad that they market to Americans, they would have a high tax rate. If they create value domestically with US labor, they would have a low tax rate. The tax difference could be used to offset the labor cost advantage of offshored production. It would take time, but jobs would come back to the US. Cities, states, and the federal government would slowly see their tax bases rebuilt. Consumer incomes would again rise with productivity, and the economy could be put back together. As for the federal deficit, it could be significantly reduced by ending Washington’s wars. As various experts have established, these wars are extremely expensive, adding trillions of dollars to the financing needs of the US government. As other experts have shown, the wars do not benefit anyone but a narrow clique of military/security industries. Obviously, it is not democratic to destroy a people’s future for the sake of special interests.
Can these solutions be implemented or are the entrenched special interests too strong and too short-sighted? There is no prospect of finding out as long as the financial press and economic commentators are immune to reality. Until the real situation is understood, nothing can be done. It is difficult to sell a solution when the problem is not recognized and understood. That is why I focus on explaining the problems.
Obamacare Full Frontal: Of 953,000 Jobs Created In 2013, 77%, Or 731,000 Are Part-Time - Tyler Durden - August 2, 2013 - When the payroll report was released last month, the world finally noticed what we had been saying for nearly three years: that the US was slowly being converted to a part-time worker society. This slow conversion accelerated drastically in the last few months, and especially in June, when part time jobs exploded higher by 360K while full time jobs dropped by 240K. In July we are sad to report that America's conversation to a part-time worker society is not "tapering": according to the Household Survey, of the 266K jobs created (note this number differs from the establishment survey), only 35% of jobs, or 92K, were full time. The rest were... not.
Bill Black: The Right Should Support the Return of Glass-Steagall
Agenda about the City Council meeting of August 6, 2013
This Agenda is about the Hickory City Council meeting that will take place on the date listed above. City council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each Month in the Council Chambers of the Julian Whitener building.
At right of this page under Main Information links is an Hickory's City Website link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the left of the page you will see the Agenda's and Minutes link you need to click. This will give you a choice of PDF files to upcoming and previous meetings.
You will find historic Agenda and Minutes links. Agendas show what is on the docket for the meeting of that date. The Minutes is an actual summary of the proceedings of the meeting of that date. You can also look in the upper right hand corner of the front page of the Hickory Hound and (will soon) find the link to the past history of Hickory City Newsletters.
Here is a summary of the agenda of the meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below:
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City Website has changed - Here is a link to the City of Hickory Document Center
All materials and maps for this meeting are provide at this link:
City Council Agenda - August 6, 2013
Invocation by Pastor Bill Miller-Zurell, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Special Presentations
A. Presentation of Quilt by Kenworth Neighborhood Representatives Martha Espey and Tessie Dillingham
Persons Requesting to Be Heard
A. Pastor Jack McConnell – Grace House Homeless Day Program
Consent Agenda:
A. Call for Public Hearing - For the Consideration of Voluntary Satellite Annexation of property located at 1076 Fox Chase Drive containing .42 acres. (Authorize Public Hearing for August 20, 2013)
B. Request Approval to Purchase Seven Specialized Police Package Emergency Vehicles at a Cost of $26,911.18 per Vehicle. - Hickory Police Department staff and the City of Hickory Fleet Manager have researchedand reviewed independent comparison studies comparing available police package vehicles. The 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Package two-wheel drive best fits the needs of the department based on a number of considerations. Independent test results have shown that the Tahoe has the lowest life-cycle cost to operate when compared to all other police package vehicles. Hickory Police Department recommends purchasing seven rear-wheel-drive Chevrolet Tahoe police package vehicles from Bobby Murray Chevrolet on the NC State Contract at a cost of $26,911.18 per vehicle for a total cost of $188,378.26. Funds are budgeted in the budget for FY2013-2014.
C. Citizens’ Advisory Committee Recommendations for Assistance through the City of
Hickory’s Housing Programs. The following request was considered by the Citizens’ Advisory Committee at their regular meeting on July 11, 2013:
Viola Earl, 571 9th Avenue Drive SE, Hickory, was awarded a City of Hickory’s Housing Rehabilitation Loan. The Citizens’ Advisory Committee recommends approval for assistance not to exceed $6,000 for repairs to her house. Assistance will be in the form of a 3% interest loan for a 10 year period.
Sam Hunt, 626 9th Avenue Drive SE, Hickory, was approved for Loan Subordination. The loan for Mr. Hunt was done under Housing Rehab Program. The Citizens’ Advisory Committee recommended this subordination to help him do a loan modification to lower his monthly payment/interest rate and make it more affordable. He will not be taking any money out for personal use. Funds are budgeted for these items through the City of Hickory’s former Rental Rehabilitation Program income received in FY2012 and/or program income received through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant Program.
D. Approval to Declare as Surplus a 1990 International 4900 Support Vehicle and Donate to Hickory Rescue Squad. - The Fire Department has been maintaining a 1990 International 4900 support vehicle that they acquired in 1990 from the Fairbrook District Annexation. The vehicle has not been
used on a regular basis for over eight years and has only responded to 35 emergency calls since June 27, 2005. The intent of the Fire Department is to donate this vehicle to the Hickory Rescue Squad for them to utilize as a support vehicle. Public Notice advertised on July 31, 2013 in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area.
E. Approve the Purchase of One Cab and Chassis to Use with a New Rear Packer Unit in in the Solid Waste Division. - Request approval to purchase one cab and chassis to service the 95 gallon carts at residential homes on a daily basis, along with yard waste and junk. This cab and chassis will be used with the new rear packer body purchased under the HGAC by Contract No. RHOB-12. The low bid meeting the specifications is from Southern Truck Service Inc., in the amount of $135,220, off of Chapel Hill’s piggy back bid package. Funds are budgeted in the budget for FY2013-2014.
F. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Wayne M. Bach, Julia P. Wittenberg, and Joyce P. Demmink, Co-Executors of the Estate of Mary Gladys Poovey to Herman Demmink in Oakwood Cemetery
G. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Wayne M. Bach, Julia P. Wittenberg, and Joyce P. Demmink, Co-Executors of the Estate of Mary Gladys Poovey to Claud William Wittenberg, Jr. in Oakwood Cemetery
H. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Wayne M. Bach, Julia P. Wittenberg, and Joyce P. Demmink, Co-Executors of the Estate of Mary Gladys Poovey to Julia P. Wittenberg in Oakwood Cemetery
I. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Wayne M. Bach, Julia P. Wittenberg, and Joyce P. Demmink, Co-Executors of the Estate of Mary Gladys Poovey to Paul Melcher in Oakwood Cemetery
J. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Wayne M. Bach, Julia P. Wittenberg, and Joyce P. Demmink, Co-Executors of the Estate of Mary Gladys Poovey to Joyce Demmink in Oakwood Cemetery
K. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Wayne M. Bach, Julia P. Wittenberg, and Joyce P. Demmink, Co-Executors of the Estate of Mary Gladys Poovey to Dawn Melcher in Oakwood Cemetery
L. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Wayne M. Bach, Julia P. Wittenberg, and Joyce P. Demmink, Co-Executors of the Estate of Mary Gladys Poovey to Marilyn Fleming in Oakwood Cemetery
M. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Thelma Walker Starr, unmarried to Jeffery Kuykendall in
Fairview Cemetery
N. Approval of a New Priority Use Agreement with Catawba Valley Youth Soccer Association. - The City of Hickory and Catawba Valley Youth Soccer Association (CVYSA) entered into an agreement on January 18, 2011 which stipulated that CVYSA would pay an annualfee, plus associated supervisor and light usage fees in exchange for a ten year priority use agreement. This new priority use agreement now reflects CVYSA’s commitment to contribute $125,000 towards the purchase and installation of lights on fields 2, 4, 5 and 6 at Henry Fork River Regional Recreation Park. The new agreement also relocates all CVYSA functions to the Henry Fork River Regional Recreation Park, therefore freeing up needed soccer/lacrosse field space at Neill W. Clark Jr. Recreation Park.
O. Request to Amend the Parking Ordinance for 3rd Street NE in front of Hickory High School to Prohibit Parking during School Drop-off/Pick-up Times. - Request to amend the parking ordinance along 3rd Street NE in front of Hickory High School to prohibit parking during school drop-off/pick-up times: Monday thru Friday, 6:45 am to 7:45 am and 1:45 pm to 3:00 pm.
P. Approve the Historic Preservation Fund Pass-Through Grant for the Former Ridgeview Public Library Renovation. -As a Certified Local Government, the City of Hickory and nonprofits within the city are eligible to apply for grants from the State of North Carolina to undertake a variety of different projects to advance historic preservation in communities throughout the state. Interfaith Housing Development Corporation and the City of Hickory have applied for a grant to assist in their restoration of the (former) Ridgeview Public Library for use as a community meeting space and history center. Grant funds will be used for Phase I of the project which will include: window restoration, exterior trim repairs, ADA accessibility improvements to the rear entrance, and some minor interior demolition and Phase II will include all of the interior improvements to the building. The estimated project cost is $15,000. The grant received is $9,000 with the additional $6,000 in local match funds coming from Interfaith Housing Development Corporation funds. No funding from the City of Hickory is required for the grant project. However, city approval is required because the city is the Certified Local Government and must act as the grant recipient.
Q. Special Events/Activities Application for Symphony Under the Sails “Hot Time in Downtown Tonight”, Mandy Pitts, Communications Director and Brand Manager, September 29, 2013, 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm Downtown Hickory under The Sails on the Square.
R. Special Events/Activities Application for Sails Music Series – Friday Nights in September, Mandy Pitts, Communications Director and Brand Manager, September 6,13,20, and 27, 2013, 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm Downtown Hickory under The Sails on the Square.
S. Budget Ordinance Amendment Number 2.
1. To budget a $200 donation from Pepsi-Cola in the International Council expenditure line item. This donation is for the International Council Spring Fest event.
2. To budget a total of $124,005 in the Stormwater Capital Improvements line item. $41,335 is appropriated from General Fund Balance and $82,670 from Duke Energy and D & H Real Estate, LLC. This budget amendment is necessary to make funds available to pay for storm drainage repairs at F. Avenue Drive SE. The cost of this project is divided equally plus each party providing some in-kind services. The City of Hickory is responsible for paying the initial contractor and supplier invoices and will invoice the other parties once the project is complete. (This work is not related to the recent storm damage.)
3. To budget $5,086 of Miscellaneous Revenue in the Fire Departments Departmental Supply line item. These revenues are for the sale of scrap metal for training buses, unserviceable air cylinders, oil filters, etc. to a recycling center. Three checks were issued from Mountain Recycling deposited in Miscellaneous General Fund.
4. To appropriate $12,180 of General Fund Balance (Funds reserved from the State of North Carolina Un-Authorized Substance Tax revenue) and budget in the Police Department's Contracted Services line item. This amendment is necessary to pay Smith, Rodgers PLLC Attorneys for the Law Enforcement LegalSupport annual contract beginning July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014. Funds are made
available to the Police Department from the State and remain in General Fund
Balance until appropriated.
T. Approval of a Memorandum of Agreement with OHB, Inc.- Request to amend the special event permit application by modifying the site plan to include a designated area for the sales of malt beverages in accordance with NC General Statute §18B-1114.5. The dates for the events will be September 6, 13, 20, 27 and 29, 2013.
New Business - Public Hearings
1. Rezoning Petition 13-10 for Property Located on 28th Street SE, containing 3.32 acres. - The Roseman Family, LLC has petitioned for rezoning of 3.32 acres of property located along 28th Street SE. The petition involves six individual parcels, which include 1536, 1608, 1624, 1720 and two vacant parcels on 28th Street SE. The petition is to rezone the properties from Medium Density Residential (R-3) to Regional Commercial (C-3). This public hearing was advertised on July 26, 2013 and August 2, 2013 in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area.
New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Public Services Director, Chuck Hansen – Flood Recovery Update
2. Quarterly Financial Report
3. Appointments to Boards and Commissions
At right of this page under Main Information links is an Hickory's City Website link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the left of the page you will see the Agenda's and Minutes link you need to click. This will give you a choice of PDF files to upcoming and previous meetings.
You will find historic Agenda and Minutes links. Agendas show what is on the docket for the meeting of that date. The Minutes is an actual summary of the proceedings of the meeting of that date. You can also look in the upper right hand corner of the front page of the Hickory Hound and (will soon) find the link to the past history of Hickory City Newsletters.
Here is a summary of the agenda of the meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below:
Please remember that pressing Ctrl and + will magnify the text and page and pressing Ctrl and - will make the text and page smaller. This will help the readability for those with smaller screens and/or eye difficulties.
City Website has changed - Here is a link to the City of Hickory Document Center
All materials and maps for this meeting are provide at this link:
City Council Agenda - August 6, 2013
Invocation by Pastor Bill Miller-Zurell, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Special Presentations
A. Presentation of Quilt by Kenworth Neighborhood Representatives Martha Espey and Tessie Dillingham
Persons Requesting to Be Heard
A. Pastor Jack McConnell – Grace House Homeless Day Program
Consent Agenda:
A. Call for Public Hearing - For the Consideration of Voluntary Satellite Annexation of property located at 1076 Fox Chase Drive containing .42 acres. (Authorize Public Hearing for August 20, 2013)
B. Request Approval to Purchase Seven Specialized Police Package Emergency Vehicles at a Cost of $26,911.18 per Vehicle. - Hickory Police Department staff and the City of Hickory Fleet Manager have researchedand reviewed independent comparison studies comparing available police package vehicles. The 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Package two-wheel drive best fits the needs of the department based on a number of considerations. Independent test results have shown that the Tahoe has the lowest life-cycle cost to operate when compared to all other police package vehicles. Hickory Police Department recommends purchasing seven rear-wheel-drive Chevrolet Tahoe police package vehicles from Bobby Murray Chevrolet on the NC State Contract at a cost of $26,911.18 per vehicle for a total cost of $188,378.26. Funds are budgeted in the budget for FY2013-2014.
C. Citizens’ Advisory Committee Recommendations for Assistance through the City of
Hickory’s Housing Programs. The following request was considered by the Citizens’ Advisory Committee at their regular meeting on July 11, 2013:
Viola Earl, 571 9th Avenue Drive SE, Hickory, was awarded a City of Hickory’s Housing Rehabilitation Loan. The Citizens’ Advisory Committee recommends approval for assistance not to exceed $6,000 for repairs to her house. Assistance will be in the form of a 3% interest loan for a 10 year period.
Sam Hunt, 626 9th Avenue Drive SE, Hickory, was approved for Loan Subordination. The loan for Mr. Hunt was done under Housing Rehab Program. The Citizens’ Advisory Committee recommended this subordination to help him do a loan modification to lower his monthly payment/interest rate and make it more affordable. He will not be taking any money out for personal use. Funds are budgeted for these items through the City of Hickory’s former Rental Rehabilitation Program income received in FY2012 and/or program income received through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant Program.
D. Approval to Declare as Surplus a 1990 International 4900 Support Vehicle and Donate to Hickory Rescue Squad. - The Fire Department has been maintaining a 1990 International 4900 support vehicle that they acquired in 1990 from the Fairbrook District Annexation. The vehicle has not been
used on a regular basis for over eight years and has only responded to 35 emergency calls since June 27, 2005. The intent of the Fire Department is to donate this vehicle to the Hickory Rescue Squad for them to utilize as a support vehicle. Public Notice advertised on July 31, 2013 in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area.
E. Approve the Purchase of One Cab and Chassis to Use with a New Rear Packer Unit in in the Solid Waste Division. - Request approval to purchase one cab and chassis to service the 95 gallon carts at residential homes on a daily basis, along with yard waste and junk. This cab and chassis will be used with the new rear packer body purchased under the HGAC by Contract No. RHOB-12. The low bid meeting the specifications is from Southern Truck Service Inc., in the amount of $135,220, off of Chapel Hill’s piggy back bid package. Funds are budgeted in the budget for FY2013-2014.
F. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Wayne M. Bach, Julia P. Wittenberg, and Joyce P. Demmink, Co-Executors of the Estate of Mary Gladys Poovey to Herman Demmink in Oakwood Cemetery
G. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Wayne M. Bach, Julia P. Wittenberg, and Joyce P. Demmink, Co-Executors of the Estate of Mary Gladys Poovey to Claud William Wittenberg, Jr. in Oakwood Cemetery
H. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Wayne M. Bach, Julia P. Wittenberg, and Joyce P. Demmink, Co-Executors of the Estate of Mary Gladys Poovey to Julia P. Wittenberg in Oakwood Cemetery
I. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Wayne M. Bach, Julia P. Wittenberg, and Joyce P. Demmink, Co-Executors of the Estate of Mary Gladys Poovey to Paul Melcher in Oakwood Cemetery
J. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Wayne M. Bach, Julia P. Wittenberg, and Joyce P. Demmink, Co-Executors of the Estate of Mary Gladys Poovey to Joyce Demmink in Oakwood Cemetery
K. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Wayne M. Bach, Julia P. Wittenberg, and Joyce P. Demmink, Co-Executors of the Estate of Mary Gladys Poovey to Dawn Melcher in Oakwood Cemetery
L. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Wayne M. Bach, Julia P. Wittenberg, and Joyce P. Demmink, Co-Executors of the Estate of Mary Gladys Poovey to Marilyn Fleming in Oakwood Cemetery
M. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Thelma Walker Starr, unmarried to Jeffery Kuykendall in
Fairview Cemetery
N. Approval of a New Priority Use Agreement with Catawba Valley Youth Soccer Association. - The City of Hickory and Catawba Valley Youth Soccer Association (CVYSA) entered into an agreement on January 18, 2011 which stipulated that CVYSA would pay an annualfee, plus associated supervisor and light usage fees in exchange for a ten year priority use agreement. This new priority use agreement now reflects CVYSA’s commitment to contribute $125,000 towards the purchase and installation of lights on fields 2, 4, 5 and 6 at Henry Fork River Regional Recreation Park. The new agreement also relocates all CVYSA functions to the Henry Fork River Regional Recreation Park, therefore freeing up needed soccer/lacrosse field space at Neill W. Clark Jr. Recreation Park.
O. Request to Amend the Parking Ordinance for 3rd Street NE in front of Hickory High School to Prohibit Parking during School Drop-off/Pick-up Times. - Request to amend the parking ordinance along 3rd Street NE in front of Hickory High School to prohibit parking during school drop-off/pick-up times: Monday thru Friday, 6:45 am to 7:45 am and 1:45 pm to 3:00 pm.
P. Approve the Historic Preservation Fund Pass-Through Grant for the Former Ridgeview Public Library Renovation. -As a Certified Local Government, the City of Hickory and nonprofits within the city are eligible to apply for grants from the State of North Carolina to undertake a variety of different projects to advance historic preservation in communities throughout the state. Interfaith Housing Development Corporation and the City of Hickory have applied for a grant to assist in their restoration of the (former) Ridgeview Public Library for use as a community meeting space and history center. Grant funds will be used for Phase I of the project which will include: window restoration, exterior trim repairs, ADA accessibility improvements to the rear entrance, and some minor interior demolition and Phase II will include all of the interior improvements to the building. The estimated project cost is $15,000. The grant received is $9,000 with the additional $6,000 in local match funds coming from Interfaith Housing Development Corporation funds. No funding from the City of Hickory is required for the grant project. However, city approval is required because the city is the Certified Local Government and must act as the grant recipient.
Q. Special Events/Activities Application for Symphony Under the Sails “Hot Time in Downtown Tonight”, Mandy Pitts, Communications Director and Brand Manager, September 29, 2013, 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm Downtown Hickory under The Sails on the Square.
R. Special Events/Activities Application for Sails Music Series – Friday Nights in September, Mandy Pitts, Communications Director and Brand Manager, September 6,13,20, and 27, 2013, 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm Downtown Hickory under The Sails on the Square.
S. Budget Ordinance Amendment Number 2.
1. To budget a $200 donation from Pepsi-Cola in the International Council expenditure line item. This donation is for the International Council Spring Fest event.
2. To budget a total of $124,005 in the Stormwater Capital Improvements line item. $41,335 is appropriated from General Fund Balance and $82,670 from Duke Energy and D & H Real Estate, LLC. This budget amendment is necessary to make funds available to pay for storm drainage repairs at F. Avenue Drive SE. The cost of this project is divided equally plus each party providing some in-kind services. The City of Hickory is responsible for paying the initial contractor and supplier invoices and will invoice the other parties once the project is complete. (This work is not related to the recent storm damage.)
3. To budget $5,086 of Miscellaneous Revenue in the Fire Departments Departmental Supply line item. These revenues are for the sale of scrap metal for training buses, unserviceable air cylinders, oil filters, etc. to a recycling center. Three checks were issued from Mountain Recycling deposited in Miscellaneous General Fund.
4. To appropriate $12,180 of General Fund Balance (Funds reserved from the State of North Carolina Un-Authorized Substance Tax revenue) and budget in the Police Department's Contracted Services line item. This amendment is necessary to pay Smith, Rodgers PLLC Attorneys for the Law Enforcement LegalSupport annual contract beginning July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014. Funds are made
available to the Police Department from the State and remain in General Fund
Balance until appropriated.
T. Approval of a Memorandum of Agreement with OHB, Inc.- Request to amend the special event permit application by modifying the site plan to include a designated area for the sales of malt beverages in accordance with NC General Statute §18B-1114.5. The dates for the events will be September 6, 13, 20, 27 and 29, 2013.
New Business - Public Hearings
1. Rezoning Petition 13-10 for Property Located on 28th Street SE, containing 3.32 acres. - The Roseman Family, LLC has petitioned for rezoning of 3.32 acres of property located along 28th Street SE. The petition involves six individual parcels, which include 1536, 1608, 1624, 1720 and two vacant parcels on 28th Street SE. The petition is to rezone the properties from Medium Density Residential (R-3) to Regional Commercial (C-3). This public hearing was advertised on July 26, 2013 and August 2, 2013 in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area.
New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Public Services Director, Chuck Hansen – Flood Recovery Update
2. Quarterly Financial Report
3. Appointments to Boards and Commissions
Friday, August 2, 2013
What we learned this week?
1) Rudy Wright is in favor of Censorship. He thinks that many of us are too stupid to have our opinion published in the local newspaper. It seems that he thinks he is the best judge of information that should be provided for public consumption. There is a circular logic that we don't have the facts, but it is his government that is in charge of providing the facts, but we are supposedly not entitled to independently analyze the facts as provided and render an independent analysis.
He seems to think that the local media should censor information to fit his government's template. This kind of mindset would have been right at home in Bolshevik Russia and is exactly what Pravda was modeled upon. Sadly, there are people in this community that go along with this and against the founding principles of this nation and right here I am talking about the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights. If our local paper is going to censor citizen information and opinion to fit a government's controlled message, then our right to free speech has been impinged upon.
2) Rudy is in favor of raising taxes for what he himself details as "Beautification." The City would rather plant a tree than create a job. Or maybe they want to create a few tree planting jobs. People will feel better about the community when they sense we have a plan that takes us in a direction forward. We need to invest in people not property. In the end, beautification doesn't create value. We need to build things from raw goods to marketable products. That is what builds an economy.
Then we look at anecdotal evidence that driving around on Friday night the restaurants look busy, so let's get some tax revenue out of the people/restaurants. Who would this tax revenue be collected from, the people or the restaurants?
I've worked in the restaurant business since 1984. I know the restaurant business as well as anyone in this town. People that know me know that. Some of Rudy's surrogates have made fun of me and called me a fry cook. They certainly look like they know a lot about eating fried foods.
I have a Culinary Arts degree and a degree in Finance. We have an out of whack aging population here. That population represents the bulk of people going out to eat. People are ordering split plates, half portions, and doing things to cut the costs of dining out. They aren't eating out as a luxury. They are eating out for convenience sake - time and cleanup - and because it has become engrained in our culture. And behavioral economic theory tells you that if you do something to cause a change in behavior, such as people eating at home to avoid additional costs of dining out, then it will lower the projected revenues associated with the tax and hurt the restaurant businesses. Food is a higher percentage of lower income people's budgets. It is a regressive tax. It is a pass the buck tax.
And Rudy talks about Raleigh not doing anything to harm Hickory's revenues at the same time he wants to fiddle with Hickory's revenues and ask for money from Raleigh. Where is the logic in that? And in the end this money will go to the same ole people.
3) Rudy is not responsible for the last 12 years of his tenure, but he is responsible from this day forward. Really? Really?
4) Rudy Wright conveniently throws Republicans under the bus at a Democrat meeting and Democrats under the bus at a Republican meeting. He talks about not casting blame and then calls out Bob Rucho as Persona Non Grata. He calls out Hickory's City Staff on the Radio a couple weeks ago, saying he wants a Splash Pad, but the City Manager didn't put it in the budget. He calls fellow City Council Member Fox a Liberal. He calls out Joe Brannock, Jay Adams, and myself and says at a gathering we had about the referendum last year, "that the gentleman spent half his time talking about how to get convicts signed up to vote," which is not even close to true and Rudy wasn't even there.
Rudy loves throwing people under the bus, especially when it is convenient... when he thinks it is going to make his point or save his hide. Many of you don't understand that you might be next or maybe it has already happened and you don't even realize it. You might not take this seriously, but now that I have presented this case it is on you.
Thank You for the audio Conover Crusader.
He seems to think that the local media should censor information to fit his government's template. This kind of mindset would have been right at home in Bolshevik Russia and is exactly what Pravda was modeled upon. Sadly, there are people in this community that go along with this and against the founding principles of this nation and right here I am talking about the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights. If our local paper is going to censor citizen information and opinion to fit a government's controlled message, then our right to free speech has been impinged upon.
2) Rudy is in favor of raising taxes for what he himself details as "Beautification." The City would rather plant a tree than create a job. Or maybe they want to create a few tree planting jobs. People will feel better about the community when they sense we have a plan that takes us in a direction forward. We need to invest in people not property. In the end, beautification doesn't create value. We need to build things from raw goods to marketable products. That is what builds an economy.
Then we look at anecdotal evidence that driving around on Friday night the restaurants look busy, so let's get some tax revenue out of the people/restaurants. Who would this tax revenue be collected from, the people or the restaurants?
I've worked in the restaurant business since 1984. I know the restaurant business as well as anyone in this town. People that know me know that. Some of Rudy's surrogates have made fun of me and called me a fry cook. They certainly look like they know a lot about eating fried foods.
I have a Culinary Arts degree and a degree in Finance. We have an out of whack aging population here. That population represents the bulk of people going out to eat. People are ordering split plates, half portions, and doing things to cut the costs of dining out. They aren't eating out as a luxury. They are eating out for convenience sake - time and cleanup - and because it has become engrained in our culture. And behavioral economic theory tells you that if you do something to cause a change in behavior, such as people eating at home to avoid additional costs of dining out, then it will lower the projected revenues associated with the tax and hurt the restaurant businesses. Food is a higher percentage of lower income people's budgets. It is a regressive tax. It is a pass the buck tax.
And Rudy talks about Raleigh not doing anything to harm Hickory's revenues at the same time he wants to fiddle with Hickory's revenues and ask for money from Raleigh. Where is the logic in that? And in the end this money will go to the same ole people.
3) Rudy is not responsible for the last 12 years of his tenure, but he is responsible from this day forward. Really? Really?
4) Rudy Wright conveniently throws Republicans under the bus at a Democrat meeting and Democrats under the bus at a Republican meeting. He talks about not casting blame and then calls out Bob Rucho as Persona Non Grata. He calls out Hickory's City Staff on the Radio a couple weeks ago, saying he wants a Splash Pad, but the City Manager didn't put it in the budget. He calls fellow City Council Member Fox a Liberal. He calls out Joe Brannock, Jay Adams, and myself and says at a gathering we had about the referendum last year, "that the gentleman spent half his time talking about how to get convicts signed up to vote," which is not even close to true and Rudy wasn't even there.
Rudy loves throwing people under the bus, especially when it is convenient... when he thinks it is going to make his point or save his hide. Many of you don't understand that you might be next or maybe it has already happened and you don't even realize it. You might not take this seriously, but now that I have presented this case it is on you.
Thank You for the audio Conover Crusader.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Rudy Wright throwin 'em under the bus -- You Next?
Another Recording from the Conover Crusader. Rudy calls out NC Senator Bob Rucho of Charlotte to the Catawba County Democrats. He says that Bob Rucho is pretty much "Persona Non Grata" in Raleigh.
How convenient and hilarious that the Mayor goes before the Catawba County Democrats and calls out Bob Rucho, a Republican, as being "Persona Non Grata" and essentially saying he is despised. I remember last year when he went before the Republican women's group and called out Hickory City Council member Sally Fox for being too liberal.
Throwin Senator Bob Rucho of Charlotte under the bus.
Throwin Sally Fox under the bus at the Catawba County Republican Women's Forum.
The day after I released the Referendum Debate at the Republican Women's luncheon presentation, I was asked to take it down, because a certain someone went to the head of the Republican party and said that Republicans don't do this to Republicans. Last time I looked, Bob Rucho is a Republican.
This full debate was put back up after Joe Brannock and I continued to be hammered about our participation in the CEG and in the referendum battle. The Mayor says this is all supposed to be non-partisan when it is favorable for him to do so, but when people attempt to work in a non-partisan manner and build coalitions across Hickory, he casts aspersions and denigrates their efforts to truly unite the people of Hickory. He said as much when he said that Jody Inglefield was bringing partisan politics into the chamber and that he would do everything he could to make sure that Dr. Inglefield and his wife Rebecca didn't become Mayor. Last time I looked it isn't a co-mayorship and I don't see candidates battling it out with Donna Wright as this campaign moves forward.
Mayor Wright also makes his push for the 1% prepared food tax here saying it is not a regressive tax. I disagree and think it is a Pass The Buck tax and this tax has failed in most communities where it has been put to a vote of the people, because the average person is tired of being nickeled and dimed to death for political pet projects. This tax affects lower income people more, because fast food is a staple of their diets in the Underemployment Economy and food is a higher percentage of their incomes. The riots in Egypt were caused because food prices were negatively affecting poor people. I'm sure you all have been grocery shopping lately. There are a multitude of reasons this tax is bad and the Conover Crusader points to some issues I had not even thought of.
Thanks for the jumper.
How convenient and hilarious that the Mayor goes before the Catawba County Democrats and calls out Bob Rucho, a Republican, as being "Persona Non Grata" and essentially saying he is despised. I remember last year when he went before the Republican women's group and called out Hickory City Council member Sally Fox for being too liberal.
Throwin Senator Bob Rucho of Charlotte under the bus.
Throwin Sally Fox under the bus at the Catawba County Republican Women's Forum.
The day after I released the Referendum Debate at the Republican Women's luncheon presentation, I was asked to take it down, because a certain someone went to the head of the Republican party and said that Republicans don't do this to Republicans. Last time I looked, Bob Rucho is a Republican.
This full debate was put back up after Joe Brannock and I continued to be hammered about our participation in the CEG and in the referendum battle. The Mayor says this is all supposed to be non-partisan when it is favorable for him to do so, but when people attempt to work in a non-partisan manner and build coalitions across Hickory, he casts aspersions and denigrates their efforts to truly unite the people of Hickory. He said as much when he said that Jody Inglefield was bringing partisan politics into the chamber and that he would do everything he could to make sure that Dr. Inglefield and his wife Rebecca didn't become Mayor. Last time I looked it isn't a co-mayorship and I don't see candidates battling it out with Donna Wright as this campaign moves forward.
Mayor Wright also makes his push for the 1% prepared food tax here saying it is not a regressive tax. I disagree and think it is a Pass The Buck tax and this tax has failed in most communities where it has been put to a vote of the people, because the average person is tired of being nickeled and dimed to death for political pet projects. This tax affects lower income people more, because fast food is a staple of their diets in the Underemployment Economy and food is a higher percentage of their incomes. The riots in Egypt were caused because food prices were negatively affecting poor people. I'm sure you all have been grocery shopping lately. There are a multitude of reasons this tax is bad and the Conover Crusader points to some issues I had not even thought of.
Thanks for the jumper.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Rudy Wright - Inspiring Spaces - $80 million for Beautification
This is another of the recordings from the Conover Crusader that I planned on putting out today. Thanks again CC. You have done a great service here. In reading the following comment from "mbg", it fits vurry well with this presentation.
mbg commented on "Rudy Wright - Accountability from this day forward" on July 30, 2013:
While I do not hold Rudy Wright solely responsible, I do think this is indicative of the lack of an effective plan fromm our leaders to grow job opportunities in the Hickory area.I have heard what mgb states here many times over the last several years. There was an opportunity for Hickory to participate/place a bid for Honda Jet engines and the city administration showed no interest. There were federal grants available to fix the city swimming pools and the city refused to even apply. There have been many education initiatives that Hickory could qualify for and the local government has refused to act. In my opinion, this is a dereliction of duty (no not the military term), when they are not fulfilling their fiduciary responsibility to act on the public's behalf. Just because an opportunity doesn't fit your personal agenda/priorities does not mean you should not act.
I recall listening to "Monday Morning With The Mayor" nearly 2 years ago while I was driving up to Virginia to put together a new manufacturing operation that had decided to locate there. Hal asked Rudy what were we going to do about jobs in Hickory. The next 10 minutes were spent talking about Hickory's new logo which evidently was the "plan". This stuck in my mind because the company I was working with looked at Hickory first before Virginia. They were evidently under Hickory's radar, but SW Virginia really put the full court press on. Needless to say I am still in Virginia today. I have yet to see a company that cared about logos or slogans.
The Mayor talks about $80 million for beautification. The term beautification isn't going to play well in Peoria or Hickory. We truly need to reassess what is the Inspiring Spaces program. It has become a catch all program and there is a huge lack of focus when so much is incorporated under this one umbrella.
An example is that the Mayor now wants a splash pad, since he was called out in the HDR in relation to the closed swimming pools a couple of weeks ago. To be fair he initially did push the idea of a Splash Pad as set forth by Site Solutions park plan of 2010, but in the meantime he has not mentioned it. Now they want to build this splash pad under the Inspiring Spaces umbrella. Well, he pulled this rabbit out of the hat here at election time, because he knows that the majority of the people in the community think that there should be aquatic recreation in the community. He believes that this would appease the masses at the same time it will give him a talking point going into this election. I don't think it's going to fly. If programs aren't specific, then we have seen how they become boondoggles.
You can find out more from this July 9, 2013 Inspiring Spaces presentation that was held at City Hall.
This program was created as a result of trips by Hickory Administration and City Council to various cities in the region including Burlington, Asheville, Durham, Greenville, SC, Chattanooga, TN, and Roanoke, VA. A panel of well connected business and non-profit people were handpicked by Hickory City Council and then they came forward with recommendations for projects including Greenways, Gateways, Parks, and what are termed Special Places. In witnessing Hickory task forces of the past, I wouldn't be surprised if the project list wasn't determined before the first meeting took place and the outcome guided by city staff.
The biggest problem that I have seen thus far with this program is the open ended talks of a funding mechanism. They are putting the cart before the horse. The Mayor is pushing this 1% prepared food tax as a funding mechanism, while saying that it will cost $80 million over 10 years to fund this program with $20 million coming from the Local Government, $20 million coming from the State, $20 million coming from the Feds, and $20 million coming from private sources. They believe that they can raise $13 million over 10 years through this prepared food tax for the local part and one would have to assume that the other $7 million would come from the General Fund.
From the sources I have spoken with and the evidence I have seen by reading hundreds of stories about the economic situation here in North Carolina and the United States, these funding assumptions/formula are the stuff of pure folly. We cannot move forward with this overarching program until the funding is set in stone. Could you imagine moving forward with even $40 million of this and then the funding mechanism falls through. If that happened, then the community would be on the hook.
Specific parts of this program can be pulled out and funded individually as you would normally do, but this needs to be an open and transparent process. It is time for the days of Hickory City Funds going to the same insider entities all the time come to an end. It isn't anything against those businesses. It is giving all of Hickory's businesses an opportunity to participate and another thing is that Hickory businesses should come first, when it comes to projects.
I am inspired by people not property!
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Rudy Wright - Accountability from this day forward
Another Soundbyte from our friend the Conover Crusader: Rudy Wright and his surrogates have taken no responsibility for what has happened to the local economy over the last 12 years. I will be fair. There was a perfect storm that hit this community's economy in 2001. We had a convergence of the bursting of the Dot.com bubble decimating Fiber Optic production, NAFTA kicked in full throttle and had a very negative effect on our furniture and textiles, and then 9/11 was a haymaker that accelerated this reality and sent us reeling.
Many people knew that we had troubles long ago, because the type of manufacturing we had in this community was low-skilled and labor intensive. These were the first jobs that would be offshored. Jim Rice, who was a manager with Superior Cable and now is the founder of Visionaire Jets, knew that it was necessary to diversify our local Manufacturing Economy for the sake of its long term viability - Jim Rice - A Man ahead of Time - He wanted to diversify Catawba County Industry in 1977.
For years of his tenure, I'd listen to Mayor Wright do Hal Row's show on those first Monday mornings talking about how we were going to turn it around and how this was going to be our year. This Mayor and City Administration pushed the idea of moving retirees in here and turning Hickory into a retirement community and now he says that was never an emphasis. I sat in a room 4 years ago where Mick Berry talked about the Low Hanging fruit of retirees, how easy they were to attract with our infrastructure, and how it would be very difficult to get the younger generations to come here. When he didn't like the direction the conversation was heading, he split. That was a huge part of their plan, whether they want to change history or not.
This is not about me, but the constant refusal to talk about our realistic situation frustrated me to no end and that is the reason why I wrote my first letter to the editor, which they allowed as a guest column six years ago: An All-American City deserves first-class leadership - July 15, 2007
Rudy has taken no ownership over our local Economic Malaise since he took office. He was given a pass over the first four years, "because the downturn wasn't his fault and Jay Adams was one of those Wascawie Develwopers." Then Rudy had the audacity to talk about what an honor it was to be unopposed in 2009 and pushed his "All of one Mind" Council Agenda. He got everything he wanted and we're still in the same economic rut and time is still a wastin'.
Rudy's Go To Economic Development strategies/philosophies are short and sweet..... 1) Scott Millar, 2) City Staff 3) It's all Washington's fault, 4) It's all Raleigh's fault, 5) The other local communities are dragging our numbers down, 6) It's out of our control. 7) The Insider Boondoggle of the year, 8) Obfuscation with the help of surrogates.
Honestly, most rational people will understand that it would be a lot easier to actually try to accomplish some difficult tasks and let the chips fall where they may. That is the reason why Term Limits are very effective, because they render such messes as above futile. You know what or get off the pot!
Rudy was taken to task about his never accepting responsibility for his 12 years as Mayor. He's the CEO and we've lost 30,000 jobs. There aren't career options for young people. Family children, other than those of the top of the food chain around here, move away and parents don't get to see them much. Much of our problems come from the loss of these generations.
In answering, Rudy sounded incredulous that anyone would ever mention his name in the same sentence with the downturn. That is the attitude of much of the upper government of Hickory Inc. When asked about accepting responsibility, he talks about not casting blame (as if he never does) and then says that he is responsible from this day forward. What will be different in the next 4 years compared to what we have seen in the previous 12 under the continuation of a Wright Regime?
If it weren't true, it would be hard to believe.
Many people knew that we had troubles long ago, because the type of manufacturing we had in this community was low-skilled and labor intensive. These were the first jobs that would be offshored. Jim Rice, who was a manager with Superior Cable and now is the founder of Visionaire Jets, knew that it was necessary to diversify our local Manufacturing Economy for the sake of its long term viability - Jim Rice - A Man ahead of Time - He wanted to diversify Catawba County Industry in 1977.
For years of his tenure, I'd listen to Mayor Wright do Hal Row's show on those first Monday mornings talking about how we were going to turn it around and how this was going to be our year. This Mayor and City Administration pushed the idea of moving retirees in here and turning Hickory into a retirement community and now he says that was never an emphasis. I sat in a room 4 years ago where Mick Berry talked about the Low Hanging fruit of retirees, how easy they were to attract with our infrastructure, and how it would be very difficult to get the younger generations to come here. When he didn't like the direction the conversation was heading, he split. That was a huge part of their plan, whether they want to change history or not.
This is not about me, but the constant refusal to talk about our realistic situation frustrated me to no end and that is the reason why I wrote my first letter to the editor, which they allowed as a guest column six years ago: An All-American City deserves first-class leadership - July 15, 2007
Rudy has taken no ownership over our local Economic Malaise since he took office. He was given a pass over the first four years, "because the downturn wasn't his fault and Jay Adams was one of those Wascawie Develwopers." Then Rudy had the audacity to talk about what an honor it was to be unopposed in 2009 and pushed his "All of one Mind" Council Agenda. He got everything he wanted and we're still in the same economic rut and time is still a wastin'.
Rudy's Go To Economic Development strategies/philosophies are short and sweet..... 1) Scott Millar, 2) City Staff 3) It's all Washington's fault, 4) It's all Raleigh's fault, 5) The other local communities are dragging our numbers down, 6) It's out of our control. 7) The Insider Boondoggle of the year, 8) Obfuscation with the help of surrogates.
Honestly, most rational people will understand that it would be a lot easier to actually try to accomplish some difficult tasks and let the chips fall where they may. That is the reason why Term Limits are very effective, because they render such messes as above futile. You know what or get off the pot!
Rudy was taken to task about his never accepting responsibility for his 12 years as Mayor. He's the CEO and we've lost 30,000 jobs. There aren't career options for young people. Family children, other than those of the top of the food chain around here, move away and parents don't get to see them much. Much of our problems come from the loss of these generations.
In answering, Rudy sounded incredulous that anyone would ever mention his name in the same sentence with the downturn. That is the attitude of much of the upper government of Hickory Inc. When asked about accepting responsibility, he talks about not casting blame (as if he never does) and then says that he is responsible from this day forward. What will be different in the next 4 years compared to what we have seen in the previous 12 under the continuation of a Wright Regime?
If it weren't true, it would be hard to believe.
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