State of Catawba County 2013 - presentation by County Manager Tom Lundy

This is a follow up to Catawba County by the Numbers. 

As I stated in that report:
Went to this "State of Catawba County" meeting on Tuesday that was sponsored by the Catawba County Interagency Council. The meeting was held at the Conover Station, a fitting place to be on 9/11 with the 9/11 Memorial they have there. Had a Spaghetti lunch provided by Austin Pearce of the Hickory Soup Kitchen. It was a nice event and Catawba County Manager Tom Lundy summarized the Demographic, Economic, and Social status of the area by providing the following interactive quiz and then providing the answers.

Here are the answers:

20130911- State of Catawba County - Tom Lundy - (Audio Quality is mixed - Big Room without a Mic, but is interesting)

Agenda about the City Council meeting of September 17, 2013

This Agenda is about the Hickory City Council meeting that will take place on the date listed above. City council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each Month in the Council Chambers of the Julian Whitener building.

At right of this page under Main Information links is an Hickory's City Website link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the left of the page you will see the Agenda's and Minutes link you need to click. This will give you a choice of PDF files to upcoming and previous meetings.

You will find historic Agenda and Minutes links. Agendas show what is on the docket for the meeting of that date. The Minutes is an actual summary of the proceedings of the meeting of that date. You can also look in the upper right hand corner of the front page of the Hickory Hound and (will soon) find the link to the past history of Hickory City Newsletters.

Here is a summary of the agenda of the meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below:

Please remember that pressing Ctrl and + will magnify the text and page and pressing Ctrl and - will make the text and page smaller. This will help the readability for those with smaller screens and/or eye difficulties.

City Website has changed - Here is a link to the City of Hickory Document Center

All materials and maps for this meeting are provide at this link:

City Council Agenda - September 17, 2013


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

Invocation by Rev. Whit Malone, Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church

Special Presentations
A. Business Well Crafted Award to First Security Company, Inc. – Presented by David Gissy
from the Business Development Committee

Persons Requesting to Be Heard

Consent Agenda
A. Approval of an Appearance Grant for Non-Residential Property Owned by Judy Greenhill and Ricky D. Greenhill in the Amount of $3,307.43. -  The Community Appearance Commission requests approval of an Appearance Grant for non-residential property owned by Judy Greenhill and Ricky D. Greenhill located at 805 Main Avenue SW, in the amount of $3,307.43. The proposal involves the renovation of the exterior façade of the building. These improvements will include new stonework and painting, as well as exterior lighting fixtures. The applicant has provided two bids for the items listed above, which total $6,614.85 and $7,698.08. Given the estimates provided, the proposal qualifies for a $3,307.43 grant.

B. Approval of an Appearance Grant for Non-Residential Property Owned by 7HE Properties LLC in the Amount of $5,000. -  The Community Appearance Commission requests approval of an Appearance Grant for non-residential property owned by 7HE Properties LLC located at 1010 3rd Avenue Drive NW, in the amount of $5,000. The proposal involves the renovation of the exterior façade of the building. These improvements will include the replacement of the existing awning, exterior painting, lighting fixtures and guttering. The applicant has provided two bids for the items listed above, which total $10,476 and $15,491. Given the estimates provided, the proposal qualifies  for a $5,000 grant.

C. Approval of an Appearance Grant for Non-Residential Property Owned by Katie Hudson Purgason, Julie J. Hudson, Harry Lindy Hudson Jr. and Anita C. Hudson in the Amount of $5,000. -
The Community Appearance Commission requests approval of an Appearance Grant for non-residential property owned by Katie Hudson Purgason, Julie J. Hudson, Harry Lindy Hudson Jr. and Anita C. Hudson located at 248 1st Avenue NW in the amount of $5,000. The proposal involves the renovation of the exterior façade of the building. These improvements will include the replacement of the existing awning and windows, trim work and paint. The applicant has provided two bids for the items listed above, which total $16,128 and $18,900. Given the estimates provided, the proposal qualifies for a $5,000 grant.

D. Approval of an Appearance Grant for Non-Residential Property Owned by Cornerstone Counseling Center in the Amount of $4,400. -  The Community Appearance Commission requests approval of an Appearance Grant for non-residential property owned by Cornerstone Counseling Center located at 439 1st Avenue NW, in the amount of $4,400. The proposal involves the renovation of the landscaping around the building. These improvements will include the removal of unkempt landscaping materials and their replacement with new plant materials, mulch, and stone work. The applicant has provided two bids for the items listed above, which total $8,800 and $9,890. Given the estimates provided, the proposal qualifies for a $4,400 grant.

E. Approval of a Landscape Grant for Non-Residential Property Owned by Cornerstone Counseling Center in the Amount of $2,500. - The Community Appearance Commission requests approval of a Landscape Grant for non-residential property owned by Cornerstone Counseling Center, located at 439 1st Avenue NW, in the amount of $2,500. The proposal involves the renovation of the parking area located on the property. These improvements will include the resurfacing and restriping of the parking area. The applicant has provided two bids for the items listed above, which amount to $8,257.05 and $9,300. Given the estimates provided, the proposal qualifies for a $2,500 grant.

F. Approval of a Landscape Grant for Non-Residential Property Owned by EDGE Coaching LLC in the Amount of $2,500. -  The Community Appearance Commission requests approval of a Landscape Grant for non-residential property owned by EDGE Coaching LLC located at 825 3rd Avenue NW, in the amount of $2,500. The proposal involves the renovation of the exterior landscaping and parking area located on the property. The improvements will include new plant materials and concrete. The applicant has provided two bids for the items listed above, which amount to $5,100 and $8,570. Given the estimates provided, the proposal qualifies for a $2,500 grant.

G. Approval of a Landscape Grant for Non-Residential Property Owned by Half Step Down LLC in the Amount of $2,500. -  The Community Appearance Commission requests approval of a Landscape Grant for non-residential property owned by Half Step Down LLC, located at 406 4th Street SW, in
the amount of $2,500. The proposal involves the renovation of the exterior landscaping and parking area located on the property. The improvements will include the removal of a tree stump and the resurfacing of the parking area. The applicant has provided two bids for the items listed above, which amount to $5,400 and $7,150. Given the estimates provided, the proposal qualifies for a $2,500 grant.

H. Call for Public Hearing – For the Consideration of Rezoning Petition 13-11 for the Property Located at 1076 Fox Chase Drive, Newton, containing .43 acres. (Authorize Public Hearing for October 1, 2013)

I. Approval of an Offer to Purchase and Contract for Property Located at 2051 Snow Creek Road NE, Hickory, North Carolina, in the Amount of $85,000 from Frank L. Evans and wife, Reeva P. Evans. -
The property located at 2051 Snow Creek Road NE is adjacent to the city owned wastewater lift station. The property is currently developed with one single family home. The Public Utilities Department has expressed interest in the property to serve both as a buffer for the existing lift station, and to enable future expansion of the lift station. The tax value of the property is currently $93,800. The property owner has presented an offer for the City of Hickory to purchase the property for $85,000. Total cost will be approximately $92,000 with closing costs and demolition costs. Public Utilities acquisition funds are available to purchase the property.

J. Approval of Change Order Number 2 in the Amount of $11,532.76 to Jimmy R. Lynch & Sons for the Hickory-Catawba Wastewater Treatment Plant (HCWWTP) Upgrade. -  Change order number two consists of eight items, with two being deductive changes from the project and six items being added due to permitting or unforeseen construction issues. The largest item that is included in this change order is $7,199.57 for revisions to the egress plan at the control and pump building due to Building Code requirements. Building Code required that a safe egress platform be added to this exit due to the door leading to the stairs. All other additive items are related to unanticipated conditions and have arisen through construction activities. The largest of the remaining items is for $6,818.42 for addition of plug valves at the sand filters to simplify draining and isolation for maintenance. The City of Hickory and Catawba County will split all expense equally at 50% each according to the contract.
The two deductive items total $15,856.99 and are related to a piping change that simplified the custom piping that had been designed for the effluent structure and eliminated some heat tracing and insulation from pipes that will maintain a continuous flow.
Contract change orders one and two total $72,580.19, or .71% of the original project contract. The revised contract total to date will be $10,292,237.19.

K. Approval of Task Order (Change Order) Number 2 in the Amount of $4,400 to Davis & Floyd, Inc. for Hickory-Catawba Wastewater Treatment Plant (HCWWTP) Upgrade. -  Task order (change order) two consists of one item related to additional services required by the Public Utilities Department. This item is related to the rerouting of the air lines from the pump control building to the sludge storage tanks due to excessive slope on the lines and the presence of rock discovered in the field. This task order will save the project money related to trench rock blasting and excavation. The City of Hickory and Catawba County will split all expense equally at 50% each according to the contract. Task orders one and two total $13,400, or 2.57% of the original contract amount.

L. 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 September 5, 2013:
 Jeffrey Beard was approved for recommendation to City Council for first time homebuyer’s assistance to purchase a house located at 1446 20th Avenue NE, Hickory. He had requested $6,500 for assistance with down payment and closing costs. The First-Time Homebuyers Assistance Loan is zero interest, no payments and repaid upon sale, refinance or payoff of first mortgage. Funds are budgeted for this item through the City of Hickory’s former Rental Rehabilitation Program income received in FY2011 and/or program income received through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant Program.

M. Approval of a Resolution and Lease Agreement Between the City of Hickory and Ronald Andrew Jones and Jennie Nicole Frye for Property Located at 304 3rd Street SW, Hickory. - Hickory Police Department purchased and renovated the property located at 304 3rd Street SW, Hickory, and are requesting City Council to approve the lease of the property to Ronald Andrew Jones and Jennie Nicole Frye. The lease will be for a one year period, beginning October 1, 2013, at a rate of $600 per month.

N. Approval of an Agreement for Bulk Water Sales with Icard Township Water Corporation. - The City of Hickory and Icard Township Water Corporation had a contract for the provision of potable water since January 5, 1993. The City of Hickory has provided water to Icard Township Water Corporation (ITWC) at a water metering station located west of the Hickory Regional Airport. ITWC and the City jointly constructed these improvements in 1993 to allow for this interconnection and provision of potable water to ITWC customers including the Town of Hildebran area and other portions of Burke County surrounding the town. The existing agreement was for an initial 20 year period and expired on June 30, 2013. Staff request approval of a renewal 20-year agreement for bulk water sales with Icard Township Water Corporation.

O. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Ron Swift (aka Ronald Clay Swift) and wife, Rhea H. Swift to Brenda Parsons Bush and husband Bobby Wesley Bush Jr. in Oakwood Cemetery

P. Grant Project Ordinance Number 1.
1. To budget a $23,860 FY2013 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant award in the Police Departments non-asset inventory line item. The City of Hickory received the grant through the Federal Justice Assistance Grant (J.A.G.) program. This grant requires no local matching funds from the City. The Police Department will use funds to purchase in-car cameras.

Q. Budget Ordinance Amendment Number 4.
1. To appropriate $500 of General Fund-Appropriated Fund Balance to the Parks and Recreation Departmental Supplies line item. $500 of unspent Easter Egg Hunt donations were not used and therefore funds rolled into General Fund at year end. This amendment will place $500 back in the Parks and Recreation Departmental line item for the FY13-14 Easter Egg Hunt.
2. To transfer $38,313 of remaining revenues in excess of expenditures, related to the Hickory District Court Facility in FY12-13, from the General Fund to the District Court Capital Reserve Fund.
3. To decrease the Fire Department Capital Vehicles line item by $729,864 and transfer funds back to General Fund-Appropriated Fund Balance. This budget amendment is necessary for an accounting adjustment to reflect the purchase of a fire truck in FY12-13.
4. To transfer $5,500 of GF-Appropriated Fund Balance to the FBO (Fixed Base Operations) Departmental Supplies line item. In FY12-13 the Airport received a $20,000 grant from Eastern Aviation of which $5,500 remained at year end. Those funds didn't roll forward to the current year, therefore an amendment is necessary to budget the remaining funds in the FBO departmental supplies line item. The remainder of funds are for repairs to the FBO and airport improvements.
5. To transfer $92,000 of Water and Sewer-Appropriated Fund Balance and budget in the Water and Sewer Capital Land line item. This amendment is necessary to pay $85,000 for the purchase of the home and an additional $7,000 to cover closing costs and demolition of the building on the property located at 2051 Snow Creek Rd. NE. This property is located adjacent to a city owned wastewater lift station. The property will serve both as a buffer for the existing lift station and will enable future expansion of the lift station.
6. To transfer $55,000 from Water and Sewer Capital Reserve to the Distribution Division Contracted Services line item. This amendment is necessary to pay for two resurfacing projects located at 34th Ave. NE and 13th Ave. NW which resulted from waterline projects at those locations.

New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Library’s Presentation of Summer Reading Program Highlights

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

3. Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Hickory Mayor Forum - League of Women Voters - September 13, 2013

Friday night, the Catawba County League of Women Voters hosted a mayoral forum at Highland Recreation Center. All six candidates were invited, but Dr. Jody Inglefield was unable to attend because of a prior commitment that he could not get out of. This forum only came together a few days ago and I had to work, so I could not attend, so Joe Brannock took over the duty of video recording the meeting.

Candice Harold, Terry Revels, Jeff Brittain, Ernie Masche, and Rudy Wright answered three questions posed by the League of Women Voters. Much of the forum focused on the current state of the Hickory Economy.

In watching this forum, one could see four candidates who see issues in the community that need to be addressed and an incumbent Mayor who wants to maintain the status quo. Mayor Wright has several catch phrases as he pushes Inspiring Spaces as the marquee to his campaign. He says that we have turned the corner and that is the reason why these people are running; because the economy is better.  No one wanted to run four years ago, because we were in an Economic Depression. He was the only person willing to run four years ago, although he was telling us all on Hal Row's show four years ago that it was somehow an endorsement by the citizens of Hickory. So which is it?

The voters will have to make the call as to whether they agree with the five candidates who would like to see the city run differently or the three term Incumbent who says that he isn't going to change a thing about the way he operates.

Before you go to the video, I would like to point out a misnomer that has been pushed forward by the Mayor about the Forum from last Tuesday night. He has been going around saying that he was called a "Stinky Fish." The Mayor should retract what he said, but I doubt he will, which is fine.  A political race isn't for the faint of heart.  This link will take you to the 39:13 mark. Dr. Inglefield was talking about Senior City Staff and said that, "fish rots from the top. We've got a rotten fish and it smells at City Hall." There are legitimate reasons for him to have that opinion. Maybe if the Mayor had been at the event on Tuesday night, he'd have understood what Dr. Inglefield was talking about, because the rest of us did.

The Mayor says during this debate that he doesn't think he ever said Inspiring Spaces is going to cost $80 million. You can also go to the link at the bottom where the Mayor point blank says that Inspiring Spaces is going to cost $80 million ($20 million State, $20 million Federal, $20 million Hickory, and $20 million hopefully from private interests - $2 million each over 10 years). Special thanks to the Conover Crusader. Link to the $80 million Comment.

One last comment - Can we make sure that we get a Designated Driver for the inebriated.  I want people to be safe entering and leaving these events.







$80 million for Beautification

Arrested for asking what she was entitled to - One year ago today

One year ago today marks the first anniversary of the day when Rebecca Inglefield was arrested for asking for Public Information about the Sails on the Square project. She is entitled to the information according to North Carolina law and yet we have still not received the information to this day. And now thanks to someone else, who is paying attention, we find more discrepancies in the records.




Why did Rebecca have a recording device? You tell me.

Catawba County by the Numbers - Test

Went to this "State of Catawba County" meeting on Tuesday that was sponsored by the Catawba County Interagency Council. The meeting was held at the Conover Station, a fitting place to be on 9/11 with the 9/11 Memorial they have there. Had a Spaghetti lunch provided by Austin Pearce of the Hickory Soup Kitchen. It was a nice event and Catawba County Manager Tom Lundy summarized the Demographic, Economic, and Social status of the area by providing the following interactive quiz and then providing the answers.

I will let you look this over and see if you can match up the answers and tomorrow I will provide the answers as summarized by County Manager Lundy along with the audio of his presentation.

The following is a summary of the Interagency Council mission (Click the picture to magnify).

Below is a Membership application form if interested (Click the picture to magnify).

On Saturday, the Citizen's For Equity in Government is sponsoring a meet the Candidates forum. You are invited to attend. Information below.

The Grassy Knoll on Union Square

One year ago yesterday marks the first anniversary where I was invited to City Hall to look at the documents related to the "Sails on the Square" project. Despite to this day not having all of the answers (Fabric Costs and Bidding), new questions have arisen over the "Sails" project. This came about not through my own investigation, but that of a third party. I have been reluctant to link to this site before, because it is a parody site that has taken great liberties with language and description in a manner that may turn many people off. But, the information provided today in the most recent article shows something else awry with the documents as presented as factual by Hickory Incorporated.

What the documents show, in six different receipts, is that 4,750 sq feet of sod were purchased for the Sails on the Square project at a total cost of $1,262.50. In the total scope of the project that doesn't seem to be much, but where the questions arise is that 4,750 sq feet of grass is 3 times the total of the grassy area on Union Square. This just doesn't make sense. What is going on here and what about the information that is provided in this expense report can we trust?

 Kneel Before Sod - The Tumblr account devoted to Rudy Wright - September 11, 2013

One fact that the author has wrong is when he proposes the below:

Rebecca Inglefield went to jail over this stupid Sails on the Square construction expense report, which is freely available on the City of Hickory website so she should have just been cited for not knowing how to use the search button.

The expense report was not available online at the City Website until soon after Rebecca's arrest.

The City has kept receipts for the smallest of items used on the project - screws, saw blades, etc., -  but they still claim to be unable to provide any documentation related to the cost of the actual fabric the "Sails" are made of. The City claims that no documentation even exists. How can that be? How could the company know how to fill the order, if there was no documentation? Did the material just miraculously appear in the hangar at the airport where the Sails were constructed? There had to at least have been a shipping label when the material arrived in it's crates, I presume?

Below are pictures of the actual receipts from the actual file that was dumped upon Rebecca that day. Please question us. Please look into this yourselves.

10 Questions with Terry Revels - Candidate 2013 Hickory City Mayoral Election

Today marks the 5th Anniversary of the Hickory Hound. Thank You for coming to this news source for information and most of all thank you for being interested enough to come here to receive a perspective that is different from what is acceptable to many of the people who are supposedly the leaders in our community. 

We have problems, but we all have to be the solution. The Motto of our great State, the Old North State, is Esse Quam Videri - "To Be rather than to Seem". And yet, we are told in our community that it is all about the message we project. Those people have it backwards folks. Don't talk about it. Be about it. It's all about reality. In 2nd Corinthians Chapter 11, the apostle Paul talks about boasting of ones sufferings. There is nothing wrong with talking about the Reality in this community. From 2nd Corinthians Chapter 11, "³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. ³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying."

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Terry Revels is a Candidate in the upcoming Hickory City Mayoral race. He will first face an October 8th primary against incumbent Mayor Rudy Wright and fellow challengers Dr. Joseph Inglefield, Ernie Masche, Candice Harold, and Jeff Brittain. If he succeeds in being one of the top two vote getters, then he will move on to the November 5th at large election. The questions posed here are available for all candidates to answer. I have agreed to post them without critique and there will be no critical comments allowed in this article. There will be a "Candidates" Hickory Municipal Elections tab to the Right of this article. It will show anything related to these candidates as we move forward in this process. Anyone who wants to participate is free to do so. Please feel free to contact me at hickoryhound@gmail.com

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

I was born in Charlotte, NC and was raised in Gaston County. Both my parents were hard working folks and I think wonderful to me. I went to school in Ranlo, NC and High School in Lowell, NC. After High School, I went to Central Piedmont Community College, and received an Associate Degree in Police Science and Criminology. Later in my life, I went back to college and received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Liberal Science from the University of The State of New York. I came to Hickory in 1990 (23 years ago) to start my business, which was ACT Communications, which I later sold. I had several other businesses at the same time that I later sold. Seems like every time I start a business and get it off the ground, someone wanted to buy it. I have several accomplishments. The first of course, is my family. I met my wife in High School and I guess you can say the rest is history. We also have two grown sons. However, professional accomplishments are: Joining the Navy and entering into the Air Traffic Control field. This is a major achievement in my life. The requirements to graduate from ATC school are very high both from the Navy's school and from the FAA's school. So I am very proud of this achievement. Next was when I was hired to manage a local bakery's transportation department. And last was when I went back to school and became a CNA II (Certified Nursing Assistant). I have worked several places as a CNA, but I really enjoyed working at Frye Regional Medical Center.

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

My Navy Career, I think to me, was my proudest accomplishment. I love the Navy and Air Traffic Control. I enjoyed working in the Radar room. It was during this period, one night at Naval Air Station Meridian, MS that a Navy fighter aircraft on final was at low fuel and during a thunderstorm was trying to land and I, as a qualified Ground Approach Controller, was able to help guide him to a safe landing. I received a heart felt thank you from that pilot and a lot of attaboys from my friends. It was a proud moment. And also in my Professional life, I think working with people that have had hip and knee surgery has to be right up there. I love to watch their face when they can walk the first time without the pain. It is a moment that God gave me and it is a wonder to see.

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

I would have to say, if you ask people that know me they would say "Oh Mr. Revels, He is Honest and when he tells you something, you can take it to the bank". Dependable, and he is full of Integrity.

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

Opinions, Opinions. Everybody has one. I try not to get too involved with them. If the opinion is about me, I hope it is good, but I can go on if it is not. However, I do listen to everyone and I weigh what is said carefully. But, in the end if I were Mayor, I would make my decision based on the needs of the people and what is then the best we can do.

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

The mistake I regret most was a traffic accident where several people were injured. I was in the Police Department on my way to investigate an accident with injuries when I had an accident myself. Several people were injured. Without going too deep into this, I would just like to say that I regret this accident and I think about it almost daily. I could have killed someone, but the lord was on my side and there were just injuries, but I have become very cautious about things. I hope as your Mayor, I can only do what is right, then move on.

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

JOBS,JOBS, JOBS... if I could make it happen no one would be on welfare and all people would be healthy and work at a job with a great salary. Because JOBS with a living wage make a person feel great, because they can support their family and if they were single they would feel they have a future and something to look forward to.

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

The one project that can be done with no money is to organize communities into support groups for each other. Get out and meet your neighbors. This would work for many project. Community protecting each other, or community dancing, or just sitting and talking about things in general. Also we could have representatives to come together and work for what is in the best interest of each neighborhood.

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

Looking down the road over the next 5, 10, 20 years is difficult to see. At this moment, I see a stagnant Hickory with the economy in decline. I doubt that it can be turned around quickly. I think it will be a slow come back and at best I see a less than 5 percent growth. So If I would look at the next 10 to 20 years, I believe things will improve, but a hard road is ahead. I have always said that I believe NAFTA has the responsibility for this decline, but the current administration in this city did nothing to slow the loss. I will do more to see this great city gets as much help from the Mayor's office as I can.

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

I don't care much for a legacy, but I want the people to remember that I was the Mayor they could reach out and talk to and I was the Mayor that started new and innovating things in Hickory.

10) How do you define Leadership?

Leadership can be described as bringing people together to accomplish a common task. And that is what I will do. So my fellow citizens of our wonderful city, let's get on with the job at hand and get it done. I will lead, and with your help, lets find the jobs and fix the budgets of excessive spending and get more for our money. Try to fix, or tear down, old buildings. Make our parks beautiful and most of all bring jobs here. Vote for me on October the 8th.