9 Of The Top 10 Occupations In America Pay An Average Wage Of Less Than $35,000 A Year - The Economic Collapse Blog - Michael Snyder - April 2nd, 2014 - According to stunning new numbers just released by the federal government, nine of the top ten most commonly held jobs in the United States pay an average wage of less than $35,000 a year. When you break that down, that means that most of these workers are making less than $3,000 a month before taxes. And once you consider how we are being taxed into oblivion, things become even more frightening. Can you pay a mortgage and support a family on just a couple grand a month? Of course not. In the old days, a single income would enable a family to live a very comfortable middle class lifestyle in most cases. But now those days are long gone. In 2014, both parents are expected to work, and in many cases both of them have to get multiple jobs just in order to break even at the end of the month. The decline in the quality of our jobs is a huge reason for the implosion of the middle class in this country. You can't have a middle class without middle class jobs, and we have witnessed a multi-decade decline in middle class jobs in the United States. As long as this trend continues, the middle class is going to continue to shrink. The following is a list of the most commonly held jobs in America according to the federal government. As you can see, 9 of the top 10 most commonly held occupations pay an average wage of less than $35,000 a year...
Overall, an astounding 59 percent of all American workers bring home less than $35,000 a year in wages. So if you are going to make more than $35,000 this year, you are solidly in the upper half. But that doesn't mean that you will always be there. More Americans are falling out of the middle class with each passing day.
Government Confiscation And Lifting The Veil On "The 401(k) Scheme" - Zero Hedge - Tyler Durden - April 6, 2014 - From Presidential edicts of 'MyRA' being for your own good and "will never go down in value" to Poland's 'precedent-setting' confiscation of public pensions funds for the good of the nation's debt load; and from the IMF's "one-off" wealth tax 'idea' to Europe's recent consideration of 'wholesale savings confiscations and enforced redistribution', it appears Marc Faber's warning that "from now onwards, the bailouts will also be at the expense of the asset holders, the well-to-do people. So if you have money I am sure the governments will one day take away 20-30% of my wealth," is becoming more likely every day. As the following mini-documentary explains, confirming Ron Paul's warning that "there is more chaos to come," Jim Rogers' fear that "they won’t take our bank accounts...they will take our retirement accounts," is coming true.
All The Presidents' Bankers: The Hidden Alliances That Drive American Power - Zero Hedge - Tyler Durden - April 5, 2014 - Wall Street’s War - While the protests against the Vietnam War intensified in the first years of the Nixon administration, the financial elite was fighting its own war—over the future of banking and against Glass-Steagall regulations. National City Bank chairman Walter Wriston was a steadfast warrior in related battles, as he fought with Chase chairman David Rockefeller for supremacy over the US banker community and for dominance over global finance.
Rockefeller’s sights were set on a grander prize, one with worldwide implications: ending the financial cold war. He made his mark in that regard by opening the first US bank in Moscow since the 1920s, and the first in Beijing since the 1949 revolution. Augmenting their domestic and international expansion plans, both men and their banks prospered from the emerging and extremely lucrative business of recycling petrodollars from the Middle East into third world countries. By acting as the middlemen—capturing oil revenues and transforming them into high-interest-rate loans, to Latin America in particular—bankers accentuated disparities in global wealth. They dumped loans into developing countries and made huge amounts of money in the process. By funneling profits into debts, they caused extreme pain in the debtor nations, especially when the oil-producing nations began to raise their prices. This raised the cost of energy and provoked a wave of inflation that further oppressed these third world nations, the US population, and other economies throughout the world.
192,000 Jobs Added in March but Wages Fall - Breitbart - Peter Morici - April 4, 2014 - The economy created 192,000 jobs in March, down from 197,000 in February and still well below the pace needed to lower underemployment to respectable levels. Those mediocre results are consistent with a broadly underperforming economy. Manufacturing employment lost 1,000 jobs and government stalled. Other than construction, which gained 19,000 employees, most new positions were in lower paying activities like leisure and hospitality, support activities in health care, retail, and temporary business services. Hourly earnings fell, indicating good jobs continue to be scarce. In 2013, GDP growth was only 1.9 percent, thanks to the $200 billion January tax increase and federal spending cuts, but after a slow first quarter, most economists expect the pace to accelerate to 3 percent by the second half of this year. Improved prospects are raising home values, and President Obama is not likely to get from Congress the higher taxes in his budget proposal. Jobs creation is likely to be in the range of 200,000 per month; however, should the president get the higher taxes he wants, the situation would worsen. Global growth is rebalancing from Asia to the Atlantic community, as Europe shakes off the worst of its sovereign and bank debt problems. This will reduce vulnerabilities to dodgy financial practices and economic nationalism in places like China, Japan, and Latin America. Though the shenanigans on Wall Street—ranging from high-speed traders stealing from ordinary investors to the endless imagination of the casino gamblers at the big banks—continue to threaten financial stability, the Federal Reserve and other U.S. regulatory agencies are proving more diligent than during the Bush years. This spring, more robust household formation should push housing starts above 1 million this year for the first time since 2007. The burdens of student debt require that many new dwellings be apartments, but surging residential construction will boost sales of pickup trucks so ubiquitous on construction sites, and employment in industries supporting housing and motor vehicles. In February, unemployment was steady at 6.7 percent, and the percentage of adults employed or seeking a job—the so-called participation rate—rose slightly but remains well below pre-recession levels.
And the Next Big Thing Is … Degrowth? - Washington's Blog - April 7, 2014 This is not doom-and-gloom for society–it is only doom-and-gloom for the current unsustainable arrangement (Plan A). - The Grand Narrative of the past few centuries goes something like this: from religious authority to secular authority, from agriculture to industrial, from rural to urban, from local to global, from periphery to center, from decentralized to centralized, from low-density energy to high-density energy (from wood to coal to oil/natural gas), from industrial to communication technology, from gold to fiat currencies, from linear to non-linear (complex/fractal), from local scarcity and high cost to global abundance, from islands of prosperity to continents of prosperity, from cash to credit, from collateral to leverage,from productive to consumerist and from sustainable to unsustainable. Many of these linear trends are running out of oxygen or reversing. Rigid hierarchies are being disrupted by self-organizing systems, centralization is being disrupted by decentralization, lower density alternative energy is distributed rather than concentrated, commodity costs are rising globally due to demand outstripping supply and leveraged credit is destabilizing financial systems across the globe. In the past few decades, the growth narrative has depended on “the Next Big Thing” –the new disruptive technology that drives wealth and job creation. In the early 20th century, the next big things were plentiful, and they clustered around transport and communication: autos, highways, aircraft, radio, telephony and most recently the Internet. The progress of technologies tends to track an S-Curve, with a slow gestation (experimentation that drives rapid evolution of innovations), a period of widespread adoption and technological leaps, and then a maturation phase in which advancements are refinements rather than leaps...
What Happens After the Low-Hanging Fruit Has Been Picked? (April 2, 2014)
No More Industrial Revolutions, No More Growth? (December 27, 2012)
TEDx Tokyo: The “De” Generation (8 minutes) (de-ownership, de-materialism, de-corporatism)
Degrowth, Anti-Consumerism and Peak Consumption (May 9, 2013)
The American Model of “Growth”: Overbuilding and Poaching November 19, 2013
When Conventional Success Is No Longer Possible, Degrowth and the Black Market Beckon(February 7, 2014)
Russ in Redding: The Human Face of The End of Work (September 2, 2011)
America’s Social Recession: Five Years and Counting (August 28, 2013)
The Ten Best Employers To Work For (Peak Employment) (March 28, 2013)
The Python That Ate Your Job (December 11, 2013)
Why the Status Quo Is Doomed (June 27, 2013)
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Monday, April 7, 2014
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Go - Voice of America - Asia
Asia – Go Lyrics
Dig for victory, go for gold
I don't wanna die before I get old
And I wonder where I'm going to
There's some way out, there's some way through
But I'm lost, I'm lost, I'm down again
My direction is changing, which way,
Which way can I go...
Get up and go
You start me up, you slow me down
No one can deny you get around
When you're hot, you're cold, you're in between
Asking myself what does it mean?
And I walk that tightrope, you should know
I'm losing my balance, maybe,
Maybe I should go...
Get up and go
Face to face in sympathy
But now you turn your back on me
Turn a card and win, but you may lose
Fate only has that right to choose
If you're right, leave me here, I'll die alone
You've got the time, you've just got time
You got the time just go...
Get up and go
Go
Just go...
Songwriters: WETTON, JOHN KENNETH/DOWNES, GEOFF
Go lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, EMI Music Publishing, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Asia – Voice Of America Lyrics
I heard you on the radio
Some other time
From some forgotten studio
Way down the line
So long, so long I've waited now
To hear you again
That song, that song will still remain
Become an old friend
And now, the tears are in my eyes
The sound you can't disguise
The truth comes back from lies
And all I want to hear
Voice of America, ooh, America
Voice of America, ooh, America
And then you came in stereo
Calling to me
And so I watch the videos
Across the T.V.
That sound, still ringing in my ears
From a decade ago
Around, around my head, the sound from my radio
I thought, that after all these years
The tears, the growing fears
That I would never hear
Never again
Voice of America, ooh, America
Voice of America, ooh, America
Alternative Live Version
Songwriters: WETTON, JOHN KENNETH/DOWNES, GEOFF
Voice Of America lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Newsletter about the City Council meeting of April 1, 2014
I began video recording the City Council in 2012, because of my desire that the City do it on their own as any modern 21st century community began doing long ago. I had people tell me that they couldn't make it to the meetings, but they would like to see what is going on. I was also told by some council members that my summaries did not truly reflect the record, so having a video/audio recording cannot be misinterpreted.
So below is the City Council meeting. With each agenda item, you can click on the links and it will take you to that specific point in the meeting. You can always drag the marker on the video display to the point in the broadcast that you are interested in seeing.
Agenda about the City Council meeting of April 1, 2014
- Go to this link if you would like more information about the Agenda items.
Highlighted Links below take you straight to that point in the video.
Invocation by Rev. Charles Kyker, Pastor, Christ Church
Special Presentations
A. Proclamation for Fair Housing Month to Regina Jenkins, Realty Executives, on behalf of the Catawba Valley Association of Realtors - (Per Hickory Inc.) - Mayor Pro Tempore Patton read and presented the Proclamation for Fair Housing Month to Regina Jenkins, Realty Executives, on behalf of Catawba Valley Association of Realtors. Ms. Regina Jenkins thanked Council and stated that the National Association of Realtors has long accepted April as being Fair Housing Month. She was appreciative for the recognition for the Catawba Valley Association of Realtors.
*** Mayor Pro Tempore Patton also read a Proclamation for World Autism Awareness Day.
Persons Requesting to Be Heard
A. Mr. J. Franklin Davis addressed Council regarding pure ward representation - (per Hickory Inc.) - The citizens of Hickory that voted for pure ward representation have spoken again. Even though Council is in office, they have a seat, they are supposed to be representatives; the citizens have told him that they want to take the City back for themselves. He discussed the City being the 5th most miserable City in the United States, which came out in the Gallup polls yesterday, Gallup-Health ways. He stated that the City has been the 5th most miserable City for the past several years. He continued his discussion regarding an article that he saw in the newspaper regarding a Hickory City Police Officer who had been terminated because he had assaulted a person while in his custody. He stated that he requested, approximately a year ago, a civilian policemen’s review board with subpoena capabilities. He thinks now it would be wise to think over this. He discussed his uncle’s death when he visited the City. He was in the Police Department, and his family found him dead in front of the convention center. The citizens are willing to go above and beyond that. Any police officer that they see speeding, they can take pictures using smart phones of car numbers. The policemen want to have paper on the citizens, and people visiting the City, they want to have paper on them too. There are ways that they can go around you, or above you, to file those papers and have them looked at by the federal and state government. It is time that we wake up and smell the coffee. He discussed the statements that Council had made regarding the funds that would be put towards greenways, 40 million dollars. He stated that they are constantly taking away from certain communities, in particularly the southeast section of Hickory, and southwest. They feel that they are not being represented by anyone on this board. The money that is being taken from them, it really should stay with them. He quoted from the Bible, Jesus was standing beside a man watching a parade one day. As the elders of the city were walking in a parade, Jesus ask them how do you see men walking? The man said I see them as trees. Jesus spoke the truth with them with force. When you are speaking with force, your mouth produces drops of water, spittle. He put over his eyes, and said how do you see men walking? He said I see them as they are. This City has gone down, and it continues to go down. That 40 million dollars can be a recruitment of jobs for the citizens of Hickory. Not grass seed, not park benches, or things of that nature. Hickory also has a problem of obesity. He has visited some parks that have workout equipment in the parks, free of charge for the citizens to use. If you are going to do something like that, put that in the parks. He stated if someone would come after him, because he has been stopped and antagonized by police officers. He is upset that every Police Officer that joins the force, when they talk about the southeast section of Hickory or the Ridgeview community, they are being told that it is one of the worst sections in Hickory. He would like to see that documentation because the Police Department is employed by Council. Anything that they do is a reflection on Council. They are the boss. When the person that was beat up in November, was talked to by members of the City, they were told not to press charges or anything like that. That is sad, and with Council being employers of that group they are held liable also. The citizens of Hickory love this City just as much, if not more than they do. Let’s get this together and start worrying about all of this other stuff. We do not want Hickory to be a bed and breakfast town. Hickory has a history of being a great manufacturing place. He has always been on the people. He thanked Council for hearing him.
Consent Agenda:
New Business - Public Hearings
1. Consideration of Text Amendment (TA) 14-01 to the City’s Land Development Code. - Presentation by Cal Overby
Against : Ellie Bradshaw spoke and wanted to see parking for Senior Housing kept at a lower number (.66 per dwelling) compared to what the Planning Department recommends (1 per dwelling).
*** Cal Overby stated that the reasoning for 1 space per dwelling is because at a time in the future some of these residences may revert back to standard housing.
+++ The Council Present voted unanimously for the recommendation
Below are the Power Point slides associated with this presentation:
2. Public Hearing to Install Curb and Gutter along a Portion of the West Side of the 600 Block of 8th Street Drive NW. - Presented by Andrea Surratt
+++ The Council Present voted unanimously for the recommendation
General Comments
Alderman Seaver commented that there would be a Proclamation presented at the Zahra Baker Playground for Child Abuse Prevention Month for the month of April. He invited the citizens to attend at noon on April 9th at the Zahra Baker Playground.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hound Notes:
The Interesting discussion of the night was about parking in Senior presented above by Attorney Ellie Bradshaw.
The most interesting development is the further continuance of the development that was proposed four years ago by Pete Zagaroli called the Winged Foot District. This is where Hollar Mill is located. This is where the Moretz Mill is located. This is where the Lyerly (Olde) Mill is located. And this is where the $27 million Linear Park/Sidewalk is located.
You can follow the trail in my thoughts about this meeting -
Thoughts about last night's Hickory City Council meeting - April 1, 2014
So below is the City Council meeting. With each agenda item, you can click on the links and it will take you to that specific point in the meeting. You can always drag the marker on the video display to the point in the broadcast that you are interested in seeing.
Agenda about the City Council meeting of April 1, 2014
- Go to this link if you would like more information about the Agenda items.
Highlighted Links below take you straight to that point in the video.
Invocation by Rev. Charles Kyker, Pastor, Christ Church
Special Presentations
A. Proclamation for Fair Housing Month to Regina Jenkins, Realty Executives, on behalf of the Catawba Valley Association of Realtors - (Per Hickory Inc.) - Mayor Pro Tempore Patton read and presented the Proclamation for Fair Housing Month to Regina Jenkins, Realty Executives, on behalf of Catawba Valley Association of Realtors. Ms. Regina Jenkins thanked Council and stated that the National Association of Realtors has long accepted April as being Fair Housing Month. She was appreciative for the recognition for the Catawba Valley Association of Realtors.
*** Mayor Pro Tempore Patton also read a Proclamation for World Autism Awareness Day.
Persons Requesting to Be Heard
A. Mr. J. Franklin Davis addressed Council regarding pure ward representation - (per Hickory Inc.) - The citizens of Hickory that voted for pure ward representation have spoken again. Even though Council is in office, they have a seat, they are supposed to be representatives; the citizens have told him that they want to take the City back for themselves. He discussed the City being the 5th most miserable City in the United States, which came out in the Gallup polls yesterday, Gallup-Health ways. He stated that the City has been the 5th most miserable City for the past several years. He continued his discussion regarding an article that he saw in the newspaper regarding a Hickory City Police Officer who had been terminated because he had assaulted a person while in his custody. He stated that he requested, approximately a year ago, a civilian policemen’s review board with subpoena capabilities. He thinks now it would be wise to think over this. He discussed his uncle’s death when he visited the City. He was in the Police Department, and his family found him dead in front of the convention center. The citizens are willing to go above and beyond that. Any police officer that they see speeding, they can take pictures using smart phones of car numbers. The policemen want to have paper on the citizens, and people visiting the City, they want to have paper on them too. There are ways that they can go around you, or above you, to file those papers and have them looked at by the federal and state government. It is time that we wake up and smell the coffee. He discussed the statements that Council had made regarding the funds that would be put towards greenways, 40 million dollars. He stated that they are constantly taking away from certain communities, in particularly the southeast section of Hickory, and southwest. They feel that they are not being represented by anyone on this board. The money that is being taken from them, it really should stay with them. He quoted from the Bible, Jesus was standing beside a man watching a parade one day. As the elders of the city were walking in a parade, Jesus ask them how do you see men walking? The man said I see them as trees. Jesus spoke the truth with them with force. When you are speaking with force, your mouth produces drops of water, spittle. He put over his eyes, and said how do you see men walking? He said I see them as they are. This City has gone down, and it continues to go down. That 40 million dollars can be a recruitment of jobs for the citizens of Hickory. Not grass seed, not park benches, or things of that nature. Hickory also has a problem of obesity. He has visited some parks that have workout equipment in the parks, free of charge for the citizens to use. If you are going to do something like that, put that in the parks. He stated if someone would come after him, because he has been stopped and antagonized by police officers. He is upset that every Police Officer that joins the force, when they talk about the southeast section of Hickory or the Ridgeview community, they are being told that it is one of the worst sections in Hickory. He would like to see that documentation because the Police Department is employed by Council. Anything that they do is a reflection on Council. They are the boss. When the person that was beat up in November, was talked to by members of the City, they were told not to press charges or anything like that. That is sad, and with Council being employers of that group they are held liable also. The citizens of Hickory love this City just as much, if not more than they do. Let’s get this together and start worrying about all of this other stuff. We do not want Hickory to be a bed and breakfast town. Hickory has a history of being a great manufacturing place. He has always been on the people. He thanked Council for hearing him.
Consent Agenda:
New Business - Public Hearings
1. Consideration of Text Amendment (TA) 14-01 to the City’s Land Development Code. - Presentation by Cal Overby
Against : Ellie Bradshaw spoke and wanted to see parking for Senior Housing kept at a lower number (.66 per dwelling) compared to what the Planning Department recommends (1 per dwelling).
*** Cal Overby stated that the reasoning for 1 space per dwelling is because at a time in the future some of these residences may revert back to standard housing.
+++ The Council Present voted unanimously for the recommendation
Below are the Power Point slides associated with this presentation:
2. Public Hearing to Install Curb and Gutter along a Portion of the West Side of the 600 Block of 8th Street Drive NW. - Presented by Andrea Surratt
+++ The Council Present voted unanimously for the recommendation
General Comments
Alderman Seaver commented that there would be a Proclamation presented at the Zahra Baker Playground for Child Abuse Prevention Month for the month of April. He invited the citizens to attend at noon on April 9th at the Zahra Baker Playground.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hound Notes:
The Interesting discussion of the night was about parking in Senior presented above by Attorney Ellie Bradshaw.
The most interesting development is the further continuance of the development that was proposed four years ago by Pete Zagaroli called the Winged Foot District. This is where Hollar Mill is located. This is where the Moretz Mill is located. This is where the Lyerly (Olde) Mill is located. And this is where the $27 million Linear Park/Sidewalk is located.
You can follow the trail in my thoughts about this meeting -
Thoughts about last night's Hickory City Council meeting - April 1, 2014
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Harry Hipps speaks about The Gallup-Healthways Survey
There’s been a good deal of chatter concerning the low rating Hickory received in the Gallup survey. The “public face” by many of the region’s leaders has been to not believe that the survey is accurate and to declare their love for the area. Well, many people do love the area and many like myself have longstanding roots here. But many people I’ve read on social media, talked to in person, or have heard conversing do feel stuck in a dead end area. And to live in denial is not helpful.We need honest assessments about where we are and what we need to do to bring vibrancy back to our community.
The Mayor and others are touting the Inspiring Spaces project as the ticket to economic revitalization. It won’t do it. There are some worthy projects on the list and some real dogs as well. And cities do need to move forward on some infrastructure improvements to keep a decent quality of life. Hickory has some great gems. I know I will leave some out but: the SALT block, the Museum of Art, the Hickory Community Theater, the Choral Society, the Western Piedmont Symphony, LR, the lake, our natural beauty, good location, climate and more….
We also have some real downsides: poor educational attainment by a large segment of the population, worse than average unemployment, wages, and household wealth. These things work in tandem to create our low rating. Poor education correlates with poor income which correlates with poor eating choices which correlates with poor health, which correlates with lower satisfaction with life and so on. We have some other negatives that I believe impact our well being that I will list below.
I don’t believe that city amenities are the key to reversing our fortunes. I will offer the following observations and hope others may add their keener analysis to my list.
First, we have a corporate community that does not build clusters. If you look at Charlotte for example, you see that they are a banking city, but they also try to add related businesses to the community like insurance companies. It’s not banking, but if you have banks, insurance companies, venture capital and related businesses you can attract talent that will work for a company, but if they want or need a change there are options and the whole sector can keep the talent pool working without having to leave town as their only option. When you have clusters, not just individual businesses, you can feed off each others ideas, talent pool, and synergies instead of being a collection of lone rangers.
Charlotte is a Duke Energy town. But they are working to build an energy cluster with some solar (manufacturing as well as generation), batteries and other related industries.
The airport (despite the management problems) is seeking to become a multimodal hub with air, railroad, and trucking being facilitated so that even goods that come by ship into Charleston can flow from this hub.
What is our corporate community doing (with city, private individuals, and investors) doing? Not much that I can see. We have MDI, a major food distributor, a tortilla manufacturer, a couple of commercial bakeries and you would think we could build on this core. What businesses are CommScope helping to move here? They are good community members and give to arts, and charity groups, but why aren't we building clusters like the old furniture and textile guys did?
Secondly, our media is pitiful. The radio does present a good local talk show, but the tv station is Mickey Mouse and shows shopping shows and drivel most of the day. I cringe to think about what someone from another city thinks when looking at our local tv to see what’s happening in Hickory. The local newspaper has no idea of investigative reporting and really won’t dig into issues in depth. Don’t look for them to win awards like the Charlotte paper anytime soon.
Thirdly, we have a risk adverse culture. Innovation depends on taking risk, and some of the most prosperous regions of the country have people who actually are proud of working on start up companies that failed, because they realize that it’s one form of education. No one likes to fail, but if you’re too scared to try you certainly aren’t going to be an innovator. We used to have a good deal of innovation, but no longer.
Fourthly, the City’s strategy of making us a ‘retirement village’ has been too successful. While they have changed their tune lately (with some kudos to the Hound for the focus on the issue), we are older and younger people have shunned Hickory. It’s too bad they didn’t have the foresight years ago to see what they have sown. Driving away a good music and entertainment community hasn’t done much to gain younger interest in Hickory. And it won’t be easy to change Hickory’s image.
Finally, and most worrisome to me is the culture of apathy. Too many people believe the “system” is rotten, not concerned with their situation, and only the “important” people will get their concerns addressed. So they either leave or accept mediocrity, getting by as best they can and chalking it up to just living in sad times.
Maybe I haven’t seen all the picture here and I don’t claim to have every solution. But, though I love this area and some of the great people I know here, we have a malaise here that I don’t find to the same degree in some of the places I visit. I believe Hickory can turn this around, but it will be lengthy and difficult. Denial won’t get us anywhere; work, commitment, and vision will.
Hickory Metro 2014 - Tied for 4th Most Miserable in the United States
The Mayor and others are touting the Inspiring Spaces project as the ticket to economic revitalization. It won’t do it. There are some worthy projects on the list and some real dogs as well. And cities do need to move forward on some infrastructure improvements to keep a decent quality of life. Hickory has some great gems. I know I will leave some out but: the SALT block, the Museum of Art, the Hickory Community Theater, the Choral Society, the Western Piedmont Symphony, LR, the lake, our natural beauty, good location, climate and more….
We also have some real downsides: poor educational attainment by a large segment of the population, worse than average unemployment, wages, and household wealth. These things work in tandem to create our low rating. Poor education correlates with poor income which correlates with poor eating choices which correlates with poor health, which correlates with lower satisfaction with life and so on. We have some other negatives that I believe impact our well being that I will list below.
I don’t believe that city amenities are the key to reversing our fortunes. I will offer the following observations and hope others may add their keener analysis to my list.
First, we have a corporate community that does not build clusters. If you look at Charlotte for example, you see that they are a banking city, but they also try to add related businesses to the community like insurance companies. It’s not banking, but if you have banks, insurance companies, venture capital and related businesses you can attract talent that will work for a company, but if they want or need a change there are options and the whole sector can keep the talent pool working without having to leave town as their only option. When you have clusters, not just individual businesses, you can feed off each others ideas, talent pool, and synergies instead of being a collection of lone rangers.
Charlotte is a Duke Energy town. But they are working to build an energy cluster with some solar (manufacturing as well as generation), batteries and other related industries.
The airport (despite the management problems) is seeking to become a multimodal hub with air, railroad, and trucking being facilitated so that even goods that come by ship into Charleston can flow from this hub.
What is our corporate community doing (with city, private individuals, and investors) doing? Not much that I can see. We have MDI, a major food distributor, a tortilla manufacturer, a couple of commercial bakeries and you would think we could build on this core. What businesses are CommScope helping to move here? They are good community members and give to arts, and charity groups, but why aren't we building clusters like the old furniture and textile guys did?
Secondly, our media is pitiful. The radio does present a good local talk show, but the tv station is Mickey Mouse and shows shopping shows and drivel most of the day. I cringe to think about what someone from another city thinks when looking at our local tv to see what’s happening in Hickory. The local newspaper has no idea of investigative reporting and really won’t dig into issues in depth. Don’t look for them to win awards like the Charlotte paper anytime soon.
Thirdly, we have a risk adverse culture. Innovation depends on taking risk, and some of the most prosperous regions of the country have people who actually are proud of working on start up companies that failed, because they realize that it’s one form of education. No one likes to fail, but if you’re too scared to try you certainly aren’t going to be an innovator. We used to have a good deal of innovation, but no longer.
Fourthly, the City’s strategy of making us a ‘retirement village’ has been too successful. While they have changed their tune lately (with some kudos to the Hound for the focus on the issue), we are older and younger people have shunned Hickory. It’s too bad they didn’t have the foresight years ago to see what they have sown. Driving away a good music and entertainment community hasn’t done much to gain younger interest in Hickory. And it won’t be easy to change Hickory’s image.
Finally, and most worrisome to me is the culture of apathy. Too many people believe the “system” is rotten, not concerned with their situation, and only the “important” people will get their concerns addressed. So they either leave or accept mediocrity, getting by as best they can and chalking it up to just living in sad times.
Maybe I haven’t seen all the picture here and I don’t claim to have every solution. But, though I love this area and some of the great people I know here, we have a malaise here that I don’t find to the same degree in some of the places I visit. I believe Hickory can turn this around, but it will be lengthy and difficult. Denial won’t get us anywhere; work, commitment, and vision will.
Hickory Metro 2014 - Tied for 4th Most Miserable in the United States
Thoughts about last night's Hickory City Council meeting - April 1, 2014
Agenda about the City Council meeting of April 1, 2014
Not much of interest at Council last night. Mayor Wright and Alderman Meisner were not present. This meeting lasted less than an hour. I continue with the item of interest from the Consent Agenda.
1) Consent Agenda "Item C". Looks like they are going to find a way to finance the renovation of the "Olde Hickory Mill" building. You can see this building off to the left when traveling south on Hwy 127 after passing the Railroad underpass.
Google Map Street View
Google Map Satellite Overhead Shot
Department of Commerce - NC Rural Development - Building Reuse Grants
The Hound's Notes - Bob Vollinger informed me at City Council tonight that this is the Historic Lyerly Mill. According to this website it is being marketed as a $12 million mixed-use property with Delphi Development, Zapolski Real Estate LLC.
Old Mill New Use - Hickory Daily Record - John Dayberry
Lyerly Mill Hickory - Google
This property is part of the Wingfoot District that was proposed by Pete Zagaroli back in 2010. This is the third redeveloped property that falls within that footprint; as does the proposed $27 million Main Avenue project.
From the City Council meeting of January 5, 2010
Named for Greek God Hermes
or Roman God Mercury
Map Below of the Winged Foot District
A - Hollar Crossing
B - Moretz Mills
C - Olde Hickory Mill (Lyerly Mill)
Not much of interest at Council last night. Mayor Wright and Alderman Meisner were not present. This meeting lasted less than an hour. I continue with the item of interest from the Consent Agenda.
1) Consent Agenda "Item C". Looks like they are going to find a way to finance the renovation of the "Olde Hickory Mill" building. You can see this building off to the left when traveling south on Hwy 127 after passing the Railroad underpass.
Google Map Street View
Google Map Satellite Overhead Shot
Department of Commerce - NC Rural Development - Building Reuse Grants
The Hound's Notes - Bob Vollinger informed me at City Council tonight that this is the Historic Lyerly Mill. According to this website it is being marketed as a $12 million mixed-use property with Delphi Development, Zapolski Real Estate LLC.
Old Mill New Use - Hickory Daily Record - John Dayberry
Lyerly Mill Hickory - Google
This property is part of the Wingfoot District that was proposed by Pete Zagaroli back in 2010. This is the third redeveloped property that falls within that footprint; as does the proposed $27 million Main Avenue project.
From the City Council meeting of January 5, 2010
3. Council Discussion Regarding “Wingfoot District” Redevelopment Plan; a Business District and Association Promoting Economic Development Through Residential, Commercial and Industrial Redevelopment - The Wingfoot District concept was briefly presented to City Council during its recent Council Staff Retreat in December, 2009. Since then, discussion has continued regarding planning for the redevelopment of the area between Highway 127 and the new Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard, encompassing certain areas. Pete Zagaroli envisions a partnership with the City of Hickory and private investors to develop a design plan for redevelopment including improvements to public infrastructure. This plan does not fall under the guidelines of the City’s Vacant Building Revitalization Grant, but City Staff recommends the City consider the concept of redevelopment planning since one of the goals of the Operation No Vacancy initiative is to create redevelopment plans for sub-areas within the Commercial Revitalization Area. Staff recommends that Council discuss and identify policy issues related to the City expanding it’s revitalization efforts to include design planning and financing methods and partnerships to implement plans for public infrastructure improvements in redevelopment areas.
Pete Zagaroli addressed the council, he stated that he was coming before the council as both a citizen and a designer. He is looking to create some synergies to spur economic development in the area and move things forward. His focus tonight was on conceptual ideas.
The name comes because the district area he is looking to revitalize is in the shape of a winged foot. In the district, there are eight buildings that are historically significant to the textile and hosiery industry. His concept involves the history, but it is not a historical district that he is promoting. He is promoting a business district that promotes economic development through residential, commercial, and industrial redevelopment. The area is around Lenoir-Rhyne and Mr. Zagaroli believes that is is the most significant gateway into downtown.
He based the model on Downtown Durham (which is seeing a renaissance). The district would tie the university to downtown. It will create a better gateway to downtown. the historical significance would tie in with our current historic districts and promote them and future preservation. The importance comes from the private sector. In the district, owners have spent money on drawings and redevelopment. As an estimate, the expenditures have been in the $300k-$400k range. He would like to see the city to appropriate funds towards the design work of the infrastructure within the district. He feels the private investment has to start first.
The proposed redevelopment expenditures are $11,213,714 and another $2.9 million on top of what has already been done. To isolate an area creates exclusivity. More than anything this will expedite the private investment. There is no commitment to put the infrastructure in place, only a commitment to design. If successful here, then it can be implemented elsewhere in the city. He is not meaning to slight other areas in town, but he feels this is the most important area as far as gateways.
Alder Fox thanked Mr. Zagaroli his enthusiasm and stated that she thoroughly enjoys his plans. She asked if Mr. Zagaroli had looked into how Durham had financed their downtown revitalization? Zagaroli stated that he had not, but he has intentions of doing so next week. Time is critical and this area needs a morale boost. People don't always believe what they hear and read, but they believe what they see. If we can have something tangible, then this is an overall goal that he can show a potential client. He knows that they have a lot of work (to do), the city is feeling the pain that we all are feeling. He thinks if we can find some momentum. The private sector is looking to move forward. They need the end users a reason to come here. We need to focus where it will be noticed first and the momentum can work outside of that. If we try to fix the overall area or problem, there are 700 empty buildings in Catawba County; that is too daunting a task. Let's try to fix 20 buildings and that can move outward. Then move over to west Hickory. The reason why the initiative hasn't worked on the west side is because the initiative needs to come from the private sector. The people in his district are ready to move on this and make it better, If you know that your neighbors are ready to invest and raise the value of their building, then you are going to be more willing to invest in your own property. The public part comes after that.
He is meeting with Federal and State officials to see what grants are available through them. Any money left over will be spent on aesthetics. Sewer, water, and other infrastructure is already available. If you put $2 million into raw land, it will go towards infrastructure and then there is not much left. These redevelopment projects are diamonds in the rough.
Alder Patton asked if they had applied for Operation No Vacancy grants? and he stated that they have. Further conversations went into Grants available. And Mr. Zagaroli stated that he hoped the city would not look at this as "Zagaroli Construction." What he is looking for is help with infrastructure. It is up to private business to development their building, but it is the city's responsibility to create the streetscape. He understands that everyone in afraid (of investment), but he feels that we can create morale and momentum, and give a reason to reinvest in ourselves and our community.
Alderman Lail stated that there was no doubt in his mind that with the completion of 8th street NE, that bisects this district, city council should have input on what this does look like. If we can create the district that is special and unique, then it has potential for these old buildings. Zagaroli says that this can be the ultimate in mixed-use. He wants to see it truly incorporate all of the facets. This will work within the city's protocol and guidelines from day one. These funds would be qualifying and based upon expectations.
Alderman Lail interjected that he might be piggybacking on what Sally stated earlier. There is a mechanism that city council has to facilitate this kind of development. It is called Business Improvement Districts (BID). It is a true public-private partnership that has demonstrated success throughout the State of North Carolina. Alder Fox stated that she was going to instruct staff to call Durham and find out what kind of financing they use. Durham's downtown district is huge, There are BIDs in more than just downtowns. They are in historic and business districts and it is a true public-private partnership. She believes that Mr. Zagaroli is a little ahead of council, but they are looking for means to finance these types of areas. There is a rural grant that is population specified (the Rural center Pre-Development Grant). She wants staff and council to look into these grants.
Mr. Zagaroli stated that he would do anything to move this forward. He would look into whatever grants are available, but to be frank, he can't keep moving forward on this gratuitously. Alder Fox stated that they needed to find this out and they need to do their homework and it may take a couple of months to do that homework. Alderman Lail sated that this idea is great because it focuses on the heitage of our Furniture and Textile history. Mr. Zagarili stated that this is part of a bigger picture. This isn't just about Hickory, it's about the region. There is 110 years of our history locked up in these buildings that can be lost forever. The story can create a novelty and interest. That can get people to move here.
This is about communication and moving forward and trying to achieve the same goal. He would move forward on this himself, but he cannot afford to. He wants to move forward as quickly and efficiently as possible. The council decided to discuss this issue at the same workshop in which they will discuss graffiti. Further Manager Berry asked the council to think about prioritizing some of these agenda items at the upcoming retreat.
Named for Greek God Hermes
or Roman God Mercury
Map Below of the Winged Foot District
A - Hollar Crossing
B - Moretz Mills
C - Olde Hickory Mill (Lyerly Mill)
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Economic Stories of Relevance in Today's World -- March 30, 2014
North Carolina Had More Job Losses Than Any Other State - Wall Street Journal - Jonathan House - March 28, 2014 - North Carolina led the U.S. in job losses last month, a sign of stress for a state scaling back its support for its jobless residents. The Tar Heel State shed a seasonally adjusted 11,300 jobs in February from the prior month as it continues to grapple with the decline of its traditional manufacturing, tobacco and textile industries, according to new Labor Department figures released Friday. Employment increased in 33 states, while it decreased in 17 states and the District of Columbia. Nationwide, payrolls rose 175,000 in February. North Carolina’s unemployment rate fell 0.3 percentage point to 6.4%, one the nation’s largest declines, though the fall was primarily the result of a shrinking labor force. The number of people either working or looking for work declined by 64,000 people from February 2013, according to data from the North Carolina Department of Commerce. Some economists attribute North Carolina’s workforce exodus to the expiration in July of long-term unemployment benefits that require the unemployed to continue searching for jobs. A year ago, its unemployment rate stood at 8.6%. North Carolina’s employment data have been scrutinized closely since U.S. lawmakers let a federal program for long-term benefits expire Dec. 28. So far there’s been no clear evidence that large numbers of people across the country are leaving the job market following the expiration of the federal benefits program. The nation’s labor force grew by more than half a million people in February and the unemployment rate ticked up to 6.7%.
Hickory Metro 2014 - Tied for 4th Most Miserable in the United States - March 25, 2014 - Gallup through Hickory Hound - March 25, 2014 - The Hound: From dead last in 2010 to 5th worst last year to tied with three cities for 4th worst this year. We aren't the worst in any category this year, but we skew towards the bottom in every category, which includes obesity, exercise, eating fruits and vegetables, smoking, stress, and the uninsured.
Is College A Waste Of Time And Money? - The Economic Collapse Blog - Michael Snyder - March 26th, 2014 - Are you thinking of going to college? If so, please consider that decision very carefully. You probably have lots of people telling you that an "education" is the key to your future and that you will never be able to get a "good job" unless you go to college. And it is true that those that go to college do earn more on average than those that do not. However, there is also a downside. At most U.S. colleges, the quality of the education that you will receive is a joke, the goal of most colleges is to extract as much money from you and your parents as they possibly can, and there is a very good chance that there will not be a "good job" waiting for you once you graduate. And unless you have someone that is willing to pay your tuition bills, you will probably be facing a lifetime of crippling student loan debt payments once you get out into the real world. So is college a waste of time and money? In the end, it really pays to listen to both sides of the debate.
Personally, I spent eight years at U.S. public universities, and I really enjoyed those times.
But would I trade my degrees today for the time and money that I spent to get them?
Absolutely...
Will the fixed-rate mortgage become extinct? - CNBC - Jeff Cox - March 26, 2014 - While homes will evolve considerably over the next 25 years, it is the way homes are purchased that will bear the heftiest transformation. As the current path progresses, mortgage financing will look worlds apart from its current form. The government won't be offering the same guarantees as it's been for generations, big banks won't have the same incentives to get in the business, and borrowing rates will be considerably higher as regulation continues to increase. Interviews with numerous pros in the business paint a picture of big changes to come—not all of them consumer-friendly. Most spring from a dual dynamic of the government seeking to avoid calamities like the one that triggered the financial crisis in 2008 and the industry trying to innovate and continue to profit in a more restrictive environment. "Even in normal times, we are going to see in all likelihood higher rates, particularly for less-than-stellar borrowers," said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com, which provides consumers with information about the latest borrowing data and trends. "Anybody who's got a smaller down payment, some weakness in their credit history or isn't fully documented is going to face the hurdle of higher interest rates and potential limited credit availability." That may not sound like a terribly bad thing to some ears....
Pearson furniture plant closing in High Point; 86 jobs lost - WXII (Winston-Salem) - March 27, 2014 - The longtime Pearson Co. home furnishings plant on Progress Avenue will close later this year, the second plant in the area that will be closed by the company that took over the lines of bankrupt Furniture Brands International late last year. Heritage Home Group this week informed employees of the Pearson plant that the factory will close in stages through the end of August. The closure of the factory, founded under previous owners in 1942, will affect 86 local employees. “We regret to inform you that business circumstances will force us to close our Heritage Home Group Pearson Co. location. As required by the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988 (WARN), this letter serves to give you 60 days’ advance notice of the closing,” according to a letter from Heritage Home Group, a copy of which was obtained by The High Point Enterprise. In January, Heritage Home Group announced it would close Thomasville Plant C and Thomasville Plant C-Area 100 in Davidson County, eliminating 84 jobs. The two plant closings in Thomasville also were blamed on adverse business conditions by Heritage Home Group executives. The plant closings by Heritage Home Group come as the company reportedly is being courted by High Point recruiters to relocate its corporate headquarters from its longtime home in St. Louis to here. The trade publication Furniture Today last week reported that Heritage Home Group intends to relocate its corporate office to High Point, though neither company officials nor city or High Point Market officials have publicly discussed or confirmed the move. Late last year, KPS Capital Partners announced the formation of a new company, Heritage Home Group, which acquired Furniture Brand International’s assets for $280 million. Furniture Brands’ holdings included Thomasville Furniture, Drexel Heritage, Broyhill, Lane, Henredon, Pearson, Hickory Chair, Lane Venture, Maitland-Smith and La Barge brands.
NASA Predicts "Irreversible" COLLAPSE of Society
NASA has stated what we've all known for some time now. The inevitable will occur at some point in the future. When a society has accumulated too much debt and the wealth is in the hands of too few people, the world will turn upside down. Chaos will occur. Mass civil unrest will take place. Those prepared will fare best in this new era.
NASA Models Predict Total Societal Collapse: “Irreversible” - SHTFPlan.com - Mac Slavo - March 25th, 2014 -
Hickory Metro 2014 - Tied for 4th Most Miserable in the United States - March 25, 2014 - Gallup through Hickory Hound - March 25, 2014 - The Hound: From dead last in 2010 to 5th worst last year to tied with three cities for 4th worst this year. We aren't the worst in any category this year, but we skew towards the bottom in every category, which includes obesity, exercise, eating fruits and vegetables, smoking, stress, and the uninsured.
Is College A Waste Of Time And Money? - The Economic Collapse Blog - Michael Snyder - March 26th, 2014 - Are you thinking of going to college? If so, please consider that decision very carefully. You probably have lots of people telling you that an "education" is the key to your future and that you will never be able to get a "good job" unless you go to college. And it is true that those that go to college do earn more on average than those that do not. However, there is also a downside. At most U.S. colleges, the quality of the education that you will receive is a joke, the goal of most colleges is to extract as much money from you and your parents as they possibly can, and there is a very good chance that there will not be a "good job" waiting for you once you graduate. And unless you have someone that is willing to pay your tuition bills, you will probably be facing a lifetime of crippling student loan debt payments once you get out into the real world. So is college a waste of time and money? In the end, it really pays to listen to both sides of the debate.
Personally, I spent eight years at U.S. public universities, and I really enjoyed those times.
But would I trade my degrees today for the time and money that I spent to get them?
Absolutely...
Will the fixed-rate mortgage become extinct? - CNBC - Jeff Cox - March 26, 2014 - While homes will evolve considerably over the next 25 years, it is the way homes are purchased that will bear the heftiest transformation. As the current path progresses, mortgage financing will look worlds apart from its current form. The government won't be offering the same guarantees as it's been for generations, big banks won't have the same incentives to get in the business, and borrowing rates will be considerably higher as regulation continues to increase. Interviews with numerous pros in the business paint a picture of big changes to come—not all of them consumer-friendly. Most spring from a dual dynamic of the government seeking to avoid calamities like the one that triggered the financial crisis in 2008 and the industry trying to innovate and continue to profit in a more restrictive environment. "Even in normal times, we are going to see in all likelihood higher rates, particularly for less-than-stellar borrowers," said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com, which provides consumers with information about the latest borrowing data and trends. "Anybody who's got a smaller down payment, some weakness in their credit history or isn't fully documented is going to face the hurdle of higher interest rates and potential limited credit availability." That may not sound like a terribly bad thing to some ears....
Pearson furniture plant closing in High Point; 86 jobs lost - WXII (Winston-Salem) - March 27, 2014 - The longtime Pearson Co. home furnishings plant on Progress Avenue will close later this year, the second plant in the area that will be closed by the company that took over the lines of bankrupt Furniture Brands International late last year. Heritage Home Group this week informed employees of the Pearson plant that the factory will close in stages through the end of August. The closure of the factory, founded under previous owners in 1942, will affect 86 local employees. “We regret to inform you that business circumstances will force us to close our Heritage Home Group Pearson Co. location. As required by the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988 (WARN), this letter serves to give you 60 days’ advance notice of the closing,” according to a letter from Heritage Home Group, a copy of which was obtained by The High Point Enterprise. In January, Heritage Home Group announced it would close Thomasville Plant C and Thomasville Plant C-Area 100 in Davidson County, eliminating 84 jobs. The two plant closings in Thomasville also were blamed on adverse business conditions by Heritage Home Group executives. The plant closings by Heritage Home Group come as the company reportedly is being courted by High Point recruiters to relocate its corporate headquarters from its longtime home in St. Louis to here. The trade publication Furniture Today last week reported that Heritage Home Group intends to relocate its corporate office to High Point, though neither company officials nor city or High Point Market officials have publicly discussed or confirmed the move. Late last year, KPS Capital Partners announced the formation of a new company, Heritage Home Group, which acquired Furniture Brand International’s assets for $280 million. Furniture Brands’ holdings included Thomasville Furniture, Drexel Heritage, Broyhill, Lane, Henredon, Pearson, Hickory Chair, Lane Venture, Maitland-Smith and La Barge brands.
NASA Predicts "Irreversible" COLLAPSE of Society
NASA has stated what we've all known for some time now. The inevitable will occur at some point in the future. When a society has accumulated too much debt and the wealth is in the hands of too few people, the world will turn upside down. Chaos will occur. Mass civil unrest will take place. Those prepared will fare best in this new era.
NASA Models Predict Total Societal Collapse: “Irreversible” - SHTFPlan.com - Mac Slavo - March 25th, 2014 -
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Agenda about the City Council meeting of April 1, 2014
This Agenda is about the Hickory City Council meeting that took place on
the date listed above. City council meetings are held on the first
and third Tuesdays of each Month in the Council Chambers of the Julian
Whitener building.
At right of this page under Main Information links is an Hickory's City Website link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the left of the page you will see the Agenda's and Minutes link you need to click. This will give you a choice of PDF files to upcoming and previous meetings.
You will find historic Agenda and Minutes links. Agendas show what is on the docket for the meeting of that date. The Minutes is an actual summary of the proceedings of the meeting of that date. You can also look in the upper right hand corner of the front page of the Hickory Hound and (will soon) find the link to the past history of Hickory City Newsletters.
Here is a summary of the agenda of the meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below:
Please remember that pressing Ctrl and + will magnify the text and page and pressing Ctrl and - will make the text and page smaller. This will help the readability for those with smaller screens and/or eye difficulties.
City Website has changed - Here is a link to the City of Hickory Document Center
City Council Agenda - April 1, 2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hound's Notes:
1) Consent Agenda "Item C". Looks like they are going to find a way to finance the renovation of the "Olde Hickory Mill" building. You can see this building off to the left when traveling south on Hwy 127 after passing the Railroad underpass.
Google Map Street View
Google Map Satellite Overhead Shot
Department of Commerce - NC Rural Development - Building Reuse Grants
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invocation by Rev. Charles Kyker, Pastor, Christ Church
Special Presentations
A. Proclamation for Fair Housing Month to Regina Jenkins, Realty Executives, on behalf of the Catawba Valley Association of Realtors
Persons Requesting to Be Heard
A. Matthew Church, Regarding Outside Rates for Water Fees
Consent Agenda:
A. Approval of a Proclamation for Arbor Day, April 26, 2014.
B. Call for Public Hearing – for Consideration of the Community Development Block Grant 2014 Annual Action Plan. (Authorize Public Hearing for April 15, 2014)
C. Authorizing a Resolution for the Rural Economic Development Division North Carolina Department of Commerce Building Reuse Program Project “Old Hickory Mill” Building Reuse Application.
D. Budget Ordinance Amendment Number 21.
1. To budget a $25 Library donation in the Library Programming line item for Senior Bingo.
2. To transfer $7,500 from General Fund Contingency to the Economic Incentive line item. This transfer is to fund the first incentive payment of $7,500 to Turbotec per the incentive agreement.
3. To transfer a total of $55,000 from Water and Sewer Contingency to the Collection System line item ($20,000) and to the Distribution line items ($35,000). This transfer is necessary to cover overages in Overtime and Fuel expenses, caused by the 07-27-13 storm that FEMA will not reimburse.
4. To transfer $54,000 from Water and Sewer Contingency to the Sewer Treatment line item. This transfer is necessary to cover expenses for the remainder of the year for the treatment and processing of sanitary sewer that is transported to Conover from Hickory for treatment prior to discharge.
New Business - Public Hearings1. Consideration of Text Amendment (TA) 14-01 to the City’s Land Development Code. - On an annual basis the Planning and Development Services Department conducts a review of the City’s Land Development Code to determine if amendments are needed. During its current review staff has identified a number of recommended amendments to Articles 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 10 of the City’s Land
Development Code. Many of the proposed amendments to Articles 2 and 6 of the Land Development Code are required due to the passage of new or revised laws by the North Carolina General Assembly, while the remainder represent modifications staff believes will better serve development within the City of Hickory. This public hearing was advertised in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area on March 21, and March 28, 2014.
2. Public Hearing to Install Curb and Gutter along a Portion of the West Side of the 600 Block of 8th Street Drive NW. - The City Clerk has received a petition from the owner of property along the west side of the 600 block of 8th Street Drive NW to install curb and gutter along a portion of their street as per Section 29-2 of the Hickory Code of Ordinances. The signature on the petition represent 100% of the property owners affected, and 100% of the property footage affected. Staff requests approval of the Resolution directing that the street improvement project be undertaken. This public hearing was advertised in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area on March 21, 2014.
At right of this page under Main Information links is an Hickory's City Website link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the left of the page you will see the Agenda's and Minutes link you need to click. This will give you a choice of PDF files to upcoming and previous meetings.
You will find historic Agenda and Minutes links. Agendas show what is on the docket for the meeting of that date. The Minutes is an actual summary of the proceedings of the meeting of that date. You can also look in the upper right hand corner of the front page of the Hickory Hound and (will soon) find the link to the past history of Hickory City Newsletters.
Here is a summary of the agenda of the meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below:
Please remember that pressing Ctrl and + will magnify the text and page and pressing Ctrl and - will make the text and page smaller. This will help the readability for those with smaller screens and/or eye difficulties.
City Website has changed - Here is a link to the City of Hickory Document Center
City Council Agenda - April 1, 2014 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hound's Notes:
1) Consent Agenda "Item C". Looks like they are going to find a way to finance the renovation of the "Olde Hickory Mill" building. You can see this building off to the left when traveling south on Hwy 127 after passing the Railroad underpass.
Google Map Street View
Google Map Satellite Overhead Shot
Department of Commerce - NC Rural Development - Building Reuse Grants
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invocation by Rev. Charles Kyker, Pastor, Christ Church
Special Presentations
A. Proclamation for Fair Housing Month to Regina Jenkins, Realty Executives, on behalf of the Catawba Valley Association of Realtors
Persons Requesting to Be Heard
A. Matthew Church, Regarding Outside Rates for Water Fees
Consent Agenda:
A. Approval of a Proclamation for Arbor Day, April 26, 2014.
B. Call for Public Hearing – for Consideration of the Community Development Block Grant 2014 Annual Action Plan. (Authorize Public Hearing for April 15, 2014)
C. Authorizing a Resolution for the Rural Economic Development Division North Carolina Department of Commerce Building Reuse Program Project “Old Hickory Mill” Building Reuse Application.
D. Budget Ordinance Amendment Number 21.
1. To budget a $25 Library donation in the Library Programming line item for Senior Bingo.
2. To transfer $7,500 from General Fund Contingency to the Economic Incentive line item. This transfer is to fund the first incentive payment of $7,500 to Turbotec per the incentive agreement.
3. To transfer a total of $55,000 from Water and Sewer Contingency to the Collection System line item ($20,000) and to the Distribution line items ($35,000). This transfer is necessary to cover overages in Overtime and Fuel expenses, caused by the 07-27-13 storm that FEMA will not reimburse.
4. To transfer $54,000 from Water and Sewer Contingency to the Sewer Treatment line item. This transfer is necessary to cover expenses for the remainder of the year for the treatment and processing of sanitary sewer that is transported to Conover from Hickory for treatment prior to discharge.
New Business - Public Hearings1. Consideration of Text Amendment (TA) 14-01 to the City’s Land Development Code. - On an annual basis the Planning and Development Services Department conducts a review of the City’s Land Development Code to determine if amendments are needed. During its current review staff has identified a number of recommended amendments to Articles 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 10 of the City’s Land
Development Code. Many of the proposed amendments to Articles 2 and 6 of the Land Development Code are required due to the passage of new or revised laws by the North Carolina General Assembly, while the remainder represent modifications staff believes will better serve development within the City of Hickory. This public hearing was advertised in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area on March 21, and March 28, 2014.
2. Public Hearing to Install Curb and Gutter along a Portion of the West Side of the 600 Block of 8th Street Drive NW. - The City Clerk has received a petition from the owner of property along the west side of the 600 block of 8th Street Drive NW to install curb and gutter along a portion of their street as per Section 29-2 of the Hickory Code of Ordinances. The signature on the petition represent 100% of the property owners affected, and 100% of the property footage affected. Staff requests approval of the Resolution directing that the street improvement project be undertaken. This public hearing was advertised in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area on March 21, 2014.
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