Thoughts about the Hickory City Council meeting - June 17, 2014

In the Chambers

Larry Pope speaks about Alderman Lail's Conflict of Interest - Brad Lail fiancee - CEO with Land Design. Larry ends up having a back and forth with the Mayor after he finishes and Alderman Lail makes a motion to call Larry Out of Order.

Now onto the bond referendum Departmental report. This has been a formality for a year. Same way of doing business that we have seen in the past. They will keep going to this well until stopped.

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The Bond Referendum was in the cards long ago. Persons Requesting to be Heard is where the action occurred, because Hickory Inc. chose to make the Bond issue a Departmental Report and with a Departmental Report comes no public debate allowed. Steve Ivester and Larry Pope addressed the Council.


Steve Ivester addressed the City Council about the City's agreement with MAB Acquisitions:

V. Approval of an Amendment to the Economic Development Agreement with MAB Acquisitions, LLC for the Development of City Owned Property at Cloninger Mill Road and NC 127.

Mr. Ivester reiterated his point about the City not accepting the $900,000 offer for the property at Cloninger Mill and finding another place for MAB to locate the proposed Grocery Store. This occurred on March 21, 2014.

Ivester has participated in Innovate Catawba - Inspiring Communities. He watched the Staff's Bond Referendum presentations on Youtube. He stated that he does not represent any group, interest, or party; only himself. His concern is the integrity of process at City Hall.

While the Sails project is liked by many, others still have concerns with it, but all do not have to agree. ' The funds used were from parking fees meant for a parking deck on Union Square.' The Fund was treated as a slush fund. Project ran 73% over initial projections. Citizens never received accounting... led to unfair and unfortunate consequences.

High handed and irresponsible behavior casts doubt on city staff's ability to manage a project of this type. He likes many aspect of the Inspiring Spaces proposal. What was guessed to be a $90 million (later clarified $80 million) project has led to a $25 million bond referendum... someone is not shooting straight. City staff needs to show the ability to handle smaller projects first. He agrees with the proposed Industrial Pank, but wants to know more about whether it will be like Fairgrove Business Park or like Catawba Boulevard. He wants the Industrial Park put on the ballot, but to delay the other improvements until another cycle.


Larry Pope  spoke several meetings ago against the bond referendum. Many people in the city are against it. Thanked Mr. Ivester and has the same feelings about city using funds for things they weren't intended for and Council uses funds for things they have a vested interest... for things that the people who control this council want.

Mr. Pope said he had made a phone call to the North Carolina School of Government regarding conflicts of interest. Mr. Lail is engaged and getting married in November to one of the CEO's of Land Design. He (Mr. Lail) discussed and voted to approve that group to do the planning for Inspiring Spaces. Then at one of the meetings he found out that there is a person that holds the last name Zagaroli. He doesn't know if it is Council Member Zagaroli's daughter, daughter in-law, or wife that was a member of the committee formed to discuss and voted on Inspiring Spaces. They chose members (of the Inspiring Spaces Committee) to be a rubber stamp for what the City Council wanted and not what the overall community wanted. How is it that you can always come up with the money to do the things you want... that you claim beautifies our city, when you are only targeting certain areas of our city... just like you targeted Union Square with the Sails on the Square that we estimate you spent almost a million dollars on. You dipped into funds set aside for other projects...

$5 for city tags are not going for sidewalks... we have so many things that need to be cared for, but they don't get done unless they (Council) want them to get done. He spoke about a personal injury and a legal action he is currently taking.


Hound's Note: For those who haven't seen Larry Pope address the Council before, they may think he is being combative and he was to a certain extent. He always goes to the podium and attempts to conform to protocol and decorum.You saw twice in this Persons Requesting to be Heard segment, with both Pope and Ivester, where the Mayor waited until people left the podium to make comments regarding what these people had said. I have seen this a multitude of times over the years I have attended these meetings.

I think it is fine for the Mayor to do that, but if he is going to make comments, then he should expect the person he is addressing such comments towards to respond. The Mayor hides behind a comment about the First Amendment (Freedom of Speech), but a multitude of times I have seen comments and actions where he wants to control others speech. The Mayor refuses to answer questions when people take an adversarial position to the Hickory Inc. company line, so if he (or other council members) refuses to have a back and forth with concerned citizens, then they should remain mum when the person leaves the podium, unless he wants to allow the person he is directing the comment about/or towards to debate the matter further.

Steve Ivester's comments were on point when he talked about high handed and irresponsible behavior. As far as the current electoral system in Hickory, we have seen the patronage the Mayor said would come with the Ward system. We have seen that with Hickory's unique electoral system. 

There are definite Conflicts of Interest happening all over the place in Hickory. The Mayor shouldn't fuss about people utilizing the legal system against the city, when Hickory Inc. has two paid lawyers on staff and a bevy of taxpayer paid attorneys and consultants at their disposal that they stand behind and tiptoe and tap dance all over the United States and North Carolina Constitutions and Statutes with. Hickory Inc. never does more than the minimum prescribed by the law, but they expect the maximum from anyone who questions or takes an adversarial position to the company line. People fuss about the IRS, well I think Hickory Inc. must have stolen the playbook.

The Mayor says he and the Council aren't controlled by anyone. I can name names, but I won't. It isn't about those people. It is about people who don't seem to understand their responsibility and have chosen to act in their own personal interest over the good of the community. People fuss about Washington and Raleigh. It boils from the bottom folks.


Hound Quote: The definition of Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. I know I'm not crazy, because I see the same thing over and over again and I expect the same result.

God's Gonna Cut You Down - Various

(Wikipedia) -  "God's Gonna Cut You Down", also known as "Run On" and "Run On for a Long Time", is a traditional folk song which has been recorded by numerous artists representing a variety of genres. The lyrics are a warning to sinners that no matter how hard they try, they will not avoid God's judgment.


God's Gonna Cut You Down - Johnny Cash

You can run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Sooner or later God'll cut you down
Sooner or later God'll cut you down

Go tell that long tongue liar
Go and tell that midnight rider
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down

Well my goodness gracious let me tell you the news
My head's been wet with the midnight dew
I've been down on bended knee talkin' to the man from Galilee
He spoke to me in the voice so sweet
I thought I heard the shuffle of the angel's feet
He called my name and my heart stood still
When he said, "John go do My will!"

Go tell that long tongue liar
Go and tell that midnight rider
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down

You can run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Sooner or later God'll cut you down
Sooner or later God'll cut you down

Well you may throw your rock and hide your hand
Workin' in the dark against your fellow man
But as sure as God made black and white
What's done in the dark will be brought to the light

You can run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Sooner or later God'll cut you down
Sooner or later God'll cut you down

Go tell that long tongue liar
Go and tell that midnight rider
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut you down
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut you down
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut you down

Economic Stories of Relevance in Today's World -- June 15, 2014

Good Riddance To Rep. Eric Cantor: Bagman For Wall Street And The War Party - Zero Hedge - Tyler Durden - June 13, 2014 - Its possible to describe Rep.Eric Cantor as a serial sell-out. But that would be giving an unprincipled politician driven by an unalloyed ambition to climb the greasy pole of Washington power too much credit. In truth, Cantor never campaigned for any recognizable principle; he merely maneuvered his way to the top of the House GOP hierarchy by following in the tawdry footsteps of modern GOP bagmen like Tom DeLay and Roy Blunt.                      One commentator had Cantor pegged right on the money, as it were, years ago. One the heels of the 2010 GOP landslide, it was evident that Cantor’s true ambition was to accumulate a massive war chest to further his own ambitions, not to seize on the tea party momentum to fundamentally reverse the tide of Big Government:

Hand-picked by Majority Whip Roy “Abramoff-R-Us” Blunt early in his tenure to be a deputy whip, sort of an official water-carrier, Cantor moved up swiftly through the ranks as a Blunt protégé, because he was cheerfully obedient when sitting in the room with Friends of Abramoff and because he was unusually good at the money. “He’s about the money,” one wag offers admiringly.

But he was never about conservative principles. Instead, Cantor is one of those post-Reagan Republicans who have managed to reduce conservative policy to such grandiose, content-free platitudes that there is never any danger that their stump speeches at home, or even on the floor of the House, will get in the way of doing Washington business as usual.                          There are certain litmus tests that cogently demonstrate the difference between platitude and principle—-and one of them pertains to the matter of crony capitalist subsidies and tax breaks for big business. On that score, I once heard Cantor give a stem-winder in behalf of free markets at a conference full of business and financial types who nodded, applauded and whooped it up. But that was just a pro forma sermon. The next day he was back in Washington making sure that the Ex-Im bank authorization was extended for another 3-years...


The Generational Short: Banks, Wall Street, Housing and Luxury Retail Are Doomed - Washington's Blog - Charles Hugh Smith -  June 14, 2014 -  If Gen-Y cannot afford to buy Boomers’ houses at bubble-level prices, then what will keep housing prices at these elevated levels?                       Mish recently posted excerpts of a Brookings Institution study on changing generational values: How Millennials Could Upend Wall Street and Corporate America. The gist of the report is that Gen-Y (Millennials) view money, prestige, adversarial confrontation and managerial methods differently from the Baby Boom and Gen-X generations, and that this set of values will change Corporate America, the economy and the culture as Boomers exit managerial positions and their peak earning/spending years.                     Though we have to be careful in characterizing tens of millions of individuals as all reflecting one set of generational values, the basic idea is simply one of context:people who grow up in a specific milieu are naturally prone to sharing broadly similar perceptions and values.                     The Brookings authors claim that Millennials do not favor the adversarial style of the Boomers (competition and confrontation as means of advancing one’s cause/position) nor do they place great value on luxury goods as evidence of exclusivity. They actively distrust/loathe the banking sector and are financially conservative, preferring cash to investing in Wall Street.                     Asked to choose their ideal (corporate/state) job, their choices reflect preferences for a mix of security, idealism and technology. The big flaw in this career questionnaire (as far as I can discern) is that it did not offer the alternatives of self-employment/ entrepreneurship. Anecdotally, it seems clear that there is a strong entrepreneurial drive in Gen-Y–for example, What I’ve learned in my first year as a college dropout.                     One factor the report did not address fully is real estate/housing, which depends on bank-issued debt (mortgages) and the belief that a lifetime of paying a mortgage will magically result in financial security, based on the greater fool notion that someone in the future will be willing to pay more for an asset that hasn’t changed either qualitatively or quantitatively (other than needing more maintenance as it ages). This raises two issues: if Gen-Y cannot afford to buy Boomers’ houses at bubble-level prices, then what will keep housing prices at these elevated levels? Answer: nothing.Without strong demand for housing at sky-high prices, valuations will drop to whatever level demand can support. That level can be far lower than conventional housing analysts believe possible because they are still extrapolating Baby Boomer preferences and earnings into a future which will be quite different from the housing bubble decades.                         The second issue is a question: how much of the Boomers’ housing wealth will trickle down to Gen-Y when they actually need housing, i.e. when they’re starting families?                              The answer may well be: very little. If Gen-Y is unwilling or unable to take on enormous mortgages to buy bubble-priced housing, we can project a housing market in which Boomers are unloading millions of primary homes as they seek to downsize/raise cash for retirement but there aren’t enough Gen-Y buyers willing or able to buy these millions of homes at bubble valuations.                           In this scenario, home prices must decline to align with Gen-Y’s salaries (i.e. their ability to qualify for huge mortgages) and their willingness to shoulder bank-based debt.

If Gen-Y essentially opts out of the belief that financial security depends on buying a house with a large mortgage, then the U.S. housing market will have no sustainable foundation for price appreciation. Housing could easily decline by 50% in highly inflated markets.                   The same dynamic will shred stock market valuations. If Gen-Y opts out of supporting the banks and Wall Street, the demand for Wall Street’s products will plummet, bringing stocks back down to historical levels–once again, perhaps 50% of the current bubble valuations.                            The funny thing about core values is that they are resistant to arguments such as “you should get a mortgage and invest all your money in Wall Street.” Once people opt out of the fantasy that buying a house and entrusting one’s capital with Wall Street leads to guaranteed financial security, no amount of cajoling or propaganda will change their values-based decisions...

Millennials 'overwhelmed' by debt - CNN Money - Blake Ellis - June 11, 2014 - Four in 10 millennials say they are "overwhelmed" by their debt -- nearly double the number of baby boomers who feel that way, according to a Wells Fargo survey of more than 1,600 millennials between 22 and 33 years old, and 1,500 baby boomers between 49 and 59 years old.                     To try to get out from underneath it, 47% said they spend at least half of their monthly paychecks on paying off their debts. On average, respondents put the biggest chunk of their income toward paying credit card bills, followed by mortgage debt, student loan debt, auto debt and medical debt.                       But even as they struggle financially -- with more than half living paycheck to paycheck -- many are making sure to at least tuck a little money away for savings. More than half of respondents said they are currently saving for retirement. Of that group, 46% are saving between 1% and 5% of their income. Another 31% are saving between 6% and 10%, while 18% are saving more than 10%.                      "The silver lining of the recession that started over five years ago is that a majority of millennials get that saving is a necessity and even equate it with 'surviving' tough times," said Karen Wimbish, director of Retail Retirement at Wells Fargo.


19 Reasons Why You Can Laugh When Anyone Tells You That The Economy Is In Good Shape - The economic Collapse Blog - Michael Snyder - June 10, 2014 - Have you heard the one about the “economic recovery” in the United States?  It’s quite funny, but it is not actually true.  Every day, the establishment media points to the fact that global stock markets have soared to unprecedented heights as evidence that the economy is improving.  But just because a bunch of wealthy people have gotten temporarily even richer on paper does not mean that the real economy is in good shape.  In fact, as you will see below, things just continue to get even tougher for the poor and the middle class.  Retail stores are closing at the fastest pace since the fall of Lehman Brothers, the rate of homeownership in this country is the lowest that it has been in 19 years, one out of every five families do not have a single member that is employed, and one out of every five children is living in poverty.  We are working harder, earning less and going into more debt.  With each passing day, the middle class gets a little bit smaller and the ranks of the poor get a little bit larger.  But at least the stock market is doing great, eh?                                If the U.S. economy really was doing well, government dependence would not be at epidemic levels.                              If the U.S. economy really was doing well, we wouldn’t have more than a million public school children that are homeless.                           If the U.S. economy really was doing well, the percentage of Americans that have a job would not be lower than it was when the last recession supposedly “ended”.                            Nobody that takes an honest look at the numbers can honestly say that the U.S. economy has recovered.  The following are 19 reasons why you can laugh when anyone tells you that the economy is in good shape…   

Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Continue to Climb - PR Newswire - Bankrate, Inc. - June 12, 2014 - Mortgage rates are on the rise again this week, with the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rate moving up to 4.34 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.34 discount and origination points.                             To see mortgage rates in your area, go to http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/mortgages/.                      The average 15-year fixed mortgage rate inched up to 3.43 percent, while the larger jumbo 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 4.41 percent. Adjustable rate mortgages were also higher this week, with the 5-year ARM rising to 3.37 percent, the 7-year ARM jumping to 3.58 percent.                        As 2013 came to a close, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 4.69 percent. At that time, a $200,000 loan would have carried a monthly payment of $1,036.07. After drifting lower for much of the first five months of 2014, the average rate is now 4.32 percent, and the monthly payment for the same size loan would be $994.45, a savings of nearly $42 per month for anyone that waited.

US consumer sentiment slips in June - CNBC.com - June 13, 2014 - U.S. consumer sentiment fell in June as views by consumers with the lowest incomes soured, a survey released on Friday showed.                           The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's preliminary June reading on the overall index on consumer sentiment came in at 81.2, down from 81.9 the month before.                         It was below the median forecast of 83.0 among economists polled by Reuters.                "The change from May was too small to indicate a significant loss in sentiment," survey director Richard Curtin said in a statement.                        "The small month-to-month variations aside, the main finding from the recent surveys is that consumers have maintained their expectations at reasonably favorable levels for the past six months."                    The survey's barometer of current economic conditions rose to 95.4 from 94.5 and was below a forecast of 95.7.                            The survey's gauge of consumer expectations slipped to 72.2 from 73.7, and missed an expected 74.6.                  The survey's one-year inflation expectation was at 3.0 percent down from 3.3 percent, while the survey's five-to-10-year inflation outlook was at 2.9 percent compared with 2.8 percent...



RadioShack Is Collapsing - Business Insider - Rob Wile and Myles Udland - June 10, 2014 - RadioShack shares were down as much as 21% in premarket trading after the electronics retailer reported a wider than expected quarterly loss.                             The company posted a net loss of $98.3 million, or $0.97 a share. Analysts were looking for a loss of $0.52 per share.                        Revenue fell 13% from a year ago to $736.7 million and on a same-store basis, sales fell 14%, which the company said was driven by traffic declines and poor sales in its mobile business. Analysts were expecting revenue of $767.5 million.                         The electronics retailer said it ended the quarter with total liquidity of $423.7 million, including $61.8 million in cash and cash equivalents and $361.9 million available under a credit agreement.                       "Overall, our first quarter performance was challenged by an industry-wide decline in consumer electronics and a soft mobility market which impacted traffic trends throughout the quarter," chief executive Joseph Magnacca said in a statement.                             Magnacca added that the company has taken steps to cut costs, including lowering its corporate head count and reducing discretionary expenses.                     These charts show RadioShack's performance over the last year and the last decade.                   It's not pretty...


ObamaCare penalty to hit one million low-income Americans - Fox News - Washington Free Beacon - Elizabeth Harrington - June 10, 2014 - Roughly one million low-income Americans will pay a fine under ObamaCare, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).               The CBO estimated that four million people would pay the individual mandate penalty for not having health insurance by 2016 as a result of the president’s health care law, according to a report released last week,  “All told, CBO and [the Joint Committee on Taxation] JCT estimate that about four million people will pay a penalty because they are uninsured in 2016 (a figure that includes uninsured dependents who have the penalty paid on their behalf),” the report said. “An estimated $4 billion will be collected from those who are uninsured in 2016, and, on average, an estimated $5 billion will be collected per year over the 2017–2024 period.”                               A chart accompanying the report revealed that 200,000 of those paying the penalty earn less than 100 percent of the poverty line. An additional 800,000 are considered low-income, earning between 100 and 199 percent of the poverty level.                       President Barack Obama was once critical of an individual mandate precisely because of its effect on low-income Americans. During a primary debate against Hillary Clinton, then-candidate Obama criticized the idea of a mandate for imposing fines on people who could not afford health insurance.



140 Years Of Gold & Silver In 10 Minutes - Mike Maloney

Agenda about the City Council meeting of June 17, 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 - June 17, 2014


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 The Hound's Notes:
1) The Bond Initiative is being presented as a Departmental report. So if people intend to be heard on the matter, they are going to have to be ready to speak during "Persons Requesting to be Heard". If you know someone who wants to address the Council on this matter, then please inform them. There is no set aside time during Departmental Reports for the public to address the Council.

2) We can already see in the wording below that the Council will be moving forward with the Bond Referendum. They are using the same attorneys that addressed the Council during Council's Charlotte retreat back on February 28, 2014.

Hickory City Council Dines And Talks Taxes In Charlotte - WFAE (NPR) - Tasnim Shamma - March 3, 2014

Uncertainty still blankets Inspiring Spaces initiative - Hickory Daily Record - February 28, 2014


Projects will have a pricetag - Kyle McCurry, Digital Journalist -WJZY Channel 46 Charlotte, NC




Reader Concerns about Inspiring Spaces - June 12, 2014
Citizen Review - Power Point Presentation 
Ridgeview Citizen Review - Thoughts about the Ridgeview Citizen Review meeting
Citizens Briefing Presentation - 04/29/2014
20140603 - Hal Row 's First Talk - Budget, Inspiring Spaces, & Bond Referendum



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


Special Presentations
A. Proclamation for National HIV Testing Day to Linda H. Sheehan, Director of Education and  Outreach/ALFA
B. Presentation of the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2013. This is the nineteenth consecutive year the City has received this recognition.
C.  Business Well Crafted Award to Abee Architect PA, Dallas Abee presented by Business Development Committee Member Alan Jackson

Persons Requesting to Be Heard

Consent Agenda:
A. Approval to Accept an Award of Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Planning Grant in the amount of $20,160. - Library Staff requests approval of acceptance of the no-match Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Grant in the amount of $20,160 that was awarded to Hickory Public Library by the State Library of North Carolina to be used to hire a consultant and pay other related expenses involved in the development of a new strategic plan during FY 2014-2015.

B. Approval to Close Patrick Beaver Memorial Library and Ridgeview Branch Library on Friday, August 15, 2014. - Library Staff requests approval to close the Patrick Beaver Memorial Library and the Ridgeview Branch Library on Friday, August 15, 2014 to allow time for all library employees to participate in Staff training. Training will include Myers-Briggs personality typing, a motivational and/or generational speaker, and training on use of NC Works, a job search tool developed by the NC Department of Commerce.

C. Call for Public Hearing – for Consideration of Text Amendment (TA) 14-02 to the City’s Land Development Code. (Authorize Public Hearing for July 15, 2014)

D. Approval of a Resolution Approving the Town of Catawba Local Water Supply Plan. - North Carolina General Statute §143-355 requires all public water systems have a Local Water Supply Plan that gives a report of the water systems current demands and projection for future demands. This analysis is required to be performed and reported annually by public water suppliers with major updates every five years that require the passage of a Resolution approving the document by the governing board. Staff requests approval of a Resolution approving the Town of Catawba Local Water Supply Plan.

E. Approval of a Resolution Approving the City of Hickory Local Water Supply Plan. - North Carolina General Statute §143-355 requires all public water systems have a Local Water Supply Plan that gives a report of the water systems current demands and projection for future demands. This analysis is required to be performed and reported annually by public water suppliers with major updates every five years that require the passage of a Resolution approving the document by the governing board. Staff requests approval of a Resolution approving the City of Hickory Local Water Supply Plan.

F. Request from Hickory Police Department to Award Police Badge and Service Weapon to Retiring MPO Fred Hicks. - By authority of NC General Statute §20-187.2, City Council may award the service weapon and police badge to retiring MPO Fred Hicks upon his retirement from Hickory Police Department on July 1, 2014 after completing 30 years of qualifying service with Hickory Police Department. Upon approval from City Council, the police badge and service weapon will be declared surplus and removed from the City’s fixed asset inventory.

G. Request from Hickory Police Department to Award Police Badge and Service Weapon to Retiring Sergeant Greg Shook. - By authority of NC General Statute §20-187.2, City Council may award the service weapon and police badge to retiring Sergeant Greg Shook upon his retirement from Hickory Police Department on July 1, 2014 after completing 30 years of qualifying service with Hickory Police Department. Upon approval from City Council, the police badge and service weapon will be declared surplus and removed from the City’s fixed asset inventory.

H. 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 June 5, 2014:
The following applicant is being recommended for approval for assistance under the City of Hickory’s 2013-2014 Urgent Repair Program. This program provides qualified low income citizens with assistance for emergency-related repairs not to exceed $5,400.
 Terry Huffman, 841 18th Street NE, Hickory

I. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Interfaith Housing Development Corporation for FY 2014-2015 in the Amount of $30,000. - On January 22nd and 29th, 2014 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. City Council approved the allocation at their April 15th meeting. Interfaith Housing Development Corporation is a non-profit organization engaged in providing affordable homeownership opportunities to low and moderate income families. They are also the owners of the former Ridgeview Public Library, which they are planning to rehabilitate for use as a community center. Interfaith Housing Development Corporation requested and has been approved for a grant in the amount of $20,000 and a loan of $10,000 to assist in the rehabilitation of the former library into a community center.

J. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Safe Harbor Rescue Mission, Inc. for FY 2014-2015 in the Amount of $9,834. - On January 22nd and 29th, 2014 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. City Council approved the allocation at their April 15th meeting. Safe Harbor Rescue Mission, Inc. is a neighborhood based non-profit organization engaged in providing shelter, counseling, and rehabilitation services to chronically dependent and homeless women. Safe Harbor Rescue Missions, Inc., operates a day shelter for homeless women at their facility on 2nd Avenue SE. Safe Harbor Rescue Missions, Inc. requested and has been approved for funding in the amount of $9,834 through the City’s Community Development Block Grant Program to enhance the services provided by the day shelter.

K. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Community Ridge Daycare for FY 2014-2015 in the amount of $1,900. - On January 22nd and 29th, 2014 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. City Council approved the allocation at their April 15th meeting. Community Ridge Daycare provides low cost childcare services for at risk children in order to enable parents to gain employment or attend school. It also provides extra services, including speech therapy for the children. The funds requested would be used to renovate an existing classroom and install an emergency fire door. Community Ridge Daycare has requested and been approved for funding in the amount of $1,900 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant Program.

L. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry, Inc. for FY 2014-2015 in the amount of $9,834. - On January 22nd and 29th, 2014 the City of Hickory Department of Planning &Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. City Council approved the allocation at their April 15th meeting. Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry, Inc. provides a Free Clinic, assisting needy and indigent persons with medical care they may otherwise not receive, including dental, medical and pharmacy services. Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry, Inc. has requested and been approved for funding in the amount of $9,834 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant Program.

M. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Hickory Soup Kitchen, Inc. for FY 2014-2015 in the amount of $9,834. - On January 22nd and 29th, 2014 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. City Council approved the allocation at their  April 15th meeting. The Hickory Soup Kitchen provides meals to the City’s homeless and/or low income population. The Hickory Soup Kitchen has requested and been approved for funding in the amount of $9,834 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant Program.

N. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Exodus Outreach Foundation, Inc. for FY 2014-2015 in the amount of $9,834. - On January 22nd and 29th, 2014 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. City Council approved the allocation at their April 15th meeting. Exodus Homes is a neighborhood based non-profit organization engaged in providing shelter, counseling, and rehabilitation services to chronically dependent and homeless men and women. Part of Exodus Homes’ process of moving clients toward self-sufficiency includes funding an Employment Coordinator support person to assist them in securing job training and employment. Exodus Outreach Foundation, Inc. has requested and been approved for funding in the amount of $9,834 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant Program.

O. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Aids Leadership Foothills Area Alliance, Inc. for FY 2014-2015 in the amount of $9,834. - On January 22nd and 29th, 2014 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. City Council approved the allocation at their April 15th meeting. Aids Leadership Foothills Area Alliance, Inc. provides quality services to people living with HIV/AIDS and offers HIV prevention education programs to the community at large. Aids Leadership Foothills Alliance, Inc. has requested and been approved for funding in the amount of $9,834 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant Program.

P. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with City of Refuge for FY 2014-2015 in the amount of $3,100. - On January 22nd and 29th, 2014 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. City Council approved the allocation at their April 15th meeting. City of Refuge provides afterschool enrichment programs for school aged children in grades one through five. The afterschool sessions provide a structured learning and development environment with instruction and activities based on the North Carolina course of study and year-end testing activities. City of Refuge requested and been approved for funding in the amount of $3,100 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant Program.

Q. Approval of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Agreement with Habitat for Humanity of the Catawba Valley, Inc. for FY 2014-2015 in the amount of $20,000. - On January 22nd and 29th, 2014 the City of Hickory Department of Planning & Development under the auspices of the Community Development Block Grant Program held two neighborhood meetings. The meetings were held at Ridgeview Library and at City Hall. At these meetings, non-profit organizations were granted the opportunity to request funding for the upcoming year. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviewed and recommended funding for these agencies. City Council approved the allocation at their April 15th meeting. Habitat for Humanity of the Catawba Valley, Inc. is a non-profit organization engaged in providing affordable homeownership opportunities to low and moderate income families. Habitat for Humanity of the Catawba Valley, Inc. requested and been approved for a grant in the amount of $20,000 through the City’s Community Development Block Grant Program.

R. Approval of Two Sanitary Sewer Easements for Property owned by Marion Dwight Roseman. - Staff requests acceptance of two sanitary sewer line easements for the property of Marion Dwight Roseman, described as PIN 3723-11-65-9478 and PIN 3723-11-65-9378 for installation of a sanitary sewer line. This temporary and permanent easement is necessary for completion of the Sherwood Forest Subdivision Sanitary Sewer Project. The easements were negotiated for one 4-inch sewer tap for each property in exchange for the easements, a total of two taps.

S. Approval of a Sanitary Sewer Easement for Property owned by Sarah Smith Kaylor. - Staff requests acceptance of a sanitary sewer line easement for the property of Sarah Smith Kaylor, described as PIN 3723-11-75-1537 for installation of a sanitary sewer line. This temporary and permanent easement is necessary for completion of the Sherwood Forest Subdivision Sanitary Sewer Project. The easement was negotiated for one 4-inch sewer tap in exchange for the easement.

T. Approval of a Sanitary Sewer Easement for Property owned by Greater Shekinah Glory Church. - Staff requests acceptance of a 25 foot temporary and 25 foot permanent sanitary sewer line easement for the property of Greater Shekinah Glory Church, described as PIN 3723-07-59-0715. This easement is necessary for the completion of the Random Woods Subdivision Sanitary Sewer Project. The easement was negotiated for one 1-inch water tap, one 4-inch sewer tap and $500 in exchange for the easement.

U. Approval of the Loan Agreement with the National Naval Aviation Museum for Loaned Property Located at the Hickory Regional Airport. - The City of Hickory, Hickory Regional Airport, has on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) certain retired aircraft and artifacts located at the Hickory Regional Airport and on display by the Hickory Aviation Museum. The Hickory Regional Airport has participated in, and has had on loan property from the National Naval Aviation Museum for over 15 years. The loan agreement with NNAM requires biennial recertification of the loaned property, which covers the period 2014-2016. The loaned property is assigned to the City of Hickory while the Hickory Aviation Museum holds full responsibility for the maintenance and exterior upkeep of said loan property including any associated costs. Staff recommends execution of the National Naval Aviation Museum Certification of Loan Government Property document.

V. Approval of an Amendment to the Economic Development Agreement with MAB Acquisitions, LLC for the Development of City Owned Property at Cloninger Mill Road and NC 127. - The Economic Development Agreement between the City and MAB Acquisitions, LLC was originally approved on second reading by Hickory City Council on March 21, 2014. This document contains a clause requiring the City to remove construction debris contained on the site and noted in a survey of the property within 30 days. The deadline to complete this action was May 4, 2014. Due to the extent of the construction debris on the site, and equipment failures, the City has not yet completed this action. The purchaser has not been able to conduct its required geotechnical and environmental analysis while the debris removal operation is underway. The Amendment to the Economic Development Agreement would extend the 120 day due diligence period by the amount of additional time needed to complete the debris removal. This will allow the City adequate time to complete the debris removal process while allowing the purchaser adequate time to conduct its required investigation of the site.

W. Approval of a request from Hickory Community Theatre for Funding for the Installation of a New Small Capacity Elevator at the Hickory Community Theatre Facility. -  Staff requests approval of a request from the Hickory Community Theatre to install a new small capacity elevator at the Hickory Community Theatre facility (aka, Old City Hall). This is a City-owned facility that does not currently have an elevator, so the facility is not ADA compliant. This elevator would give disabled patrons access to the Fireman’s Kitchen on the bottom floor, the main floor, and the 2rd floor office area. The anticipated cost of the installation of this elevator is $158,750. The Hickory Community Theatre has raised approximately $1 million for other improvements to this City-owned facility, which attracts 15,000 people annually to the downtown area. Funds are available in the City’s current year budget for this expense, so no budget amendment would be required. Additionally, the City will consider participating in some bathroom renovations on the bottom floor (which are also not ADA compliant) once the elevator project is complete and we know whether or not there are funds remaining. Staff recommends approval.



Informational Item
A. Report of Mayor Wright’s travel to Raleigh, North Carolina, North Carolina League of Municipalities Town Hall Day (Registration 45.00, Meal Per Diem $20.50)

B. Report of Alderman Zagaroli’s travel to Raleigh, North Carolina, North Carolina League of Municipalities Town Hall Day (Registration 55.00, Meal Per Diem $20.50)

New Business - Public Hearings
1. Resolution and Order for Petition of Stanford Place Associates, LLC to Close a Portion of the former Hickory North Crosstown Loop and 13th Street NE. - On May 2, 2014, Attorney Stephen L. Palmer presented a petition on behalf of Stanford Place Associates, LLC, one of the property owners of property abutting a portion of the former Hickory North Crosstown Loop and 13th Street NE. This public hearing was advertised in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area on May 24, May 30, June 6, and June 13, 2014.

New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Bond Referendum

a. (1) Approval of a Resolution Directing Publication of Notice of Intent to Apply to the Local Government Commission.
(2) Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the Staff to Apply to the Local Government Commission.
(3) Approval of a Resolution Making Certain Findings of Fact.

b. Approval of an Engagement Letter with Parker Poe as GO Bond Counsel. - The City of Hickory is considering a GO Bond Referendum in November 2014. One of the requirements in this process is the City to engage in Bond Counsel for the purposes of assisting the City in navigating all the legal requirements that will be involved. Parker Poe is the leading Bond Counsel firm in the United States. Their Charlotte office would be assisting us in this process. If the GO Bond Referendum passes, there will be no charge for services provided through November 2014. If the Referendum does not pass we will be billed at their hourly rate for services provided to that point, the total of which is estimated to be approximately $5,000. However, there will be a fee in the range of $25,000 per GO Bond issuance.

c. Approval of an Agreement with First Southwest Finance to Provide Financial Advisory Services to the City of Hickory Related to GO Bond Process. - The City of Hickory is considering a GO Bond Referendum in November 2014. One of the requirements in this process is for the City to engage a financial services firm for the purposes of guiding the City through the GO Bond process, particularly the General Obligation Bond Transaction Implementation Phase which occurs after the referendum has been
approved by the voters.

Reader Concerns about Inspiring Spaces

A few people who read this blog sent me e-mails about their concerns in regards to the Inspiring Spaces initiative and process, the referendum regarding it, and the taxes necessary to pay back the debts incurred in association with these projects. I list those concerns:

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(1) How can we be certain that the beautification efforts of the three cities in the report was the cause of their turnaround? Just because two things happen at the same time is no sign that one caused the other. What else might these cities have been doing as well that might have contributed to their success, perhaps even more. We need more information that we don’t have.

(2) At the federal level, a period of financial turmoil is right around the corner. Policies at the FED and with the federal government have guaranteed it. Is this the right time to be taking out a large loan, as you said Thom, perhaps borrowing something that cannot be repaid in the future? All the economists that you post, Thom, are urging citizens to pay off all their debts before this hits. Is this the right time to be considering a large loan that will have to be repaid with future taxes?

(3) The bond issue is far too large and far too open-ended for my taste. I have the impression that if it were passed, the Council would be in complete control on how and where it should be spent. It’s not in the same category as a water treatment plant bond that can be repaid with increased income from fees.

(4) In times of lean, I’ve always been taught that this is when you tighten your belt, eliminate the luxuries and concentrate on the necessities. A necessity is street repair because “a stitch in time saves nine” and this investment will save money in the long run. What items on the wish list could be considered things we need now?

(5) I do feel that not raising taxes on the new budget is a political ploy. Everyone understands that the cost of paving material has gone up considerably and most people want to see the higher cost reflected in the budget in a line item that can’t be fudged. I have an aversion to using a rainy day fund if it isn’t raining. If the Council feels that the fund is too large, future contributions should be curtailed instead of “spending it down.”

(6) The public-private partnership going on in Geitner Park is great. We should be encouraging this as much as we can. Every shopper in Hickory understands a 50% off sale!

(7) I like Harry’s (Hipps) comments about education and how it reflects on and influences all the other factors. I would rather see Hickory be known as the “education city” rather than the “city well-crafted.” We should be pulling out all the stops to give our citizens of all ages the education that will prepare them for the 21st Century. Isn’t this one of the important factors in attracting business to an area? The public-private partnership in this area has just begun and should be pushed even harder.

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If the Council establishes credibility on econ development (the good news is that they now see and acknowledge the problem), the public will go along with future projects if they make sense. The bottom line is that there is no rush. Mick Berry pointed out that they are not going to be done all at once anyway. There is not enough time to fully discuss the projects with the public by November. And some of the ideas need to be refocused. If my choice is the full enchilada or nothing, I will vote no.

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(Hound Note): About City Manager Mick Berry telling people about the surprise of Catawba Valley Boulevard being developed in 1987, by all indications City Manager Berry has never talked to the people responsible for that evolution. How can Manager Berry understand local Real Estate Development, when he hasn't spoken with the developers who made these local projects happen in the past?

City Manager Berry and Assistant City Manager Andrea Surratt are telling people in these "Citizen Briefings" that the Highway 321 Lakefront Park Walkway project is going to be the next Catawba Valley Boulevard. There are many concerns including the 321 bridge being rebuilt, the topography, the rail line, the fact that there are issues with the county lines (Burke and Catawba) and you are going to have to deal with three counties (including Caldwell) on some of these issues. You have a failed drug store, a failed grocery store, and two failed restaurants right there. You also have an issue with the aging population in that immediate vicinity and the marketplace that they provide.

There is also a concern/question about Governmental Employees taking over Real Estate development here in Hickory and deciding upon objectives and priorities. What qualifies them to do that?

Reality 2014

The Complete "Platform for a 21st Century Hickory" - August 31, 2013

Hickory Area Population Remains at a Standstill - April 9, 2014

Harry Hipps speaks about The Gallup-Healthways Survey - April 2, 2014

Hickory Metro 2014 - Tied for 4th Most Miserable in the United States - March 25, 2014

42.3% of the people in Catawba County have a job - February 8, 2014

The reality of our current Unemployment Numbers - with factual statistics - Hickory, Catawba County, North Carolina - February 6, 2014

The Heat Goes On - Asia (1983)

This is where we are and have been 100 times before.




The Heat Goes On

You walk tall, got your head in the clouds
You talk soft, but you're thinking aloud
And you know, exactly what you want

You box shy, you're hard to get
You got the face that I can't forget
And you know, I know The Heat Goes On

I know that The Heat Goes On
I know that The Heat Goes On

You play tight, you're nobody's fool
You're not cold, but I know that you're cool
Look at you, I know The Heat Goes On

Now tell me, with your hand on you're heart
That you knew, you were right from the start
And you're sure, you felt it all along

You know that The Heat Goes On
You know that The Heat Goes On

Times to decide, times that I've lied
Problems will never be solved
Which way is wrong, which could be right?
This heat will always go on... on and on

You walk tall, got your head in the clouds
You talk soft, but you're thinking aloud
And you know, exactly what you want

You box shy, you're hard to get
You got the face that I'll never forget
You and I know, we know The Heat Goes On

You know that The Heat Goes On
You know that The Heat Goes On
(Jam)
You know that The Heat Goes On
You know that The Heat Goes On

Songwriters
WETTON, JOHN KENNETH/DOWNES, GEOFF

Published by
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC