Catawba County Labor Force below the 70,000 person critical point

70,000 people in the Civilian Labor Force is the critical point that I have talked about in the past. We fell below that mark in December for the first time since these statistics become publicly available in January 1990. In January 1990, the Labor Force in Catawba County stood at 70,308 people. Today, the numbers released show the Labor Force is down to 69,241 people. The Labor Force has fallen by nearly 3,000 people since January 2014. At the same time we are being sold a bill of goods that the unemployment rate is 5.4%, down 2% since August 2014. So they are telling us that unemployment is down 2%, when we haven't seen any influx of industry in these past 4 months.

Economic Research - Federal Reserve St. Louis - Catawba County, NC

By the numbers, we have 65,502 people employed in Catawba County. In March 2012, there were 65,221 people employed in Catawba County and the unemployment rate was said to be 10.9%. So the unemployment rate has been cut in half and yet we basically have the same number of people employed. Does that make sense?

I believe that we will be seeing soon that we are once again losing population in the area.

Unemployment Spreadsheet for February 2015 - latest data from December 2014

Article below by Gallup that is relevant to this issue:

The Big Lie: 5.6% Unemployment - Gallup - Jim Clifton - February 3, 2015

Hickory City Council Bond Commission Appointees

These are the people named to the Bond Commission

Mayor Wright
Charles Dixon (1)
Michael Thomas (2)
Stacy Rash (3)
Alison Holtzman (3)


Brad Lail - Ward 1
Mike Bell (1)
Vernon Tarlton (2)
Catherine Rogers (3)
Nick Walden (3)


Bruce Meisner - Ward 2
Jennifer Clark (1)
Blake Watts (2)
Jennifer Bean (3)
Gail Schwartz (3)


Danny Seaver - Ward 3
Anthony Laxton (1)
Norman Cooke (2)
James Tilton (3)
Patricia Bowman (3)


Hank Guess - Ward 4
Ed Farthing (1)
David Roberts (2)
Susan Smith Walker (3)
Jerisha(?) Farr (3)


David Zagaroli - Ward 5
Frank Young (1)
Alan Barnhardt (2)
Jeff Hail (3)
Burk Wyatt (3)


Jill Patton - Ward 6
Paige Brigham (1)
Rob Dickerson (2)
Julie Chang (3)
Alan Jackson (3)


Ex-Officios - Each will serve a one year term
Business Development Committee - Dana Chambers
Catawba County Chamber of Commerce  - Will Locke
Citizen’s Advisory Committee - Michael Holland
Community Appearance Commission - Charles Hayes
Community Relations Council - Adelia Parrado-Ortiz
Hickory International Council - Hani Nassar
Hickory Regional Planning Commission - Shauna O’Brien
Historic Preservation Commission - Tom Robbins
Library Advisory Board - Carolyn Sinclair
Parks and Recreation Commission - Dean Proctor
Public Art Commission - Jennifer Helton
Recycling Advisory Board - Norm Meres
University City Commission - Ryan Edwards
Youth Council - Andrew Howard 

Hickory and the Riverwalk Multi-Jurisdictional issue (Catawba & Burke County)

When I looked into the issue of the proposed Riverwalk Greenway that will be part of the Lakeland Park neighborhood area, and it's location, I found it interesting that Geitner Park, or the majority of what construes Geitner Park, is actually in Burke County. I knew that parts of that area were in Burke County. You will be surprised by how much. The people who live in the houses in this City of Hickory-Burke County area pay Burke County property taxes and vote in Burke County. So, I believe that Hickory Incorporated is going to have to get this development sanctioned by the Burke County Board of Commissioners in some form or fashion.

Catawba County GIS - Real Estate Report

Below, on this overview map, the blue areas outside Catawba County constitute Hickory Proper. The areas of Hickory Proper inside Catawba County are aqua.

My discussion with the Mayor on Hal Row's First Talk

Below is the map I cobbled together from Google Earth of the Hickory (Catawba -Burke- Caldwell) multi-jurisdictional issue.

Here is a jpeg Link to download and view - Hickory (Catawba, Burke, Caldwell)

Another View

20150202 - Monday Morning Meeting with Mayor - WHKYam

The following is the interview of Mayor Rudy Wright on 1290 WHKYam Radio's First talk program with Hal Row.

WHKY does not archive these programs and make them available to the public, so I am putting this important public interview up under Fair Use guidelines.



(Segment 1) - Mayor and Hal talk about the Super Bowl. Hal and Mayor talk about the negative publicity the Mayor has received recently. Joe Brannock calls in about the signs and what the Mayor said that day.

(Segment 2) - Joe Brannock about the illegal signs and the Mayors comments. Larry Pope calls in to speak about the Bond Referendum, Commission, and the Diversity on the Commission.

(Segment 3) - Mayor talks about Bond Referendum, Commission, and process.

(Segment 4) - Lady calls in about burned areas along interstate. I (Thom Shell) call in about the Riverwalk Greenway and the multi-jurisdictional issues involving that area -- Burke County.


Hound Notes: Seems to me that the local PTB are saying, 'We are friends of one another. We know what is best for Hickory. We don't care what the laws are. If we do it it is alright. We are above these laws, even though we are the very people who passed them. Why are you always so negative, you S** o* a B, @##$#@$#@@, ###*++__&*&^&, *!!!**&...  Sit down, shut up, Don't call us out on this or there's gonna be trouble!!!'

Huh...

Signs... the HDR is zeroing in on Boosters' issues
Huh... Hickory Bond Booster Inconsistencies
The State Of Hickory 2014
The people have spoken here in Hickory and they 100% support Hickory Inc.
Boost gets Busted: Mike Thomas fails to comply with Campaign Finance Law
Hey Hickory -- Who said the following in 2009 about 'Quality of Life' issues? (Quote)

Agenda about the City Council meeting of February 3, 2015

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/ The City's website evolves over time, but currently towrds the top right there is a Link called Quick Links. Click that on and look for the Agenda's and Minutes link you need to click. Scroll down from there and this will show you a list of PDF files to upcoming and previous meetings.

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 Council Agenda - February 3, 2015


 =================================================

Hound Notes: Once again not much here. On this night, after the formality of the second reading, the Bond Commission is officially sanctioned. Names have already been released of the people who will serve as Ex-Officio representatives. There are still some of the Boards and Commissions that need to add their representative.

We should find out the 28 comrades and family members who the Council will be naming as personal representatives. I'm not sure if they will be passed out their rubber stamps at this meeting or when they meet in whatever gymnasium it will take to seat the 42 m3mb3rs of this thing.

Snarky remark earned when telling people that they only want "positive" people to serve on this thing.

Business Development Committee - Dana Chambers
Catawba County Chamber of Commerce  - Will Locke
Citizen’s Advisory Committee
Community Appearance Commission - Charles Hayes
Community Relations Council - Adelia Parrado-Ortiz
Hickory International Council
Hickory Regional Planning Commission - Shauna O’Brien
Historic Preservation Commission
Library Advisory Board - Carolyn Sinclair
Parks and Recreation Commission - Dean Proctor
Public Art Commission - Jennifer Helton
Recycling Advisory Board - Norm Meres
University City Commission - Ryan Edwards
Youth Council - Andrew Howard


================================================= 

Invocation by Rev. Karla Woggon, Rector, Episcopal Church of the Ascension

Consent Agenda:
A. Approval of a Resolution for Acceptance of an Offer of Dedication of Street Right-of-Way, being a Portion of 17th Street Drive SE. - In 2014 construction began on a commercial development north of US 70 SE adjacent to the Hickory Metro Convention Center. This development consisted of four new parcels of property, as well as a new roadway to provide access. Currently one of the parcels has been developed, and is home to the new Hilton Garden Inn hotel. The City has been presented with an offer of dedication for a portion of 17th Street Drive SE, which is shown as a 50 foot right-of-way on a Plat recorded in Book 73, at Pages 59 and 60, of the Catawba County Registry. The roadway was constructed and inspected by the City’s Public Services Department to ensure the roadway was constructed to proper specifications. Staff recommends approval of the Resolution accepting the offer of dedication for the segment of 17th Street Drive SE, as shown on Plat Book 73, Pages 59 and 60 of the Catawba County Registry.

B. Approval of Closing Patrick Beaver Memorial Library and Ridgeview Branch Library from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on February 6, and February 20, 2015. - Library Staff requests approval to close Patrick Beaver Memorial Library and Ridgeview Branch Library from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, February 6, and Friday, February 20, 2015, for two work sessions in connection with the Library’s strategic planning process. Consultant Dr. Anthony Chow will work with the Strategic Plan Steering Committee and Library Staff to develop a new Strategic Plan. It is important that all library staff, both full-time and part-time be included in the development of a new Strategic Plan to ensure their buy-in and ability to implement and carry out all elements of the Plan. Their participation will allow Hickory Public Libraries to continue delivering superior library services to the citizens of the City of Hickory and Catawba County. The two half-days will be considered staff development training for this year. Staff recommended the Friday morning closings as less disruptive to library customers.

C. Approve the Installation of an All-Way Stop at the Intersection of 19th Avenue NE at 3rd Street NE. - The Traffic Division received all necessary paperwork from residents within the subdivision in regards to Traffic Calming Guidelines and have found the residents to be in compliance with the guidelines. Traffic calming has been done on 19th Avenue NE to reduce the speed limit to 25 mph, however, based on recent speed studies it appears traffic is still speeding along 19th Avenue NE. The next step, according to the City’s Traffic Calming Guidelines, is to install an all-way stop to help the speed issue. Staff recommends the installation of an all-way stop at the intersection of 19th Avenue NE at 3rd Street NE.

D. Special Events Activities Application for A Hickory Holiday, Connie Kincaid, Executive Director, Hickory Downtown Development Association, December 17, 2015, 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Union Square.

E. Special Events Activities Application for Downtown Hickory Shuck & Peel Party, Connie Kincaid, Executive Director, Hickory Downtown Development Association, November 14, 2015, 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Union Square.

F. Special Events Activities Application for Hickory Oktoberfest 2015, Connie Kincaid, Executive Director, Hickory Downtown Development Association, Friday, October 9, 2015 through Sunday, October 11, 2015. Set up will begin 6:00 a.m. on October 9th, and clean-up ends at 11:00 p.m. on October 11th. Event time: October 9, 12:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., October 10, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and October 11, 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Event location: Blocks with boundaries of 3rd Street NW (W), Government Avenue SW (S), 2nd Avenue NW (N), and Center Street (E). Alcohol sales should cease at 10:30 p.m. on October 9th and 10th.

G. Approval of a Contract with Light-N-Up, LLC to Install Specialized Equipment and Graphics onto New Police Vehicles. - Hickory Police Department requests approval of a contract with Light-N-Up, LLC to complete the turnkey up-fitting of all specialized equipment and graphics for ten new police package Chevrolet Tahoes. Each of the new vehicles will require the installation of all specialized and safety equipment to include blue lights, siren, console, radios, computer, printer, radar, prisoner partitions, gun lock boxes, and graphics packages. A total of three vendors submitted bids in the formal bid process. Light-N-Up, LLC’s bid of $106,389.60 was the lowest of the three bids. Hickory Police Department recommends approval to enter into a contract with Light-N-Up, LLC in the amount of $106,389.60 to install all specialized equipment and graphics on ten police package Chevrolet Tahoes.
Funds are budgeted in the 2014/2015 CIP.

H. Approval of Change Order Number 2 for the Hickory Metro Convention Center Parking Deck.- On January 20th 2015, Council approved change order number one for $78,640 which was necessary due to design modifications based on soil conditions. It consisted of an additional three micro-piles at contract depth of 65 feet each (adding 195 feet total depth to original contract) plus thirty tension micro-piles (lump sum price; not based on vertical depth) for shear loading. Soils at the Convention Center are variable and consist of not only natural in-place earth but also fill material that was placed to create the several levels of the existing parking in front of the facility. As standard practice for the original contract, the architect and structural engineer used the best available information to estimate the depths of each of the 95 foundation micro-piles that were required for the proposed structure. The actual total depths for suitable soil conditions at each micro-pile could not be obtained until the pile is installed. Installation of all micro-piles has now been completed by the contractor. The total vertical linear feet of micro-pile depth in the original contract and after change order number one was estimated at 6,305 feet. Total final vertical depth of all micro-piles is 7,226 feet. The original contract specified a unit price of $60 per foot of additional depth. The additional depth beyond contract amount equals 921 feet. The contractor, Matthews Construction Company, requests that $55,260 be added to the approved contract amount for the additional depth of pile structure. The original contract amount was $2,576,000. The proposed contract amount with this change order number two is $2,709,900.

I. Budget Ordinance Amendment Number 12.
1. To transfer $41,331 of remaining revenues in excess of expenditures, related to the Hickory District Court Facility in FY13-14, from the General Fund to the District Court Capital Reserve Fund.
2. To budget a $6,000 insurance claim payment in the Airports M & R Grounds line item. This insurance claim payment is for damage sustained to a light post caused by a tenant on 06-10-14 however the insurance claim payment was received on 11-18-14.
3. To budget a $5,100 insurance claim payment in the Airports M & R Grounds line item. This insurance claim payment is for damage sustained to a light post on 08-08-14 however the insurance claim payment was received on 12-11-14.
4. To budget a $60 Library donation in the Library books line item. This donation is made in honor of Peg Schulten by the Second Tuesday Book Club.
5. To budget a $100 Library donation from the GFWC Hickory Woman’s Club in the Library Programming line item.
6. To budget an $80 Library donation from the Quest Book Club in the Patrick Beaver Memorial Library Programming line item.
7. To budget $35 of proceeds from the Saloma Furlong book signing in the Library Programming line item.
8. To budget a $50 Library donation from Ann Greene and Deborah Finger in memory of Lola Reese in the Library Programming line item.
9. To budget a $25 Library donation from Monica Olinger in honor of Lola Reese in the Library Books line item.
10. To budget a $25 Library donation from Patricia Kirby in memory of Lola Reese in the Library Books line item.
11. To budget a $100 Library donation from the staff of Triad Health Project in memory of Lola Reese in the Library Books line item.
12. To budget a total of $150 of donations in the Youth Council expenditure line item. Donations in the amounts of $100 and $50 will be used for the State Youth Council Conference.



New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Approval of a Municipal Agreement between the City of Hickory and North Carolina Department of Transportation for Intersection Improvements for Sandy Ridge Road. - Staff requests approval of a Municipal Agreement between the City of Hickory and North Carolina Department of Transportation for intersection improvements on 16th Street NE (Sandy Ridge Road) at 21st Avenue NE and 29th Avenue Drive NE. The Federal Highway Administration designated the Sandy Ridge Road intersections at 21st Avenue NE and 29th Avenue Drive NE eligible for intersection improvements using Congestion  Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds to replace vehicular greenhouse gas emissions. To  accommodate the vehicle storage for the turning motions at the intersections, Sandy Ridge Road will be widened between 21st Avenue NE and 29th Avenue Drive NE. Approaches will also be improved. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will participate in funding the project using federal funds up to $2,153,000. As part of the 80 percent NCDOT and 20 percent City funding, the City of Hickory will be responsible for up to $538,250, for a total estimated project cost of $2,691,250. These CMAQ funds are to be applied to right of way acquisition, utility relocation, and project construction. The City engineering division is designing the project, and will go through NCDOT reviews and approvals. It is scheduled to be designed and constructed over the next five years. Staff recommends approval of the Municipal Agreement between the City of Hickory and North Carolina Department of Transportation.

2. Consideration of the Request to Amend the Vacant Building Grant Agreement from Shuford Mills, LLC. - Shuford Mills, LLC received a Vacant Building Revitalization Grant in the amount of $20,000 to demolish the building located at 1360 Highland Avenue NE. The original grant agreement was approved on January 7, 2014. This agreement was subsequently amended to extend the project deadline on September 16, 2014. The amended project deadline was February 1, 2015. The extension was requested so that the property owner could save and restore a 100 foot section of wall. Demolitio n work at the site is nearly complete. There is some additional grading and fill work that will be required in addition to completion of the wall restoration. Shuford Mills requested additional time due to delays in the steel fabrication and installation process related to the building wall rehabilitation. The previous extension requires the completion of all demolition work including site restoration and completion of the building wall rehabilitation. Shuford Mills, LLC will spend approximately $249,006 on this renovation. The agreement does not include an option for an extension. Therefore, any additional extension would need approval by City Council. Amendment 2 would extend the deadline for completing all demolition and site restoration activities 60 days from the February 1, 2015 deadline as described in Amendment 1. Staff requests City Council’s consideration of amending the agreement to permit payment of the  $20,000 upon completion of all site restoration and wall rehabilitation work.

3. Quarterly Finance Report

Signs... the HDR is zeroing in on Boosters' issues

Still a ways to go and information to come to light. Inconsistencies that need to see the light, but the Hickory Daily Record article this morning gets us further down the trail -- link below. The Hound has been on the trail for months. Sometimes you have to lay low until the scent trail gets stronger. The forest is always more important than the individual trees.

Thousands of dollars of in-kind contribution funds seem to be missing from the Boost Hickory financial report. The Boost Hickory Treasurer's "Dog ate my Homework" excuses have been numerous, but certainly aren't afforded to your average citizen.

Here's the deal, none of this was about gotcha politics, as the Mayor characterized in the HDR article, "...Or someone who does nothing but try to catch a campaign in something. I did not realize they were illegal. And I was not responsible for determining they were legal.”

When the violations were noticed, Joe Brannock initially contacted the Mayor, various city officials, and Boost Hickory committee members to inform them about the violations. He asked that the violations be corrected. City officials and Boost Hickory members instead denied the violations were true and refused responsibility.  The Planning Department, in charge of administration and enforcement of this ordinance, had already stated that the signs were in violation and were in the process of enforcing the law.

As a matter of fact, the gigantic sign that hung from the roof top at the Hollar Mill (estimated size 600 sq feet+), was requested to be removed by the City of Hickory Planning Department. We believe that to be the $900+ sign that was reported in the Boost Hickory financials. We were informed of this previous notification, that this sign did not comply with City Code, on Monday, October 27th. That is the reason why that sign was voluntarily taken down. The 47.5 sq. foot signs, Joe discussed with the Mayor, were put up after the Hollar Mill sign was reported and taken down.

The Bottom Line is that all the Mayor had to do was acknowledge that the signs did not comply with the ordinance and establish that they should be removed and take action to have them removed. As the Mayor, are you telling me these people would not comply with his wishes, especially when he was the person who created the signs.

Here we are 86 days later and so many convolutions and it was all so unnecessary, just because the Mayor didn't want to admit that he had it wrong. This is the person who has boasted about the City of Hickory being the most open and transparent government in the State of North Carolina and said "We are not secretive."

Here is the Hickory Daily Record article link where the Mayor finally admits that he had it wrong.
Hickory mayor: "It was a mistake." - Hickory Daily Record - Frank Bumb - January 24, 2015 

Huh... Hickory Bond Booster Inconsistencies - January 22, 2015

Newsletter about the City Council meeting of January 20, 2015

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 January 20, 2015

Thoughts about the City Council meeting of January 20, 2015 - I didn't do an article of thoughts this week. The meeting lasted a little less than 25 minutes. I will incorporate thoughts into this article.



   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Hound's Notes:  I happened to be right on target with my Agenda comment that there would be a brief overview to reiterate the discussion of January 12 concerning the Bond Commission structure and formation. No one spoke for or against the proposal. Manager Berry went over the decisions of the Council. At the end of the meeting on February 3, if all goes as planned, we will find out who the people are that will be serving on this commission. We pretty much can guess who these people will be. It will be the group from Boost Hickory and/or the people who they choose to serve as their proxies.

   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





Invocation by Alderman Danny Seaver

Consent Agenda

New Business - Public Hearings
1. Consideration of Bond Implementation Commission Ordinance. - This public hearing was advertised in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area on January 9, 2015.