Wanda Arnold: Trade Legislation - They Never Learn

Wanda Arnold's third article written to the Hickory Daily Record in relation to the Trans Pacific Partnership wanting to rebut some of what she had read in that paper.

I read the letter from the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) (June 27) in support of North Carolina Congressmen who voted yes on the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) bill. The reason they support the TPA is explained clearly in the letter. They understand the amount of power the President will have in writing trade agreements with foreign countries and state:

The support of our friends on Capitol Hill helps us to secure critical provisions, such as those giving preference to yarns and fabrics made in the United States.

They are in effect saying that if NC does not vote for the bill, their legitimate concerns for agreements that favor their industry will be ignored. They won't have the ear of the President, period.

This reminds me of a similar situation that occurred when I was on the Board of Directors of the Prince William Realtor's Association in Virginia. The issue came up as to which candidate for election the Association should support in terms of financial contributions. I thought that the two candidates would be evaluated for their past support of the real estate industry. Naive me. No, equal amounts would be given to each candidate so that then, no matter who the winner was, we would be assured of an appointment with the winner during which we could explain our position on pending legislation.

The NCTO is assuming that they will have a chance to similarly influence the President in their favor in all future negotiations. I am afraid the President and those calling the shots have their own agenda and it is not to build up American small businesses and strengthen the economy. The very industry that was devastated by NAFTA did not learn their lesson.

NATFA is really a treaty with Canada and Mexico forming the North American Union and it did break down many trade barriers. But ask yourself who benefited? If you'd like to know the plan for us, just look at the European Union and its history. Our new currency has already been planned -- the Amero.

Why is our border wide open to Mexico? Research the North American Union and find out. What's next? It's the Trans Pacific Union, of course. We need to wake up and put a stop to this plan: once large sections of the world are under complete control of the corporations, the next step is the New World Order.

Wanda Arnold: the Trans Pacific Partnership on Your Back

Wanda Arnold wrote these articles to the Hickory Daily Record in relation to the Trans Pacific Partnership wanting to rebut some of what she had read in that paper. The HDR has a policy that they only permit one letter to the editor every 20 days from a contributor. Some say that they are just a mouthpiece for the government. Let's see them put a 20 day moratorium on contributions from government officials. After all, most of their statements are opinion based. Aren't they?


There are 29 chapters in the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement that Obama wants passed. Only 5 of those pertain to trade matters. The rest would set binding rules on food safety standards, on access to medicine policies, on financial regulations and on internet freedom.

Here are three real-life examples of how the TPP works in the section called Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS).
(1) Germany wants to phase out nuclear power. The nuclear power industry there can sue Germany for posing a threat to their profits.
(2) Canada wants to place a moratorium on fracking in order to study its effects more carefully. The energy industries involved can sue Canada for infringing on their profits and causing them loss.
(3) The governments in Uruguay and Australia want to pass anti-smoking policies. Phillip Morris can sue those countries because their profits have suffered.

This system has been in use for several years. TPP adds 9,000 more corporations to the list of those empowered to sue. The cases will be tried in a parallel legal system that goes around domestic courts. A tribunal of three lawyers will make a binding decision in each case. If the corporation wins and the government loses, guess who pays the corporation. Friends, you pay. The government produces nothing and earns nothing. The government lives on the back of YOU, the taxpayer. While we are being distracted by TV reality shows, national sports competitions, titillating sex scandals, social media, online games of every kind and the huge din of constant entertainment, "they who shall remain unnamed" are stealthily ensnaring us in a web and drawing the noose tighter and tighter. It's called Fascism and Hitler was the trial run. Unless we do something now, we are the end game.

Surveys have shown that citizens here don't trust their government. They don't trust Congress, they don't trust the Executive, they don't trust the Courts. It's not enough just to feel something is "not right." It's up to you to find out what's wrong. Didn't we believe the lies about how NAFTA would "create jobs" for Americans? Didn't over 3 million U. S. jobs flee overseas since that agreement and others like it were passed. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. We better find out what else is
in the TPP!

Wanda Arnold's Wake Up Call on the current Trade Agreements

Wanda Arnold wrote these articles to the Hickory Daily Record in relation to the Trans Pacific Partnership wanting to rebut some of what she had read in that paper.

Trade agreements are not for the faint hearted. They make the eyes glaze over. I finally figured out the difference between TPA (not secret) and TPP (secret)! I wish I were knowledgeable enough to rebut Patrick Henry's guest column of June 18: "A win for transparency, congressional oversight," but I thought I must try.

To begin with, consider the source. As Majority Deputy House Whip, Patrick McHenry has moved onto the first rung of the House Republican Leadership ladder. His job is to whip up votes among his party members for legislation that the leadership wants approved and persuade others of its worth. Mr. McHenry is a nice guy and probably has done a lot for individual constituents; but this legislation affects the entire country and is too important for blind trust in our representatives.

I'd rather turn to Jeff Sessions, Republican Senator from Alabama. Sen. Sessions went down into the basement where the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) trade deal is under "heavy guard" to read it for himself. How many other Congressmen or women have done this? Then he read the TPA (Trade Promotion Authority) bill that is available online. He diplomatically calls these bills "fraught with problems and concerns." He then goes on to point out the five areas of major concern he has with TPA, which will apply not only to TPP, but to all future trade deals.

(1) Sessions says that TPA would consolidate power in the Executive Branch rather than return more power to Congress. There won't be a committee review process. They won't be allowed to amend it in any way. If Congress sees something it doesn't like or that violates our current laws, it will be hard to remove it from fast track because it must go through the revenue and Rules Committees where the Chairman can kill it. The President must send a report to Congress to get future fast-track approval if TPA is adopted, but he/she can classify and redact any part of the report. (More secrecy!)

(2) Passing TPA through Congress would result in "increased trade deficits." This would result in the loss of thousands of American jobs and he gives the actual figures of how this has happened with both NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and the South Korea Free Trade Agreement. NC workers, you remember NAFTA, don't you?

(3) The TPP is a "living agreement," open to change in the future. The deal could be changed by other countries and the President without any congressional approval whatsoever. For example, China could be added without protections for us against their business subsidies and currency manipulations.

In fact concern (4): the agreement does not address currency manipulations at all.

(5) Sessions notes how TPA could facilitate immigration increases above current law and Congress will be powerless to stop it.

How are we as individual voters supposed to figure this all out? Maybe it comes down to "who do you trust?" Sorry Mr. McHenry, I'll go with Jeff Sessions this time.

Newsletter about the Special City Council meeting of June 25, 2015 - Blue Bloodhound LLP Incentives Agreement

The Hickory City Council held a meeting early Thursday Morning. There should be a Hickory Inc. video up later today and I will post it ASAP. Notes about this meeting are provided below. It was a rather short and to the point meeting. There was no agenda provided online for this meeting and the meeting was scheduled on short notice.



I am still working on the information and notes from the special meeting that took place this past Monday morning related to the Lackey Conservancy located at Geitner Park by the Lake in Northwest Hickory.

The meeting that took place this morning provided details about the company Blue Bloodhound LLP, which will be locating in the newly renovated Moretz Mill building. Blue Bloodhound is a trucking software/IT company, which provides a service similar to Uber. This company helps in establishing a cluster node related to the transportation/trucking industry here in Hickory, with Transportation Insight being located only a few blocks away in the currently under reconstruction Lyerly Mill building.

Blue Bloodhound is a division of  Greene-Group, which is located in Davidson, NC. The jobs offered by this company will average $75,000+ per year. The company is investing $400,000 in software and IT support to start the business and looks to create 191 jobs over the next 3 years (per the agreement). The incentives provided by the City of Hickory equate to $800 per job, which matches the company's agreement with Catawba County. A State of North Carolina economic incentives agreement has already been announced as moving forward by Governor Pat McCrory.

The company is looking to hire people within the City of Hickory and there are built in criteria in the incentives agreement meant to ensure that happens. The company is interested in hiring mature people with experience in the IT field and also has a desire to have partnerships with local "Mom and Pop" Transportation/Trucking companies.

There were two readings on this matter, which allows the agreement to move forward immediately. The documents included in this public hearing included a resolution and the economic incentives agreement.

Blue Bloodhound Plans Hickory, North Carolina, Operations Center - Area Development Online News Desk - (06/23/2015)

Software startup to create 191 jobs in Hickory - Charlotte Business Journal - David Harris - June 23, 2015

Newsletter about the Special City Council meeting of June 22, 2015

The Hickory City Council held a meeting early Monday Morning that I was unable to attend. The Video below is the Hickory Inc. video. I will go over and make notes related to this meeting as time permits. The meeting is about the agreement between the family of Deidra Lackey and the City of Hickory in relation to the park being developed along the river adjoining Geitner Park. Their was no agenda provided online for this meeting and the meeting was scheduled on short notice,

Newsletter about the City Council meeting of June 16, 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.

***Final Release***

 Agenda about the City Council meeting of June 16, 2015 



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Hound Notes: There will not be another City Council meeting until July 14. I will try to write some articles in the meantime. I have had a lot on my plate of late that does not allow me to devote as much time to this endeavor. Since we 3 1/2 more weeks until the next Council meeting, I hope to submit a cross section on property assessment values as a random shot in the dark to see if residential properties have truly declined in the amounts stated previously. I am not taking preconceived biases into this issue. The second article may take some more time, but I look forward to updating the Putting the Puzzle together article from 2009.

There wasn't a lot that went on at this meeting. The issue of importance was the additional parking to be constructed across from Glenn Hilton Park.


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Mayor Wright was absent and Alderman Zagaroli was Mayor Pro Tempore

Ivocation by Reverend David Roberts, Morning Star First Baptist Church

Special Presentations
A. Business Well Crafted Award to WHKY Presented by Business Development Committee Member Dave Paist (courtesy Hickory Inc.: WHKY Award - http://www.hickorywellcrafted.com/liv...) - (per Hickory Inc.) - Mr. Dave Paist of the Business Development Committee, discussed a brief history of WHKY and presented the Business Well Craft Award to Mr. Tom Long.

B. Students with Attainable Goals (SWAG), Program at Ridgeview Community Center Presented by Business Development Committee Member Dave Paist. (courtesy Hickory Inc.: STUDENTS WITH ATTAINABLE GOALS Presentation - http://www.hickorync.gov/egov/documen...) - (per Hickory Inc.) - Mr. Paist discussed a program that was held in the spring for young people called Students with Attainable Goals (SWAG). The program was an entrepreneurship program that was spearheaded by Reggie Cummings and Andrea Nixon of the Recreation Department. It was supported by Jeff Neuville and Gary Miller at Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) and Alex and Lisa Spruell of K-9 Security. He advised that on May 14th there was a presentation for the participants. He recognized some of the participants in the program. He commented that it was great that the City of Hickory was supporting this kind of effort. It was a community effort because it was the City, private enterprise, and CVCC.

C. Presentation of the 19th Consecutive Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the City of Hickory by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). - (per Hickory Inc.) - Mayor Pro Tempore Zagaroli presented the 19th consecutive Certificate of Achievement for Excellence Award (CAFR) to Mrs. Melissa Miller, Finance Director and commended her and her Staff for their work. Mrs. Melissa Miller thanked the Mayor, City Council and the Finance Staff for their efforts.


Persons Requesting to be Heard
Mr. Larry Pope addressed City Council regarding the Community Development Block Grant Funding that is given out each year by the Citizen’s Advisory Board which City Council approves. He discussed his concerns regarding the funding to Exodus Homes.


Consent Agenda:
Passed with Unanimous Consent after removal of Item J 
J. Approve the Termination of Residential Rental Contract with Adam Walker for the Property Located at 1123 15th Street NE.- On January 22, 2015 the City entered into a Residential Rental Contract with Adam Walker for the property located at 1123 15th Street NE. The term of the lease was for one year with a monthly rental fee of $350. Mr. Walker was formerly employed by the City of Hickory however he ended his employment to take another position which required him to relocate. Mr. Walker has requested termination of the rental agreement with the City effective June 19, 2015. He will pay pro-rated rent for the month, and $175 as a lease buy-out fee for early termination of the rental agreement. Staff requests Council’s approval of the Termination of Rental Agreement between the City of Hickory and Adam Walker for the property located at 1123 15th Street NE.

(Per Hickory Inc.) - Manager Berry advised Council of a date change in the Termination of Residential Rental Contract with Adam Walker. Mr. Walker had requested the termination date be changed to July 10th. City Council voted approval.

New Business - Public Hearings
1. Public Hearing for Consideration of Rezoning Petition 15-01. - Wendell Cramer petitioned the City for the rezoning of approximately 2.36 acres of property located at the southwest corner of the intersection of Startown Road and Catawba Valley Boulevard SE. (courtesy Hickory Inc.: City Planning Report - http://www.hickorync.gov/egov/documen...)


New Business - Departmental Reports
1. Approval of an Invitation to Bid and Contract to Huffman Grading Co. Inc. in the Amount of $121,287 for Additional Parking at Glenn C. Hilton Jr. Recreation Park. (courtesy Hickory Inc.: Glenn Hilton Parking Expansion - http://www.hickorync.gov/egov/documen...)
Mac McLeod presentation - this is a continuation from an item in the Consent Agenda from the meeting of June 2, 2015 - Maps were provided to the Council for viewing during the presentation. A map is provided in the link above of the area in question. Moved up from 2017-18 budget to 2014-15 budget due to the park's parking overcrowding that the park has been experiencing. This will create 47 additional spaces. There are currently 81 marked spaces at the park. 6th St NW is the entrance into the new park, which will only be used as an overflow when the park is full. There is a 20 foot (berm) planted buffer zone and 6 foot fence that will block residential properties. There will be a signaled crosswalk to crossover to a sidewalk that leads to the park. Alderman Guess asked about a natural tendency to cross immediately into the park from the parking lot. Mr. McLeod said that is not the intention. They want people to cross into the existing park entrance. Council had various questions and statements related to this issue. There concern is that if the public is going to enter here, then why not make an entrance here. There is disc golf at this entrance. Alderman Lail asked about the berm and stated that he wants the parking properly screened away from the R-2 (residential) zoning. Mr. McLeod tried to give him assurances on the issue. Alderman Seaver asked about bus parking in the new parking lot. Mr. McLeod said that bus parking usually only occurs during weekdays and is generally not an issue on weekends. It was addressed that people had been parking along 6th Street and back into the neighborhoods. That is the reason why this issue was brought before the Council and needed to be addressed. Hilton park is lighted and the new lot will have lights. Council had a brief discussion.

Council voted 6-1 to accept the proposal - Alderman Lail voted against stating that he didn't believe that what was laid out in the plans/design is what was presented. He did state he was in favor of additional parking.


2. Accept the Hickory Public Library Strategic Plan for 2015-2018. (courtesy Hickory Inc. : Library Strategic Plan - http://www.hickorync.gov/egov/documen...)
Louise Humphey was in charge of the presentation. This was her last meeting, since she is retiring. This was a 10 month process. Anthony Chow, Srategic Performance Systems and UNC-Greensboro, consultant made presented information about the process. There were 21 focus groups and 1000 residents involved in the process. The goal is to have state of the art technology, superior customer service, strong collaboration with the city and integrated with the county, Innovative Community Relationships and partnerships, good marketing of the libraries services, Modern and Welcoming Library spaces... Ridgeview Library is too small and needs to be updated.

General Comments (per Hickory Inc.)
City Manager Mick Berry introduced the City’s new Assistant City Manager Rodney Miller.
Mayor Pro Tempore Zagaroli recognized the Leadership 2000 youth that were in attendance.

Agenda about the City Council meeting of June 16, 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.

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Hound Notes: During the May 5th City Council meeting,
1. Consideration of the Community Development Block Grant 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan.
Mr. Larry Pope spoke against the plan because of his concerns about the inclusion of Exodus homes.

Council made several statements including a desire for Exodus Homes to come before the City Council to speak about their mission and address the concerns Mr. Pope spoke about. Apparently Hickory Inc. has changed its mind, because when you look at the Consent Agenda (Item D), you see that Exodus Homes, along with the other organizations, is being approved without speaking before the City Council.






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Special Presentations
A. Business Well Crafted Award to WHKY Presented by Business Development Committee Member Dave Paist
B. Students with Attainable Goals (SWAG), Program at Ridgeview Community Center Presented by Business Development Committee Member Dave Paist.
C. Presentation of the 19th Consecutive Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the City of Hickory by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

Consent Agenda:
A. Request from Hickory Police Department to Award Police Badge and Service Weapon to Retiring MPO Danny Crump. By authority of NC General Statute §20-187.2, City Council may award the service weapon and police badge to retiring MPO Danny Crump upon his retirement from Hickory Police Department on July 1, 2015 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.

B. Approval of Community Development Block Grant Funding Agreement with Hickory Soup Kitchen, Inc. for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 in the Amount of $20,000. - In February 2015 the City of Hickory Department of Planning and Development Services requested applications from local nonprofit organizations for funding under the Community Development Block Grant Program. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviews and recommended funding for these applications as part of the City’s Annual Action Plan. The Annual Action Plan was approved following a public hearing on May 5, 2015. The Hickory Soup Kitchen Inc. requested and were approved for funding in the amount of $20,000 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Approval of the agreement will allow them to continue to provide much needed nutritional services to the City of Hickory’s homeless and/or low-income community. No City funding will be used for this agreement. Staff recommends approval of the funding agreement with Hickory Soup Kitchen Inc.

C. Approval of Community Development Block Grant Funding Agreement with AIDS Leadership Foothills-Area Alliance, Inc. for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 in the Amount of $15,000. - In February 2015 the City of Hickory Department of Planning and Development Services requested applications from local nonprofit organizations for funding under the Community Development Block Grant Program. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviews and recommended funding for these applications as part of the City’s Annual Action Plan. The Annual Action Plan was approved following a public hearing on May 5, 2015. AIDS Leadership Foothills-Area Alliance requested and were approved for funding in the amount of $15,000 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Approval of the agreement will allow them to continue to provide much needed medical case management services to persons living with HIV and AIDS. No City funding will be used for this agreement. Staff recommends approval of the funding agreement with AIDS Leadership Foothills-Area Alliance, Inc.

D. Approval of Community Development Block Grant Funding Agreement with Exodus Outreach Foundation, Inc. for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 in the Amount of $10,000. - In February 2015 the City of Hickory Department of Planning and Development Services requested applications from local nonprofit organizations for funding under the Community Development Block Grant Program. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviews and recommended funding for these applications as part of the City’s Annual Action Plan. The Annual Action Plan was approved following a public hearing on May 5, 2015. Exodus Outreach Foundation, Inc. requested and were approved for funding in the amount of $10,000 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Approval of the agreement will allow them to continue to provide much needed services to homeless and previously incarcerated individuals with substance abuse issues. No City funding will be used for this agreement. Staff recommends approval of the funding agreement with Exodus Outreach Foundation, Inc.

E. Approval of Community Development Block Grant Funding Agreement with City of Refuge Community Development Center, Inc. for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 in the Amount of $3,550. - In February 2015 the City of Hickory Department of Planning and Development Services requested applications from local nonprofit organizations for funding under the Community Development Block Grant Program. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviews and recommended funding for these applications as part of the City’s Annual Action Plan. The Annual Action Plan was approved following a public hearing on May 5, 2015. City of Refuge requested and were approved for funding in the amount of $3,550 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Approval of the agreement will allow them to continue providing much needed afterschool program services to low and moderate income youth. No City funding will be used for this agreement. Staff recommends approval of the funding agreement with City of Refuge Community Development Center, Inc.

F. Approval of Community Development Block Grant Funding Agreement with Habitat for Humanity of the Catawba Valley, Inc. for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 in the Amount of $20,000. - In February 2015 the City of Hickory Department of Planning and Development Services requested applications from local nonprofit organizations for funding under the Community Development Block Grant Program. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee reviews and recommended funding for these applications as part of the City’s Annual Action Plan. The Annual Action Plan was approved following a public hearing on May 5, 2015. Habitat for Humanity of the Catawba Valley requested and were approved for funding in the amount of $20,000 through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Approval of the agreement will allow them to continue to provide much needed housing rehabilitation serves to benefit low to moderate income households. No City funding will be used for this agreement. Staff recommends approval of the funding agreement with Habitat for Humanity of the Catawba Valley, Inc.

G. 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 4, 2015:
 Michael F. and Ann Fisher, 538 5th Street SW, Hickory, was awarded a City of Hickory’s Housing Rehabilitation Loan. The Citizens’ Advisory Committee recommends approval for assistance not to exceed $20,000 for repairs to their house. Assistance would be in the form of a 3 percent interest loan for a ten year period.
Funds are budgeted for these items through the City of Hickory’s former Rental Rehabilitation program income and/or program income received through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant Program. The following applicant is being recommended for approval for assistance under the City of Hickory’s 2014 Urgent Repair Program. This program provides qualified low income
citizens with assistance for emergency-related repairs not to exceed $7,200.
 Mattie Fuller, 826 3rd Street SE, Hickory
The Citizens’ Advisory Committee recommends approval of the aforementioned requests for assistance through the City of Hickory’s housing assistance programs.

H. Special Events/Activities Application Lumberjack Boom, Megan Meade, Director of Community Relations and Events Hickory Crawdads, July 4, 2015, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. at L.P. Frans Stadium, 2500 Clement Boulevard, NW.

I. Approval of Priority and Action Plan for Fiscal Year 2015/2016. - In conjunction with adoption of the annual budget, City Council updates and approves a Priorities and Action Plan which serves as a road map for staff and Council to achieve broad goals related to five strategic priorities: Economic Growth & Transportation, Quality of Life and Natural Environment, Operational Excellence, Vision and Leadership, and Communication and Marketing.

J. Approve the Termination of Residential Rental Contract with Adam Walker for the Property Located at 1123 15th Street NE.- On January 22, 2015 the City entered into a Residential Rental Contract with Adam Walker for the property located at 1123 15th Street NE. The term of the lease was for one year with a monthly rental fee of $350. Mr. Walker was formerly employed by the City of Hickory however he ended his employment to take another position which required him to relocate. Mr. Walker has requested termination of the rental agreement with the City effective June 19, 2015. He will pay pro-rated rent for the month, and $175 as a lease buy-out fee for early termination of the rental agreement. Staff requests Council’s approval of the Termination of Rental Agreement between the City of Hickory and Adam Walker for the property located at 1123 15th Street NE.

K. Approval of a Resolution Supporting the Application for Monies from the Greater Hickory Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (GHMPO) Surface Transportation Program-Direct appointment/Transportation Alternatives (STP-DA/TA). - The Greater Hickory Metropolitan Planning Organization has issued a call for Surface Transportation Program-Direct appointment/Transportation Alternatives (STP-DA/TA) funding to agencies within its jurisdiction. This money can be used for transportation projects as part of discretionary projects such as greenways, intersection improvements, and traffic signal upgrades. The three projects that will be applied for are Citywalk, Sandy Ridge Road Intersection Improvements, and Pedestrian Signalization Upgrades. The Citywalk project will use bond funds for match money and the Sandy Ridge Road Intersection Improvements and Pedestrian Signalization Upgrades will utilize General Fund monies for the match. Staff recommends Council’s approval of the Resolution for Support for these three projects as well as providing the matching funding in the amount of 20 percent for each project.

L. Rescind Grant Project Ordinance Amendment Number 5, Ordinance Number 15-23 and Approve Correction of Grant Project Ordinance Amendment Number 5C.
1. To accept a $225,223 transfer of General Capital Reserve Fund to the Miscellaneous Storm Grant Project. The total project expenses will be $360,381. Federal and State FEMA funding will cover $135,158 and the remaining balance of $225,223 will be funded by the General Capital Reserve Fund.
2. To accept a $346,728 transfer of General Capital Reserve Fund to the Windridge Bridge Grant Project. The total project expenses will be $1,208,501. Federal and State FEMA funding will cover $861,773 and the remaining balance of $346,728 will be funded by the General Capital Reserve Fund.

M. Rescind Budget Ordinance Amendment Number 19, Ordinance 15-25 and Approve Correction of Budget Ordinance Amendment 19C (Exhibit VIII.M.)
1. To budget a total of $50 of Library donations from Margie Owsley in honor of Mary Ellen Snodgrass.
2. To budget a total of $1,500 of Parks and Recreation donations in their Departmental Supplies line item. These funds are for the Unifour Senior Games.
3. To budget a total of $7,341 of Parks and Recreation donations in their Departmental Supplies line item. These funds are for the Unifour Senior Games
Registrations.
4. To transfer $19,100 from the Water and Sewer Fund-Sewer Lines to the Murray Basin Capital Project. This transfer is necessary to pay for the railroad permit fees from Norfolk Southern.
5. To transfer $27,000 from Water and Sewer Contingency to the Sewer Treatment line item to cover this line item for the remainder of this fiscal year. This is for the treatment and processing of sanitary sewer that is transported to the City of Conover from Hickory for treatment prior to discharge.
6. To transfer $9,406 back to the General Capital Reserve Fund to close the Henry Fork Field Lighting project. There is a $125,000 deferred revenue donation from CVYSA due in FY18 therefore a receivable account will be set up in the General Fund.
7. To appropriate $225,223 of General Capital Reserve Fund and transfer to the Miscellaneous Storm Grant Project. The total project expenses will be $360,381. Federal and State FEMA funding will cover $135,158 and the remaining balance of $225,223 will be funded by the General Capital Reserve Fund.
8. To appropriate $346,728 of General Capital Reserve Fund and transfer to the Windridge Bridge Grant Project. The total project expenses will be $1,208,501. Federal and State FEMA funding will cover $861,773 and the remaining balance of $346,728 will be funded by the General Capital Reserve Fund.
9. To transfer $105,000 of Water and Sewer Fund Balance to the Water and Sewer Pipes, Hydrants and Meters line item. This transfer is needed to pay for the purchase of 600 Radio Read Water Meters at a significant price savings.
10. To transfer $61,450 of Water and Sewer Capital Reserve-Appropriated Fund Balance to the Water and Sewer Capital Project Engineering Services line item. This transfer is to pay McGill and Associates for Professional Services for the Geitner Basin Outfall Replacement project.
11. To transfer $20,000 of General Fund-Appropriated Fund Balance to the Airport Grant project for future land acquisition and obstruction removal. The total project is $200,000 with 90% funded by the State ($180) and a required 10% local match of $20,000.


New Business - Public Hearings
1. Public Hearing for Consideration of Rezoning Petition 15-01. - Wendell Cramer petitioned the City for the rezoning of approximately 2.36 acres of property located at the southwest corner of the intersection of Startown Road and Catawba Valley Boulevard SE. The petition is to rezone the property from Low Density Residential (R-1) to Regional Commercial (C-3). The rezoning of the subject property to Regional Commercial (C-3) is consistent with the goals and policies contained within the Hickory by Choice 2030 Comprehensive Plan. The Hickory Regional Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on May 27, 2015 to consider the petition and voted unanimously to affirm the petition’s consistency with the Hickory by Choice 2030 Comprehensive Plan. The Hickory Regional Planning Commission and Staff recommends Council’s approval of the rezoning. This public hearing was advertised in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area on June 5, and June 12, 2015.

New Business - Departmental Reports
1. Approval of an Invitation to Bid and Contract to Huffman Grading Co. Inc. in the Amount of $121,287 for Additional Parking at Glenn C. Hilton Jr. Recreation Park.- The paved parking lot will be constructed directly across 6th Street Drive NW from the existing Glenn C. Hilton, Jr. Recreation Park to provide overflow parking spaces for the facility. Work under the contract will include clearing, grading, paving, curb/gutter and fencing. The Traffic Division will provide the crosswalk on 6th Street Drive NW and parking lot striping. Landscape Services will provide landscaping and Building Services will provide area lighting for the parking lot. Informal bids were received on May 22, 2015. Staff recommends awarding the contract to the low responsive, responsible bidder, Huffman Grading Co., Inc. in the amount of $121,287 for the construction of Glenn C. Hilton, Jr. Recreation Park additional parking lot.
2. Accept the Hickory Public Library Strategic Plan for 2015-2018. - The library received a $20,160 Library Services and Technology Act planning grant in 2014 for the development of a new strategic plan to guide library services at Patrick Beaver Memorial Library and Ridgeview Branch Library for the next three years. Dr. Anthony Chow was retained to facilitate the planning
process that was undertaken by a Steering Committee representing the business, education and non-profit communities, media, Library Advisory Board, Friends of the Library Board, City government, and library staff. Approximately 1000 residents were involved in the ten month study from July 2014 to May 2015 by participating in interviews, focus groups, community forums, and surveys that were available in print and online. Using input from the Steering Committee, staff, and survey results a final document was created. Staff recommends acceptance of the Hickory Public Library Strategic Plan for 2015-2018.