HickoryHumans.com, a local website about local happenings in our area, had a lot of coverage about this year's congressional race between Patrick McHenry and Daniel Johnson. It was excellent coverage that was very objective and didn't demonize either candidate. I learned about HickoryHumans when they endorsed the Hound, because of our coverage of local government meetings.
Perusing their website last night I came upon this article (http://hickoryhumans.com/?p=61). They suggest the possibility of Daniel Johnson being an option as Mayor of Hickory. I have to say, that I think this is a novel idea and after careful consideration I completely understand the logic. Daniel Johnson meets many of the criteria that this city needs.
I'm sure that the ones of you that have read much of this website will realize that I am thoroughly frustrated by our city's lack of direction. The proof is in the pudding, since 2001 our city's economy in general has been in a malaise. We used to have a business environment that was ahead of the curve and had better than average employment numbers. Now we have leadership that constantly plays the blame game with no apparent strategy for success.
I totally agree with what the article says about citizen involvement. That is one of the major objectives of the Hickory Hound. That encompasses alot more than talking a good game, schmoozing with the established media, and an overindulgence in building a foundation of PR tools. It means building one-on-one relations with the citizenry and having them know that you are taking an interest in the entire community's general well-being.
Why are the squeaky wheels always getting the grease. It hasn't been done for the "greater good" of Hickory as a whole. It wreaks of the buddy system. I think that is what has caused the ambivalence in our city that has led to the lack of participation in civic endeavors. Because the average Joe isn't an insider, so their opinion isn't going to be taken into consideration by the "Powers That Be." I hang out with average Joes and that is truly how the majority of them feel.
I think we do have some good leaders in this community. Brad Lail has been an excellent leader in this community. He has been a friend of mine for nearly 30 years. I can tell you that he always goes out of his way to represent all of the people. He definitely doesn't do this because he has to. He does this because he is a leader. He was the Class President at Newton-Conover in 1984 and he has always represented all of his constituents. I agree with him 80%+ of the time. When I don't, I respect what he has to say, because I know that there is a logical thought process behind it.
Bruce Meisner has had an excellent reputation as Councilman for years. He knows the ins and outs of that bench and he has always touted a pro-growth agenda. I have never had a personal conversation with him, but he seems to have a very congenial personality and he is highly regarded by many in Hickory's business community. I have heard alot of people say that he would make a good Mayor.
John Watts was a very good community leader. The man has vision. He was railroaded out of his City Council position, because he had common sense. He was said to be someone that didn't listen to the people's will. I have read what he said during the Lowe's Home Improvemnt debacle. Everything he said during that time has come to fruition and everything the "No Lowe's Near Schools" crowd said can now be construed as foolhardy. I have spoken with the man. Even with the hateful overtones of rhetoric that were heaped upon him four years ago, he still loves this city and wants it to succeed.
I hope that Daniel Johnson will stick around Hickory and become involved in our local affairs. The man definitely showed the moxie of a go-getter during this past campaign. I talked with his brother Will for 2 hours on election day. I'm a Republican, but listening to Will speak gave me a true understanding of what a Conservative Democrat is all about. I haven't had a chance to speak with Daniel, but I hope that I will soon have that opportunity. I think Daniel defintely has alot to offer our city.
I truly mean none of this as a slight to Mayor Wright. He is the leader of our city. The Hound is here to build up this city, not tear it down. We aren't just out here lobbing bombs. The Objectives of the Hound are truly that -- nothing more, nothing less. The Mayor will defintely have his opportunity to promote (and/or defend) his record and agenda. And he will have that opportunity from his Bully Pulpit. He is the Champ and whomever the challenger is; they are going to have to give the public a compelling argument to unseat him.
If there are any other names of individuals that you think might make a good leader, then by all means throw them into the arena. They may choose to run or not, but it is now 11 months until our next Mayoral race. With all that is going on in the world, it is going to be imperative that we make a good choice. So let us know what you think.
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Sunday, November 30, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tax Money Spent on Downtown Interests from 2002 to Present
Here is a link of investments made by the City of Hickory in "Downtown Hickory" since 2002.
I got these numbers by reading the minutes of City Council meetings published online. These grants were approved in the consent agenda or directly approved by vote during City Council meetings.
By looking at the numbers, we can see that the vast majority of these grants and studies were done for the benefit of the area in the immediate vicinity of Union Square. 41 of 47 of these grants (87.2%) have been made within 4 blocks of the geographic center of the city.
55.3% of the total number of downtown grants were awarded to these City Center Private Businesses and the dollar amount totaled 23.3% of all downtown grants. The use of these grants included; replacing doors and/or windows, renovating facades, demolition, replacing awnings, landscaping, parking, and painting.
There has also been hundreds of thousands of dollars that have been directly allocated to the Hickory Downtown Development Association.
In the Hounds Opinion :
These numbers show a lack of singular purpose. It seems that people are just flailing away in the dark trying to make downtown work, but the equation just doesn't make sense. Come on, this darkness is self-imposed. Everyone that has lived here for the last 20 years knows what the problems are. We don't need more studies. Consultants have told city officials what needs to be done and it has been conveniently ignored, because it doesn't fit certain people's agenda.
An example? Consultants said that we needed more 4 hour parking downtown in 2002 (council meeting of June 16, 2002) and yet it was insignificantly addressed at the time. Guess what? It was reintroduced in the Catawba Valley Neighbor's article a month ago. The vast majority of the time it wouldn't matter if you allowed people to have extended parking times. Someone down there doesn't realize that having customers (and not running them off) is important to having a viable commercial area.
The tenants want Valley Hills Mall type revenues, but they want the bargain basement lease rates that they pay to operate on and around Union Square. They would never stand for paying half of what Valley Hills Mall tenants pay. Here in lies one of the major issues, because low rent equals low profit for property owners and thus low reinvestment in that property. You don't get something for nothing; cheap begets cheap.
A successful major retail anchor tenant would necessitate a complete change in the existing infrastructure (and philosophy) of the downtown area. Having more customers would lead to more revenues, but it would also mean more traffic on existing downtown streets and surrounding neighborhoods.. Would the Oakwood neighborhood stand for this?
It is my opinion, that the current cabal that runs downtown would not stand for a more robust downtown area and the traffic that would bring. These are the same people that so adamently opposed Lowe's Home Improvement on Hwy 127 and they did everything in their power to stifle the progress of the 127 corridor. Look at the minutes of the City Council meeting on November 16, 2004. The people that were opposed to that development are the same people that are heavily involved in the Hickory Downtown Development Association. No wonder our downtown is such a mess!
It is our opinion that these grants to private entities need to end. What is the citizenry getting out of this commercial welfare? For one of these $5,000 grants, the city could be obtaining close to $100,000 in funding, by using that money to pay for interest on the issuance of bonds. That would be more beneficial to our city. Grant money should be going towards creating commerce (and jobs), not towards beautification projects that create nothing. These grants are arbitrary and thus unfair. If the city is going to give certain businesses $5,000 for renovation, then they should give every business $5,000 for renovation.
The Hound's braintrust have some ideas on how to give downtown a new purpose, but we aren't going to propose these ideas yet, because we feel that people with a vested interest in downtown's current circumstances will not allow this vision to be properly vetted. Hickoryites are going to have to say, "No More!"
Union Square may be the geographic city center of old Hickory and historically it deserves to have a purpose, but we all know that it is no longer the economic center of this city. We don't need to force a square peg into a round hole by needlessly trying to return to the days of yesteryear. Nostalgia is great to dream of, but it becomes a burden on our economy by trying to implement a 1960s mentality into a 2010 world.
It is time that we move forward. There are issues in this city that have needed to be addressed for years. It is time to start developing the city as a whole. It is time to quit neglecting the rest of Hickory just to humor a few merchants in downtown Hickory. It isn't fair, it isn't just, and it isn't right.
I got these numbers by reading the minutes of City Council meetings published online. These grants were approved in the consent agenda or directly approved by vote during City Council meetings.
By looking at the numbers, we can see that the vast majority of these grants and studies were done for the benefit of the area in the immediate vicinity of Union Square. 41 of 47 of these grants (87.2%) have been made within 4 blocks of the geographic center of the city.
55.3% of the total number of downtown grants were awarded to these City Center Private Businesses and the dollar amount totaled 23.3% of all downtown grants. The use of these grants included; replacing doors and/or windows, renovating facades, demolition, replacing awnings, landscaping, parking, and painting.
There has also been hundreds of thousands of dollars that have been directly allocated to the Hickory Downtown Development Association.
In the Hounds Opinion :
These numbers show a lack of singular purpose. It seems that people are just flailing away in the dark trying to make downtown work, but the equation just doesn't make sense. Come on, this darkness is self-imposed. Everyone that has lived here for the last 20 years knows what the problems are. We don't need more studies. Consultants have told city officials what needs to be done and it has been conveniently ignored, because it doesn't fit certain people's agenda.
An example? Consultants said that we needed more 4 hour parking downtown in 2002 (council meeting of June 16, 2002) and yet it was insignificantly addressed at the time. Guess what? It was reintroduced in the Catawba Valley Neighbor's article a month ago. The vast majority of the time it wouldn't matter if you allowed people to have extended parking times. Someone down there doesn't realize that having customers (and not running them off) is important to having a viable commercial area.
The tenants want Valley Hills Mall type revenues, but they want the bargain basement lease rates that they pay to operate on and around Union Square. They would never stand for paying half of what Valley Hills Mall tenants pay. Here in lies one of the major issues, because low rent equals low profit for property owners and thus low reinvestment in that property. You don't get something for nothing; cheap begets cheap.
A successful major retail anchor tenant would necessitate a complete change in the existing infrastructure (and philosophy) of the downtown area. Having more customers would lead to more revenues, but it would also mean more traffic on existing downtown streets and surrounding neighborhoods.. Would the Oakwood neighborhood stand for this?
It is my opinion, that the current cabal that runs downtown would not stand for a more robust downtown area and the traffic that would bring. These are the same people that so adamently opposed Lowe's Home Improvement on Hwy 127 and they did everything in their power to stifle the progress of the 127 corridor. Look at the minutes of the City Council meeting on November 16, 2004. The people that were opposed to that development are the same people that are heavily involved in the Hickory Downtown Development Association. No wonder our downtown is such a mess!
It is our opinion that these grants to private entities need to end. What is the citizenry getting out of this commercial welfare? For one of these $5,000 grants, the city could be obtaining close to $100,000 in funding, by using that money to pay for interest on the issuance of bonds. That would be more beneficial to our city. Grant money should be going towards creating commerce (and jobs), not towards beautification projects that create nothing. These grants are arbitrary and thus unfair. If the city is going to give certain businesses $5,000 for renovation, then they should give every business $5,000 for renovation.
The Hound's braintrust have some ideas on how to give downtown a new purpose, but we aren't going to propose these ideas yet, because we feel that people with a vested interest in downtown's current circumstances will not allow this vision to be properly vetted. Hickoryites are going to have to say, "No More!"
Union Square may be the geographic city center of old Hickory and historically it deserves to have a purpose, but we all know that it is no longer the economic center of this city. We don't need to force a square peg into a round hole by needlessly trying to return to the days of yesteryear. Nostalgia is great to dream of, but it becomes a burden on our economy by trying to implement a 1960s mentality into a 2010 world.
It is time that we move forward. There are issues in this city that have needed to be addressed for years. It is time to start developing the city as a whole. It is time to quit neglecting the rest of Hickory just to humor a few merchants in downtown Hickory. It isn't fair, it isn't just, and it isn't right.
Monday, November 24, 2008
From the Sublime to the Ridiculous - Fed Pledges Top $7.4 Trillion to Ease Frozen Credit
From Bloomberg - Fed Pledges Top $7.4 Trillion to Ease Frozen Credit
http://bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=arEE1iClqDrk&refer=home
We cannot guarantee our way out of this economic mess! We cannot spend our way out of this economic mess! Bailout of Banks! Bailout of Insurance! Bailout of Investment Companies! Bailout of Deliquent Mortgages! What's Next? Who's Next? When does this stop? Where does this stop?
Harry Hipps has it exactly right in this article, http://commonsenseandclearthinking.blogspot.com/2008/11/keynes-ghost.html. This is Keynesian Economics on steroids. Franklin Roosevelt's schemes were a result of the tooling of John Maynard Keynes' socialist policies. We are revisiting that era. Roosevelt's policies did not get us out of the depression, they extended it.
It isn't time to spend. It is time to take a chainsaw to government spending. I think that most people realize this, but we weren't presented with that option during the past election. When you are in financial trouble, do you keep spending money? Are you presented that option?
Government can turn our money into Monopoly Money and enforce a confiscatory tax structure. We will now pay the price for the government's willing failure to understand Common Sense Economic Principles. Let's hope we can recover some day.
http://bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=arEE1iClqDrk&refer=home
We cannot guarantee our way out of this economic mess! We cannot spend our way out of this economic mess! Bailout of Banks! Bailout of Insurance! Bailout of Investment Companies! Bailout of Deliquent Mortgages! What's Next? Who's Next? When does this stop? Where does this stop?
Harry Hipps has it exactly right in this article, http://commonsenseandclearthinking.blogspot.com/2008/11/keynes-ghost.html. This is Keynesian Economics on steroids. Franklin Roosevelt's schemes were a result of the tooling of John Maynard Keynes' socialist policies. We are revisiting that era. Roosevelt's policies did not get us out of the depression, they extended it.
It isn't time to spend. It is time to take a chainsaw to government spending. I think that most people realize this, but we weren't presented with that option during the past election. When you are in financial trouble, do you keep spending money? Are you presented that option?
Government can turn our money into Monopoly Money and enforce a confiscatory tax structure. We will now pay the price for the government's willing failure to understand Common Sense Economic Principles. Let's hope we can recover some day.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
TIME TO CHANGE WEAK ETHICS RULE by Harry Hipps
It's time to change the city ordinance to make a clear statement on ethics.
Article II - Council Division 1 - Generally Sec 2 - 62 says:
Every member must vote unless excused by the remaining members. No member shall be excused from voting except on matters involving the consideration of his own financial interest or official conduct or other conflict of interest. A MEMBER WHO WISHES TO BE EXCUSED FROM VOTING SHALL SO INFORM THE MAYOR, WHO SHALL TAKE A VOTE OF THE REMAINING MEMBERS.
Now, what the heck is this? The section I printed in caps seems to suggest that if you don't want to vote when you have a conflict of interest the council can vote and you don't have to . But if you don't want to inform the mayor of your conflict of interest you don't have to and you can vote for your personal interest. What kind of ethics is this? If there is a conflict it is unethical and possibly illegal to vote. The code should be changed to read: A MEMBER WHO HAS SUCH A CONFLICT MUST INFORM THE MAYOR WHO WILL INFORM THE COUNCIL THAT THE MEMBER WILL NOT BE VOTING. There should also be sanctions including expulsion from the council if a member does not disclose a conflict of interest.
Let's say, hypothetically, that Sally Fox voted for city money to be used to promote downtown Hickory merchants (and thereby her personal retail business as well). Would we want to accept the City funds being used to line her pockets? What about all the other retailers in Hickory that would like to have the City's money promoting them? Obviously, the use of City money for personal gain would be unethical.
It's time to take ethics seriously. The level of anger and cynicism towards government is growing and is unhealthy for our democracy. Let's change this statute and run a cleaner City government.
Article II - Council Division 1 - Generally Sec 2 - 62 says:
Every member must vote unless excused by the remaining members. No member shall be excused from voting except on matters involving the consideration of his own financial interest or official conduct or other conflict of interest. A MEMBER WHO WISHES TO BE EXCUSED FROM VOTING SHALL SO INFORM THE MAYOR, WHO SHALL TAKE A VOTE OF THE REMAINING MEMBERS.
Now, what the heck is this? The section I printed in caps seems to suggest that if you don't want to vote when you have a conflict of interest the council can vote and you don't have to . But if you don't want to inform the mayor of your conflict of interest you don't have to and you can vote for your personal interest. What kind of ethics is this? If there is a conflict it is unethical and possibly illegal to vote. The code should be changed to read: A MEMBER WHO HAS SUCH A CONFLICT MUST INFORM THE MAYOR WHO WILL INFORM THE COUNCIL THAT THE MEMBER WILL NOT BE VOTING. There should also be sanctions including expulsion from the council if a member does not disclose a conflict of interest.
Let's say, hypothetically, that Sally Fox voted for city money to be used to promote downtown Hickory merchants (and thereby her personal retail business as well). Would we want to accept the City funds being used to line her pockets? What about all the other retailers in Hickory that would like to have the City's money promoting them? Obviously, the use of City money for personal gain would be unethical.
It's time to take ethics seriously. The level of anger and cynicism towards government is growing and is unhealthy for our democracy. Let's change this statute and run a cleaner City government.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Newsletter about the City Council meeting of November 18, 2008
This newsletter is about the Hickory City Council meeting that I attended this past week. City council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each Month in the Council Chambers of the Julian Whitener building.
At the bottom right of this page under main information links is a Hickory's Local Government link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the bottom of the page you will see the future dates for meetings scheduled for this year.
At the top of the page, if you click on the “Documents” link, 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.
Here is a summary of the agenda of the 11/18/2008 meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below.
The Invocation was made by Rev. David E. Roberts, II of Morningstar Baptist Church
Special Presentations:
A. City of Hickory Receives the North Carolina League of Municipalities Green Challenge Level 1 Award
B. Team City of Hickory Police Department and HPD Detective Heather McNally Receives the Catawba County 2008 Team Award in Conjunction With Other Participating Teams.
C. Presentation by Tracy Nestor & Connie Kincaid of the Hickory Downtown Development Association - Reporting on the Economic Impact of the 23rd annual Oktoberfest. – Tracy Nestor stated that an estimated 110,000 people attended the event. She stated that they estimated that at least 50% of the people came from outside the Unifour area. Area hotels tracked the number of guests (The numbers were given to the Western Piedmont Council of Governments). She stated that the event generated 732 room nights, which most of those rooms were reserved in blocks of 4 night increments by event vendors. She estimates the event generated $7.637million.
The Hounds View: I am sorry, but it is more than obvious that these numbers were contrived. She says that they received estimates on crowd size from EMTs, Firemen, and Police. She qualifies that vendors were in the hotel room nights estimate. There was an estimate on how much food money (and I guess this includes beer) that patrons spent. Estimates, Estimates, Estimates…
We all know that the vast majority of people that attended this event were from this area. Very few people came from outside the area (or out of state). This was not a destination event. Heck, the hotel numbers bare this out. These wild-eyed optimistic estimations are an embarrassment to report to council (though the mayor seemed to just lap it up). They tried to overstate their case and logic just doesn’t work here. It is thoroughly unprofessional to exaggerate numbers to this extent just to make yourselves look good. You end up looking like Cliff Clavin.
While this event is important to our city’s cultural vitality, it is a revenue neutral event. It is not a money generator. Most of the money generated went to a few bars and boutiques on Union Square or left town with the vendors traveling the circuit.
This was another missed opportunity by community leaders. We had this big captive audience and we could have used this as an opportunity to find out some vitally important questions. Why didn’t we get information from the street vendors? Event coordinators could have done some sampling and asked questions about demographic info, town of origin, what brought them to Oktoberfest, how often do they come to downtown Hickory, what brings you to downtown Hickory, what would bring you to downtown Hickory more often, etc.
These Cliff Clavin numbers were contrived to make this organization seem important so that they can come back and wheedle more money out of Hickory coffers in the future. The Downtown Development Association needs to get its act together. They seem to be more of a social organization, than based on commerce.
D. Presentation of Diplomas by Mayor Wright to the 2008 Neighborhood College Graduating Class. This is a civics project where citizens get a lesson in Hickory Civics. Three Graduates of this class made presentations. I have to admit that they were truly jazzed about what they had learned.
The Hound believes that Mandy Pitts is a fine representative for this city. I hear her on Hal Rowe all the time. I'd rather hear from her than Rudy any day. Rudy seems like he's trying to run 0ut the clock and Mandy is trying to extend it. Mandy, if I agree to do this neighborhood college thing, will you let me do an extra credit project on the settlement of the Buffalo's Sinkhole issue?
Council Reaffirmed and Ratified Second Readings of the agenda voted on at the last meeting.
Consent Agenda:
The City confirms the Voluntary Annexation of the Property of Brian and Tammy Frazier located at 2713 24th Street Court and authorizes a Public Hearing for December 16, 2008 to allow Drendel Investments, LLC to Close a Portion of 2nd Street Drive, NW.
Authorize Public Hearings for December 2, 2008 for a Proposed Ordinance Amendment to the Hickory City Code Chapter 20, “Nuisances” and a Public Hearing about a Proposed Ordinance Amendment to the Hickory City Code Chapter 18, “Motor Vehicles and Traffic” Section 18-183 – “Pre-towing Notice; Appeal; Removal Without Notice.” Public Hearing Regarding Approval of the Economic Incentive Development Agreement with MDI, Inc.
Social Items - Approval of Third Annual “Food for Fines” Amnesty Week at the City Libraries from 12/1–7/ 2008. Proclamation Recognizing Harold and Helen Punch’s 70th Wedding Anniversary and Declaring 11/12/2008 as “Harold and Helen Punch Day” in the City of Hickory. Grant Terry Miller a Thirty-Day Extension to Vacate City-Owned Property Located at 1370 12th Avenue, NE.
Business Items - Approve the Fire Hydrant Grant Application for Infrastructure Assistance for Sunbelt Furniture Xpress in the Amount of $5,000.00. (The City’s Economic Development Assistance guidelines state that City Council may provide matching grants of up to $5,000.00 for documented costs of additions to public utilities. The cost of Sunbelt’s expansion is estimated at $935,000.00 leading to creation of 20 new jobs at a median wage level of $19.00 per hour).
Approval of Property Tax Refund to Eastern Automation Services, LLC in the Amount of $284.14. Approve the Proposed Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Submittal for FY 2010-2014 to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). Approve Quitclaim Deed From the City of Hickory to Clinton Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church For Property Located at 145 Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard – Discussed in Departmental Reports.
Budget Ordinance Amendment: $2,500 Library donation from Lenoir Rhyne University, $705 of Miscellaneous Insurance Claims, To budget $500 of Airport property rental revenue for purchase of new tables, Transfer $9,744 from the General Fund to pay Randall Arendt for costs associated with the Commercial Corridor Workshop and Fifth Avenue/Optimist’s Park Affordable Housing Site Plan presentation, Transfer $195 from the General Fund to Amity Lane Capital Project construction.
New Business: Public Hearings
Petition to Rezone the Property Located at 2007 Startown Road - This 10.92 acre property is located in Ward 3. The applicant proposes a rezoning from Catawba County Residential- 20 and City of Hickory Residential-1 to City of Hickory Commercial-4.
The property has frontage on Startown Road and is a short distance south of the Catawba Valley Boulevard/Startown Road intersection. The subject property’s location near that intersection makes the general area more suitable as commercial development rather than residential. While staff finds that the request is not consistent with Hickory by Choice, due to changing circumstances in the area, staff recommends approval of this initial rezoning. The Hickory Regional Planning Commission on October 22, 2008 conducted a public hearing and voted unanimously for approval of the requested rezoning.
Brad Lail wanted the property split zoned. The way the property is laid out, the part facing Startown Road is currently near O&I development. The rear of the property is near open space. C-4 status is the second highest commercial development level and he doesn’t want this zoned C-4 until there is a cohesive strategy. The petitioners main quest is to get commercial status for when they sell the property. The council unanimously voted against C-4 status, but unanimously accept O&I status.
The Hound Believes: This is no big deal right now, because the owners aren’t ready to sell the property, but city officials have to know that the property in front of this road is Huffman Cove Road, 29th Avenue NW and NE, 24th Street NE, McDonald Parkway, and Startown Road. In the next 20 years this will become a 4 lane from 127 to Highway 321. This is the outerloop corridor that has been proposed to be the third bridge to Caldwell (& Alexander) County.
Better get used to the idea of some razing and major development taking place in the not too distant future. There isn’t going to be residential along this major thoroughfare. Let’s not needlessly hamstring something that will have to be revisited by future city leaders. Look forward, not present, not past.
2. Petition to Rezone the Property of Third Gate Properties Located South of I-40 and East of 21st Street Drive, SE (Sweetwater Road) These four parcels totaling 35.4 acres are located in Ward 3. Proposal is to rezone from Limited Industrial to Planned Development – Mixed Use. If rezoned, the applicant intends to develop a mixed professional office park, retail/commercial space, and residential development.
This proposal was discussed at the Planning Commission meeting on 10/22/2008. They voted unanimously for approval of the requested rezoning. Staff finds that the request is consistent with Hickory by Choice and recommends approval. The council unanimously accepted the proposal.
Departmental Reports:
Second Reading - Approve Quitclaim Deed From the City of Hickory to Clinton Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church For Property Located at 145 Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard Staff recommends approval of the Quitclaim Deed and requests two (2) readings on November 18, 2008 due to time constraints between the church and their buyer. The Church is changing Locations and this actions takes away the covenants the city has on the deed so that the church can sell the property. The council unanimously accepted the proposal.
Award Bid to Tyco (MA/COM) to Purchase the P25 – OpenSky Hybrid Communications System in the Amount of $1,542,685.00 for The Hickory Police Department. The current 800 MHz radio system was purchased in 1994 and many replacement parts are no longer manufactured. The FCC is taking HPD’s radio frequencies and allocating them to Nextel. The FCC is requiring Nextel to pay for new mobile and handheld radios, a value of $800,000.00. With the receipt of the equipment from Nextel, the value of the radio system is $2,342,685.00, but the City will only spend $1,542,685.00. Tyco (MA/COM) is the City’s existing vendor and met all of the RFP standards. Tyco (MA/COM) was the second lowest bidder. The lowest bidder did not meet specifications, including no data solution which would require additional equipment and software cost. The City has negotiated free hardware maintenance for one (1) year at a savings of $61,000.00 and free software maintenance for three (3) years saving $186,000.00. The new radio system should last 15 to 20 years. The purchase will be made by a “down payment” of $500,000.00 from cash reserves and financing $1,042,685.00 for ten (10) years at an interest rate of 3.79%. The debt service payment will be $110,000.00 annually, funded from reductions in HPD budget for maintenance and equipment replacements for the old system. Staff recommends approval. Warren Wood showed that this new system will basically cost the city nothing. The council unanimously accepted the proposal.
The Hounds Take: Look at this system and tell me that we are a small town. This system shows how stupid the small town theory really is, doesn’t it?
At the bottom right of this page under main information links is a Hickory's Local Government link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the bottom of the page you will see the future dates for meetings scheduled for this year.
At the top of the page, if you click on the “Documents” link, 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.
Here is a summary of the agenda of the 11/18/2008 meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below.
The Invocation was made by Rev. David E. Roberts, II of Morningstar Baptist Church
Special Presentations:
A. City of Hickory Receives the North Carolina League of Municipalities Green Challenge Level 1 Award
B. Team City of Hickory Police Department and HPD Detective Heather McNally Receives the Catawba County 2008 Team Award in Conjunction With Other Participating Teams.
C. Presentation by Tracy Nestor & Connie Kincaid of the Hickory Downtown Development Association - Reporting on the Economic Impact of the 23rd annual Oktoberfest. – Tracy Nestor stated that an estimated 110,000 people attended the event. She stated that they estimated that at least 50% of the people came from outside the Unifour area. Area hotels tracked the number of guests (The numbers were given to the Western Piedmont Council of Governments). She stated that the event generated 732 room nights, which most of those rooms were reserved in blocks of 4 night increments by event vendors. She estimates the event generated $7.637million.
The Hounds View: I am sorry, but it is more than obvious that these numbers were contrived. She says that they received estimates on crowd size from EMTs, Firemen, and Police. She qualifies that vendors were in the hotel room nights estimate. There was an estimate on how much food money (and I guess this includes beer) that patrons spent. Estimates, Estimates, Estimates…
We all know that the vast majority of people that attended this event were from this area. Very few people came from outside the area (or out of state). This was not a destination event. Heck, the hotel numbers bare this out. These wild-eyed optimistic estimations are an embarrassment to report to council (though the mayor seemed to just lap it up). They tried to overstate their case and logic just doesn’t work here. It is thoroughly unprofessional to exaggerate numbers to this extent just to make yourselves look good. You end up looking like Cliff Clavin.
While this event is important to our city’s cultural vitality, it is a revenue neutral event. It is not a money generator. Most of the money generated went to a few bars and boutiques on Union Square or left town with the vendors traveling the circuit.
This was another missed opportunity by community leaders. We had this big captive audience and we could have used this as an opportunity to find out some vitally important questions. Why didn’t we get information from the street vendors? Event coordinators could have done some sampling and asked questions about demographic info, town of origin, what brought them to Oktoberfest, how often do they come to downtown Hickory, what brings you to downtown Hickory, what would bring you to downtown Hickory more often, etc.
These Cliff Clavin numbers were contrived to make this organization seem important so that they can come back and wheedle more money out of Hickory coffers in the future. The Downtown Development Association needs to get its act together. They seem to be more of a social organization, than based on commerce.
D. Presentation of Diplomas by Mayor Wright to the 2008 Neighborhood College Graduating Class. This is a civics project where citizens get a lesson in Hickory Civics. Three Graduates of this class made presentations. I have to admit that they were truly jazzed about what they had learned.
The Hound believes that Mandy Pitts is a fine representative for this city. I hear her on Hal Rowe all the time. I'd rather hear from her than Rudy any day. Rudy seems like he's trying to run 0ut the clock and Mandy is trying to extend it. Mandy, if I agree to do this neighborhood college thing, will you let me do an extra credit project on the settlement of the Buffalo's Sinkhole issue?
Council Reaffirmed and Ratified Second Readings of the agenda voted on at the last meeting.
Consent Agenda:
The City confirms the Voluntary Annexation of the Property of Brian and Tammy Frazier located at 2713 24th Street Court and authorizes a Public Hearing for December 16, 2008 to allow Drendel Investments, LLC to Close a Portion of 2nd Street Drive, NW.
Authorize Public Hearings for December 2, 2008 for a Proposed Ordinance Amendment to the Hickory City Code Chapter 20, “Nuisances” and a Public Hearing about a Proposed Ordinance Amendment to the Hickory City Code Chapter 18, “Motor Vehicles and Traffic” Section 18-183 – “Pre-towing Notice; Appeal; Removal Without Notice.” Public Hearing Regarding Approval of the Economic Incentive Development Agreement with MDI, Inc.
Social Items - Approval of Third Annual “Food for Fines” Amnesty Week at the City Libraries from 12/1–7/ 2008. Proclamation Recognizing Harold and Helen Punch’s 70th Wedding Anniversary and Declaring 11/12/2008 as “Harold and Helen Punch Day” in the City of Hickory. Grant Terry Miller a Thirty-Day Extension to Vacate City-Owned Property Located at 1370 12th Avenue, NE.
Business Items - Approve the Fire Hydrant Grant Application for Infrastructure Assistance for Sunbelt Furniture Xpress in the Amount of $5,000.00. (The City’s Economic Development Assistance guidelines state that City Council may provide matching grants of up to $5,000.00 for documented costs of additions to public utilities. The cost of Sunbelt’s expansion is estimated at $935,000.00 leading to creation of 20 new jobs at a median wage level of $19.00 per hour).
Approval of Property Tax Refund to Eastern Automation Services, LLC in the Amount of $284.14. Approve the Proposed Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Submittal for FY 2010-2014 to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). Approve Quitclaim Deed From the City of Hickory to Clinton Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church For Property Located at 145 Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard – Discussed in Departmental Reports.
Budget Ordinance Amendment: $2,500 Library donation from Lenoir Rhyne University, $705 of Miscellaneous Insurance Claims, To budget $500 of Airport property rental revenue for purchase of new tables, Transfer $9,744 from the General Fund to pay Randall Arendt for costs associated with the Commercial Corridor Workshop and Fifth Avenue/Optimist’s Park Affordable Housing Site Plan presentation, Transfer $195 from the General Fund to Amity Lane Capital Project construction.
New Business: Public Hearings
Petition to Rezone the Property Located at 2007 Startown Road - This 10.92 acre property is located in Ward 3. The applicant proposes a rezoning from Catawba County Residential- 20 and City of Hickory Residential-1 to City of Hickory Commercial-4.
The property has frontage on Startown Road and is a short distance south of the Catawba Valley Boulevard/Startown Road intersection. The subject property’s location near that intersection makes the general area more suitable as commercial development rather than residential. While staff finds that the request is not consistent with Hickory by Choice, due to changing circumstances in the area, staff recommends approval of this initial rezoning. The Hickory Regional Planning Commission on October 22, 2008 conducted a public hearing and voted unanimously for approval of the requested rezoning.
Brad Lail wanted the property split zoned. The way the property is laid out, the part facing Startown Road is currently near O&I development. The rear of the property is near open space. C-4 status is the second highest commercial development level and he doesn’t want this zoned C-4 until there is a cohesive strategy. The petitioners main quest is to get commercial status for when they sell the property. The council unanimously voted against C-4 status, but unanimously accept O&I status.
The Hound Believes: This is no big deal right now, because the owners aren’t ready to sell the property, but city officials have to know that the property in front of this road is Huffman Cove Road, 29th Avenue NW and NE, 24th Street NE, McDonald Parkway, and Startown Road. In the next 20 years this will become a 4 lane from 127 to Highway 321. This is the outerloop corridor that has been proposed to be the third bridge to Caldwell (& Alexander) County.
Better get used to the idea of some razing and major development taking place in the not too distant future. There isn’t going to be residential along this major thoroughfare. Let’s not needlessly hamstring something that will have to be revisited by future city leaders. Look forward, not present, not past.
2. Petition to Rezone the Property of Third Gate Properties Located South of I-40 and East of 21st Street Drive, SE (Sweetwater Road) These four parcels totaling 35.4 acres are located in Ward 3. Proposal is to rezone from Limited Industrial to Planned Development – Mixed Use. If rezoned, the applicant intends to develop a mixed professional office park, retail/commercial space, and residential development.
This proposal was discussed at the Planning Commission meeting on 10/22/2008. They voted unanimously for approval of the requested rezoning. Staff finds that the request is consistent with Hickory by Choice and recommends approval. The council unanimously accepted the proposal.
Departmental Reports:
Second Reading - Approve Quitclaim Deed From the City of Hickory to Clinton Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church For Property Located at 145 Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard Staff recommends approval of the Quitclaim Deed and requests two (2) readings on November 18, 2008 due to time constraints between the church and their buyer. The Church is changing Locations and this actions takes away the covenants the city has on the deed so that the church can sell the property. The council unanimously accepted the proposal.
Award Bid to Tyco (MA/COM) to Purchase the P25 – OpenSky Hybrid Communications System in the Amount of $1,542,685.00 for The Hickory Police Department. The current 800 MHz radio system was purchased in 1994 and many replacement parts are no longer manufactured. The FCC is taking HPD’s radio frequencies and allocating them to Nextel. The FCC is requiring Nextel to pay for new mobile and handheld radios, a value of $800,000.00. With the receipt of the equipment from Nextel, the value of the radio system is $2,342,685.00, but the City will only spend $1,542,685.00. Tyco (MA/COM) is the City’s existing vendor and met all of the RFP standards. Tyco (MA/COM) was the second lowest bidder. The lowest bidder did not meet specifications, including no data solution which would require additional equipment and software cost. The City has negotiated free hardware maintenance for one (1) year at a savings of $61,000.00 and free software maintenance for three (3) years saving $186,000.00. The new radio system should last 15 to 20 years. The purchase will be made by a “down payment” of $500,000.00 from cash reserves and financing $1,042,685.00 for ten (10) years at an interest rate of 3.79%. The debt service payment will be $110,000.00 annually, funded from reductions in HPD budget for maintenance and equipment replacements for the old system. Staff recommends approval. Warren Wood showed that this new system will basically cost the city nothing. The council unanimously accepted the proposal.
The Hounds Take: Look at this system and tell me that we are a small town. This system shows how stupid the small town theory really is, doesn’t it?
Saturday, November 15, 2008
A New Equation!!!
I need your help. We have got to get Hickory back on track. Don't think me strange to say that I do not mind putting this town on my back. I know that Harry Hipps has my back and I've got his, but what about the rest of you?
You see, I was raised to be a responsible human being. I'm no better than anyone else. I am just a common man with issues that make me different in many ways from most of you. My father died when I was 2 years old, he was 24. My mother was an overburdened, shellshocked widow at the age of 22 with three children, aged 4, 2, and 1. Looking back, I know that she did the best she could under such a tumultuous situation. She made mistakes, but that's part of being human.
So, I don't come from the standard mother, father core family like the majority of you. I was forced to grow up in many ways before I was even out of infancy. There were no father-son banquets or closely bonded relationship that men cherish with their father. I have always been the outsider.
I eventually had a stepfather, but he never was a father figure in my life. He was more of an overburdening enforcer of will. So I rebelled and never did respect his authoritarian nature. That is the reason I can't stand when an entity tries to overpower a weaker subject with brute force or intimidation.
My Grandfathers were great men in my life, neither were perfect, but who is. Leroy Shell led by example in my eyes. He was a good Christian and I saw him constantly go out of his way to help his fellow man. Vic Padgett was a gregarious man who had a multitude of friends. Whenever we went out somewhere, he was sure to know someone and easily strike up a conversation. They have both been gone for a while, but they are still in my heart and in my head. I think of them often.
My Grandmothers have both been steady influences in my life. Mattie Padgett used to be a local radio personality on WIRC for 50+ years. She is cool, because she can do about anything. She was in the military during WWII and she doesn't take lip from anybody. She is very strong-willed. Martha Shell was a nurse here in Hickory. She saved my life when I was a teenager, because she got me out of an anxiety riddled situation and gave me the independence that I needed to blossom.
I needed to give you that overview to let you know that no matter what happens in your lives, everything is going to be alright. We all have negativity in our lives, but the key is that we must turn it into a positive by learning from it. It is alright to make mistakes as long as you learn from them and don't continuously repeat them.
I hated my primary education. I didn't like many of my teachers, because I felt and still feel that they were petty. The ones I didn't like were generally the ones that thought they were there to play some kind of mind games. I was there to learn, not be indoctrinated with social class and structure, and so I was always an outcast. Sort of like James Dean in Rebel without a Cause. But, I did (and do) have a cause.
Read the Declaration of Independence http://www.ushistory.org/Declaration/document/index.htm. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Amen brothers, amen. I bathe myself in this statement. I glorify our forefathers who put their lives on the line so that we could be free from tyranny.
My family, my heroes, and my mentors have brought me to where I am today and given me the knowledge that I am unique and I have abilities and responsibilities to help myself, as well as my fellow man.
My problems are my own and it is my responsibility to solve them. That does not absolve me from the responsibility of helping others, when I can. When someone gets in the way of me solving problems, then it is my responsibility to figure out a way to get that person (or entity) out of the way so that I may resolve the issue. That is the reason I am beseeching you to help me move Hickory forward. It is our responsibility to change this city's purpose.
For too long we have seen the blame game. Blame Raleigh, blame Washington, blame Democrats, blame Republicans....where has it gotten us. Seven years of stagnation!!!
Our governmental leaders' vision is negative. Whether it is the negativity in dealing with the drinking establishments, the conflicts of interest, the hostile nature in which they have dealt with local businesses, the way certain council members want to take away our property rights, and then absolve themselves of any and all responsibility for the malaise our city has endured for seven years; it has got to be brought to an end.
It's not about vision. It's about the equation! Negative attitudes produce negative results.
Our city's leaders vision doesn't add up. So it is time to change the equation, because certain leaders just don't fit into Hickory's equation. We must get rid of the people with the negative attitudes, the people that tell us what we can't do, and the people that always want to play the blame game.
They need to show us what they are going to do, because all we have heard are excuses. They should look at it as a priviledge and honor to serve us, because I think that some of them look at the citizens as a burden. They are here to represent us all. The black, white, yellow, brown, tan, or green are supposed to be treated equally.
I need your help. I believe in this purpose. I believe in this movement. Please spread the word. Preach it from a pulpit or whisper it in someone's ear, I don't care. We need eyeballs. We need comments. We need participation. We need them to know that we exist and we need them to know that we are here to stay.
Take a chance. What's it going to hurt? We know that our city leader's vision has not worked. What indication is there that things are going to get better? It's up to you. Do you want to see us continue down this path of failure or do you want to see a new equation?
You see, I was raised to be a responsible human being. I'm no better than anyone else. I am just a common man with issues that make me different in many ways from most of you. My father died when I was 2 years old, he was 24. My mother was an overburdened, shellshocked widow at the age of 22 with three children, aged 4, 2, and 1. Looking back, I know that she did the best she could under such a tumultuous situation. She made mistakes, but that's part of being human.
So, I don't come from the standard mother, father core family like the majority of you. I was forced to grow up in many ways before I was even out of infancy. There were no father-son banquets or closely bonded relationship that men cherish with their father. I have always been the outsider.
I eventually had a stepfather, but he never was a father figure in my life. He was more of an overburdening enforcer of will. So I rebelled and never did respect his authoritarian nature. That is the reason I can't stand when an entity tries to overpower a weaker subject with brute force or intimidation.
My Grandfathers were great men in my life, neither were perfect, but who is. Leroy Shell led by example in my eyes. He was a good Christian and I saw him constantly go out of his way to help his fellow man. Vic Padgett was a gregarious man who had a multitude of friends. Whenever we went out somewhere, he was sure to know someone and easily strike up a conversation. They have both been gone for a while, but they are still in my heart and in my head. I think of them often.
My Grandmothers have both been steady influences in my life. Mattie Padgett used to be a local radio personality on WIRC for 50+ years. She is cool, because she can do about anything. She was in the military during WWII and she doesn't take lip from anybody. She is very strong-willed. Martha Shell was a nurse here in Hickory. She saved my life when I was a teenager, because she got me out of an anxiety riddled situation and gave me the independence that I needed to blossom.
I needed to give you that overview to let you know that no matter what happens in your lives, everything is going to be alright. We all have negativity in our lives, but the key is that we must turn it into a positive by learning from it. It is alright to make mistakes as long as you learn from them and don't continuously repeat them.
I hated my primary education. I didn't like many of my teachers, because I felt and still feel that they were petty. The ones I didn't like were generally the ones that thought they were there to play some kind of mind games. I was there to learn, not be indoctrinated with social class and structure, and so I was always an outcast. Sort of like James Dean in Rebel without a Cause. But, I did (and do) have a cause.
Read the Declaration of Independence http://www.ushistory.org/Declaration/document/index.htm. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Amen brothers, amen. I bathe myself in this statement. I glorify our forefathers who put their lives on the line so that we could be free from tyranny.
My family, my heroes, and my mentors have brought me to where I am today and given me the knowledge that I am unique and I have abilities and responsibilities to help myself, as well as my fellow man.
My problems are my own and it is my responsibility to solve them. That does not absolve me from the responsibility of helping others, when I can. When someone gets in the way of me solving problems, then it is my responsibility to figure out a way to get that person (or entity) out of the way so that I may resolve the issue. That is the reason I am beseeching you to help me move Hickory forward. It is our responsibility to change this city's purpose.
For too long we have seen the blame game. Blame Raleigh, blame Washington, blame Democrats, blame Republicans....where has it gotten us. Seven years of stagnation!!!
Our governmental leaders' vision is negative. Whether it is the negativity in dealing with the drinking establishments, the conflicts of interest, the hostile nature in which they have dealt with local businesses, the way certain council members want to take away our property rights, and then absolve themselves of any and all responsibility for the malaise our city has endured for seven years; it has got to be brought to an end.
It's not about vision. It's about the equation! Negative attitudes produce negative results.
Our city's leaders vision doesn't add up. So it is time to change the equation, because certain leaders just don't fit into Hickory's equation. We must get rid of the people with the negative attitudes, the people that tell us what we can't do, and the people that always want to play the blame game.
They need to show us what they are going to do, because all we have heard are excuses. They should look at it as a priviledge and honor to serve us, because I think that some of them look at the citizens as a burden. They are here to represent us all. The black, white, yellow, brown, tan, or green are supposed to be treated equally.
I need your help. I believe in this purpose. I believe in this movement. Please spread the word. Preach it from a pulpit or whisper it in someone's ear, I don't care. We need eyeballs. We need comments. We need participation. We need them to know that we exist and we need them to know that we are here to stay.
Take a chance. What's it going to hurt? We know that our city leader's vision has not worked. What indication is there that things are going to get better? It's up to you. Do you want to see us continue down this path of failure or do you want to see a new equation?
Monday, November 10, 2008
Watch Out Folks -- Taxpayer Alert -- Downtown Parking Deck
This is a recent article that was in the Charlotte Observer
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/524/story/304352.html?mi_pluck_action=comment_submitted#Comments_Container
Read this article and see if you don't think this is a trial balloon to interject the subject of a new parking deck downtown. If the people downtown want a parking deck, then they need to pay for it 100%, like any other business in this town would have to do.
Frankly, it is getting a little more than tiresome to see downtown development always brought up when we have so many other problem areas in this town that need to be addressed. We all want to see a progressive, vibrant downtown. I think there are things that can be done to get downtown going, but it isn't going to happen until we get attractions downtown that average people want to visit. Land a major corporate retail chain downtown and then there might be a reason to build a parking deck.
When are the people making decisions about our downtown ever going to be held accountable for the money that has been fruitlessly invested there. As I have said continually, the best way to make downtown more attractive is to get the areas around it up and going (Outside-In Redevelopment). Read about this in the Comments on Problems and Solutions forum that is linked in the top right corner of this page.
As for this Problem, here's a Solution Idea. Maybe you could issue a set number of placards (like handicapped parking placards) to these salons downtown that could be hung on the patron's car mirror. These placards would give the patrons 3 or 4 hour parking. You could charge the businesses a nominal annual fee for the placards. That way parking won't be taken up by employees, although I don't understand why they are never part of the equation.
I will give our City Leaders some free advice. If you try to build a parking deck with any city taxpayer money, then you will be hanging an issue around your neck that will be of no comfort. The average person goes downtown very little and the problem has less to do with parking, than it does with a lack of viable economic commerce.
Check out the average person shopping on Union Square. Do they look like the majority of the citizens of our community? Do you think average citizens are going to stand by and watch you continually subsidize a place where they have no interest, just to humor a vocal minority? It is time for Union Square to stand on it's own two feet.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/524/story/304352.html?mi_pluck_action=comment_submitted#Comments_Container
Read this article and see if you don't think this is a trial balloon to interject the subject of a new parking deck downtown. If the people downtown want a parking deck, then they need to pay for it 100%, like any other business in this town would have to do.
Frankly, it is getting a little more than tiresome to see downtown development always brought up when we have so many other problem areas in this town that need to be addressed. We all want to see a progressive, vibrant downtown. I think there are things that can be done to get downtown going, but it isn't going to happen until we get attractions downtown that average people want to visit. Land a major corporate retail chain downtown and then there might be a reason to build a parking deck.
When are the people making decisions about our downtown ever going to be held accountable for the money that has been fruitlessly invested there. As I have said continually, the best way to make downtown more attractive is to get the areas around it up and going (Outside-In Redevelopment). Read about this in the Comments on Problems and Solutions forum that is linked in the top right corner of this page.
As for this Problem, here's a Solution Idea. Maybe you could issue a set number of placards (like handicapped parking placards) to these salons downtown that could be hung on the patron's car mirror. These placards would give the patrons 3 or 4 hour parking. You could charge the businesses a nominal annual fee for the placards. That way parking won't be taken up by employees, although I don't understand why they are never part of the equation.
I will give our City Leaders some free advice. If you try to build a parking deck with any city taxpayer money, then you will be hanging an issue around your neck that will be of no comfort. The average person goes downtown very little and the problem has less to do with parking, than it does with a lack of viable economic commerce.
Check out the average person shopping on Union Square. Do they look like the majority of the citizens of our community? Do you think average citizens are going to stand by and watch you continually subsidize a place where they have no interest, just to humor a vocal minority? It is time for Union Square to stand on it's own two feet.
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