The Hound calls for a boycott of all Air Travel

Homeland Security is not protecting us from Arab Bogeymen. It is a tool meant to take away our rights granted under the United States Constitution. I have seen enough to realize this. I am fully awake to what the government is and has been up to and the context that has been in formulation for a long, long time.

Benjamin Franklin stated Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. We have seen constant intrusion into our privacy and it is time to say enough!!!

No naked body scanners! No pat downs, when people have done nothing wrong! No touching peoples private parts! No harassing the Elderly or Children who just want to freely travel!

If these types of hyper-security measures become the norm, then our great nation is lost and has been defeated by the supposed enemies of freedom that we are supposed to be protected from.

It is time to quit flying and allow the Airlines to be taken into bankruptcy. Flying is supposed to be efficient and convenient. That has been taken away by the overzealous control freaks in the bureaucracy who have zero common sense. They and the Airline companies should be pointed to as the reasons that the airline industry gets decimated. The Airline companies have allowed their customers to be harassed and be treated with a lack of respect. Is this how a company should treat its customers? Flying is not a right, but neither is it a privilege. It is a mode of travel, which by right we are supposed to have the liberty to exercise freely.

If you choose to fly under this current system that is your option, but I would suggest that peaceful resistance to the measures taken by Homeland Security and the TSA will curtail this obtrusive and obnoxious behavior. You deserve to be treated with respect. Ride a bus, train, or drive a car. You don't have to fly. You have done nothing wrong and these measures will not bring more security or peace of mind to you. It is time to show these people that the government is the American people and not the Bureaucracy.

Johnny Edge Peaceful Resistance of TSA authorities at the San Diego California Airport

Innovation 2010 Event - held at CVCC on November 10, 2010

I attended this showcase of innovation yesterday and I have to say that I truly believe that it was a great event and a success. I think the keynote and the theme of the event is that Innovation and Creation is not about one person winning the lottery and coming up with a spectacularly outside of the box idea. The key to the successful implementation of a product or service is Interpersonal Networking and Collaboration.

I will dig deeper into Keynote speaker Andrew Hargadon's presentation, but the key to his message was that the tools are out there to create successes, but the Networking, Collaboration, and Cooperation are necessary elements to shape new ideas and products. Thomas Edison and Henry Ford didn't "Reinvent the Wheel," what they did was look at processes that existed in their era and they borrowed existing technologies, re-engineered and molded those existing technologies into efficient models that worked for the businesses strategies that they wanted to implement.

Former Governor Jim Hunt had a taped message about creating a New Creative Economy. Many of the ideas and subject materials that he broached are the ideas that have been related here on the Hickory Hound. He spoke about the processes that have gone forward in the community so far and how necessary they are. From his words you would think that he was speaking directly about the Future Economy Council. He also said that we should create contests and awards that reward innovation. The subject of an Economic and Science Fair has been discussed ad Nauseum here on the Hound and this Innovation 2010 event's roots were an offshoot of some of those discussions.

Economic and Science Fair discussions:
Future Economy Council Meeting #13 (3/18/2010)
Newsletter about the City Council meeting of February 16, 2010 - Public Hearings - Legislative issues
Top-Down or Bottom-Up (2/5/2010)
The State of Hickory - January 2010 (1/23/2010).

From September 17, 2009:




Mr. Leslie Boney, Associate Vice President for Economic Development Research, Policy and Planning for the University of North Carolina system spoke about the need for our area to reinvent itself. He reiterated much of the subject matter that Governor Hunt discussed and also talked about the Greater Hickory area's issues with the diaspora (Hickory's Diaspora - Bring Home the Scattered Seeds - 3/14/2010) and the "Brain Drain"- Forget about Brain Drain. How about Brain Gain!!!. He did not use that terminology per se, but that was the subject material and that also is information that has been discussed by the Future Economy Council and the Hickory Hound.

Other relevant articles:
Future Economy Council Meeting #4 (6/18/2009)
Catawba County’s Economic Stimulus Plan for 2010 – 2012 (12/8/2009)
Forget about Brain Drain. How about Brain Gain!!! (11/10/ 2009)
Fixing Hickory - The Future Economy Council presented by Terry Bledsoe, Catawba County Communications Director, Chairman - (10/23/2009)
Fixing Hickory - A Demographics and Marketing Discussion Panel - (10/13/2009)
Newsletter about the City Council meeting of October 6, 2009 - Presentation of “Education Matters”
HDR Editorial - Give young people a chance to thrive - (9/27/2009)

I will discuss all of the information laid out in this conference in detail over the next few days, please be patient it is coming, but as most of you know I juggle these efforts with many other efforts and responsibilities. I want to thank all of you who read the Hickory Hound and take an interest in our area!

For any Parties interested who would like to pursue any information on the processes of Innovation and Creativity in our community, below is a detailed list of the Individuals and companies that played a vital role in making this conference happen. As was stated, it is time to get out there and make those connections and these are some of those integral networks you should pursue. (Click on the photocopies to enlarge and from there you can use the Control+ or Control- to enlarge or shrink the image and the cursors to navigate).

Bringing People to the table of Governance - A presentation on Mobile Governance

Over the last few years you, who have read this blog, have been made privy to my frustrations detailing the lack of a relationship between government and the citizenry. I have expressed the anxieties I feel I have witnessed in the association between a government operating in favor of special interests and lacking forthrightness and an unengaged, ambivalent public looking for short answers and simple solutions.

Rick Smyre introduced the subject of Mobile Governance to the Future Economy Council and myself in late May and Early June of 2009. He wrote a detailed article entailing the meaning of Mobile Governance, which I introduced on the Hickory Hound at that time -THE WEAK SIGNAL OF MOBILE GOVERNANCE by Rick Smyre.

Dewey Harris, the Assistant Catawba County Manager and a member of the Future economy Council gave a thorough presentation and discussion of the progress that has taken place over this issue during the last 18 months. Dewey has worked in association with Rick and there is hope that UNC-Wilmington and other institutions will come on board to institute this process and program. Pilot Programs will be established to initially stake a flag into some key complex issues where local governments might have trouble communicating with the public and implementing important tasks and processes, because of the lack of trust that has become rooted in our current system of governance.

Here is Dewey's presentation made on November 3, 2010:



Here is a favorite quote of mine from Catawba County Chamber of Commerce President Danny Hearn espoused on June 18, 2009, which makes a statement about what the Future Economy Council is trying to achieve and its relation to the governance issue.

When people say, "who is the beneficiary?" I can't go to someone and say give me $10,000 and you will get this in return. This is not that investment. We are selling the invisible. If we continue to take this economy in the direction that we have always taken it, we aren't going to get anywhere. The Economy has totally changed. What we had prior to 2000 is gone. We have to reinvent ourselves. If we don't do that, then we are in big trouble. It is the thinking of elected officials, business, and education of changing the way we do things and that investment can't be shown. The community better embrace it and understand it.

We can't even get our local officials to read a document about Mobile Governance that Rick wrote. There are (forward thinking) investment ideas out there, that no current elected official will look at, but people who are prone to understand this and reach outside of their comfort level and try to embrace it, all of a sudden, an idea that a traditional thinker will not do, we might. Those ideas are achievable.

The Impotence of Elections by Dr. Paul Craig Roberts

Paul Craig Roberts (born April 3, 1939, in Atlanta, Georgia) is an economist and a nationally syndicated columnist. He served as an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan Administration earning fame as a co-founder of Reaganomics." He is a former editor and columnist for the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, and Scripps Howard News Service. Roberts has been a critic of both Democratic and Republican administrations.. He is a columnist and was previously an editor for the Wall Street Journal. His latest book, “How the Economy Was Lost: The War of the Worlds,” details why America is disintegrating.

Paul Craig Roberts - Infowars.com - November 3, 2010

In his historical novel, The Leopard, Giuseppe di Lampedusa writes that things have to change in order to remain the same. That is what happened in the US congressional elections on November 2.

Jobs offshoring, which began on a large scale with the collapse of the Soviet Union, has merged the Democrats and Republicans into one party with two names. The Soviet collapse changed attitudes in socialist India and communist China and opened those countries, with their large excess supplies of labor, to Western capital.

Pushed by Wall Street and Wal-Mart, American manufacturers moved production for US markets offshore to boost profits and shareholder earnings by utilizing cheap labor. The decline of the US manufacturing work force reduced the political power of unions and the ability of unions to finance the Democratic Party. The end result was to make the Democrats dependent on the same sources of financing as Republicans.

Prior to this development, the two parties, despite their similarities, represented different interests and served as a check on one another. The Democrats represented labor and focused on providing a social safety net. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, unemployment insurance, housing subsidies, education, and civil rights were Democratic issues. Democrats were committed to a full employment policy and would accept some inflation to secure more employment.

The Republicans represented business. The Republicans focused on curtailing big government in all its manifestations from social welfare spending to regulation. The Republicans’ economic policy consisted of opposing federal budget deficits.

These differences resulted in political competition.

Today both parties are dependent for campaign finance on Wall Street, the military/security complex, AIPAC, the oil industry, agri-business, pharmaceuticals, and the insurance industry. Campaigns no longer consist of debates over issues. They are mud-slinging contests.

Angry voters take their anger out on incumbents, and that is what we saw in the election. Tea Party candidates defeated Republican incumbents in primaries, and Republicans defeated Democrats in the congressional elections.

Policies, however, will not change qualitatively. Quantitatively, Republicans will be more inclined to more rapidly dismantle more of the social safety net than Democrats and more inclined to finish off the remnants of civil liberties. But the powerful private oligarchs will continue to write the legislation that Congress passes and the President signs. New members of Congress will quickly discover that achieving re-election requires bending to the oligarchs’ will.

This might sound harsh and pessimistic. But look at the factual record. In his campaign for the presidency, George W. Bush criticized President Clinton’s foreign adventures and vowed to curtail America’s role as the policeman of the world. Once in office, Bush pursued the neoconservatives’ policy of US world hegemony via military means, occupation of countries, setting up puppet governments, and financial intervention in other countries’ elections.

Obama promised change. He vowed to close Guantanamo prison and to bring the troops home. Instead, he restarted the war in Afghanistan and started new wars in Pakistan and Yemen, while continuing Bush’s policy of threatening Iran and encircling Russia with military bases.

Americans out of work, out of income, out of homes and prospects, and out of hope for their children’s careers are angry. But the political system offers them no way of bringing about change. They can change the elected servants of the oligarchs, but they cannot change the policies or the oligarchs.

The American situation is dire. As a result of the high speed Internet, the loss of manufacturing jobs was followed by the loss of professional service jobs, such as software engineering, that were career ladders for American university graduates. The middle class has no prospects. Already, the American labor force and income distribution mimics that of a third world country, with income and wealth concentrated in a few hands at the top and most of the rest of the population employed in domestic services jobs. In recent years net new job creation has been concentrated in lowly paid occupations, such as waitresses and bartenders, ambulatory health care services, and retail clerks. The population and new entrants into the work force continue to grow more rapidly than job opportunities.

Turning this around would require more realization than exists among policymakers and a deeper crisis. Possibly it could be done by using taxation to encourage US corporations to manufacture domestically the goods and services that they sell in US markets. However, the global corporations and Wall Street would oppose this change.

The tax revenue loss from job losses, bank bailouts, stimulus programs, and the wars have caused a three-to-four-fold jump in the US budget deficit. The deficit is now too large to be financed by the trade surpluses of China, Japan, and OPEC. Consequently, the Federal Reserve is making massive purchases of Treasury and other debt. The continuation of these purchases threatens the dollar’s value and its role as reserve currency. If the dollar is perceived as losing that role, flight from dollars will devastate the remnants of Americans’ retirement incomes and the ability of the US government to finance itself.

Yet, the destructive policies continue. There is no re-regulation of the financial industry, because the financial industry will not allow it. The unaffordable wars continue, because they serve the profits of the military/security complex and promote military officers into higher ranks with more retirement pay. Elements within the government want to send US troops into Pakistan and into Yemen. War with Iran is still on the table. And China is being demonized as the cause of US economic difficulties.

Whistleblowers and critics are being suppressed. Military personnel who leak evidence of military crimes are arrested. Congressmen call for their execution. Wikileaks’ founder is in hiding, and neoconservatives write articles calling for his elimination by CIA assassination teams. Media outlets that report the leaks apparently have been threatened by Pentagon chief Robert Gates. According to Antiwar.com , on July 29 Gates “insisted that he would not rule out targeting Wikileaks founder Julian Assange or any of the myriad media outlets which reported on the leaks.” (Gates Won’t Rule Out Targeting Assange, Media in Leak Investigation - AntiWar.com - Jason Ditz, July 29, 2010)

The control of the oligarchs extends to the media. The Clinton administration permitted a small number of mega-corporations to concentrate the US media in a few hands. Corporate advertising executives, not journalists, control the new American media, and the value of the mega-companies depends on government broadcast licenses. The media’s interest is now united with that of the government and the oligarchs.

On top of all the other factors that have made American elections meaningless, voters cannot even get correct information from the media about the problems that they and the country face.

As the economic situation is likely to continue deteriorating, the anger will grow. But the oligarchs will direct the anger away from themselves and toward the vulnerable elements of the domestic population and “foreign enemies.”

Fighting the Corporatocracy and the Tapeworm Economy

Gold sits tonight at $1,389.80 and Silver sits at $26.58. Both have seen drastic rises during the day as a result of the Federal Reserve's overt action to create liquidity to further prop up the Megabanks, both domestic and foreign. The Fed is going to buy $500+ billion in U.S. Treasury Bonds (Federal Reserve to print billions of dollars in massive shadow stimulus - By Agence France-Presse - Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010). This is nothing other than monetizing the debt (Currency Devaluation). Rampant inflation is on the way in staple commodities (Food and Energy)-- worse than we have already seen. The economic system is failing and the World Central Banks and Governments are only making the issues we face a lot worse. We need to face our Economic difficulties head on and the Federal Reserve is simply trying to paper these issues (Derivatives and Mortgage Backed Securities) over. This will not reopen the credit markets or add jobs. It also won't help individuals deal with their own personal credit crunches. As a matter of fact it is going to make all of that much, much worse.

Former Assistant Secretary of Housing under George H.W. Bush Catherine Austin Fitts blows the whistle on how the financial terrorists have deliberately imploded the US economy and transferred gargantuan amounts of wealth offshore as a means of sacrificing the American middle class. Fitts documents how trillions of dollars went missing from government coffers in the 90's and how she was personally targeted for exposing the fraud.

Fitts explains how every dollar of debt issued to service every war, building project, and government program since the American Revolution up to around 2 years ago - around $12 trillion - has been doubled again in just the last 18 months alone with the bank bailouts. "We're literally witnessing the leveraged buyout of a country and that's why I call it a financial coup d'état, and that's what the bailout is for," states Fitts.

Massive amounts of financial capital have been sucked out the United States and moved abroad, explains Fitts, ensuring that corporations have become more powerful than governments, changing the very structure of governance on the planet and ensuring we are ruled by private corporations. Pension and social security funds have also been stolen and moved offshore, leading to the end of fiscal responsibility and sovereignty as we know it.




The Race to the Bottom - April 29, 2010

Newsletter about the City Council meeting of November 2, 2010

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 right of this page under Main Information links is an Hickory's City Website link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the left of the page you will see the Agenda's and Minutes link you need to click. This will give you a choice of PDF files to upcoming and previous meetings.

You will find historic Agenda and Minutes links. Agendas show what is on the docket for the meeting of that date. The Minutes is an actual summary of the proceedings of the meeting of that date.

Here is a summary of the agenda of the 10/19/2010 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.

Invocation by Pastor Deborah McEachran of First Presbyterian Church

Special Presentations:
A. Presentation by Tracy Nestor, Oktoberfest Event Director Thanking City Council for Their Support and to Report on the Success of the 2010 Oktoberfest - Tracy Nestor made the presentation in which she stated that she has been involved with the festival for the last 12 years. This was the 25th anniversary of Oktoberfest and she stated it was the biggest year by far. She stated that there was an increase in attendance by 10 to 15%, while many festivals in the area have suffered and seen a reduction of as much as 30% in their attendance. The Hickory daily record has awarded Oktoberfest as the best festival in Hickory for the past three years.

She stated that there were 132 vendors to share in the vendor spaces were sold out by August 1. The attendance was estimated to be 108,000 people over the three day event. Based on the number of attendees, the western Piedmont Council of governments estimates that the event had an economic impact of $7.3 million.

Mrs. Nestor stated that they were faced with a few new issues this year. People were bringing animals to the festival and she stated that there were issues with science this year. She added that she would be bringing these issues forward to the Council and effort to create ordinances pertaining to these specific issues.

The Hound is not going to question Mrs. Nestor, because I do believe that this event has been growing over the years and I do believe it is becoming more and more successful. What I would like to emphasize is my credibility when it comes to questioning the previous numbers related to hyperbole versus real statistics. Some people thought I was rude two years ago when I forcefully questioned the numbers associated with this event.

On November 18, 2008 Mrs. Nestor came before the council and 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 numbers stated this year show an attendance of 110,000 people and an economic impact of $7.3 million and a 10% to 15% growth in attendance over the previous year. If we extrapolate the conservative estimate of growth that means that 100,000 attended the event last year and around 91,000 two years ago. Look at the 20%+ growth in attendance and the fact that the revenue estimates are down from those stated two years ago. These numbers are also estimates given from the Western Piedmont Council of Governments.

I would like to congratulate the HDDA, Mrs. Nestor, Ms. Kincaid, and the City for the success of this event. I truly appreciate and respect that they are bringing real numbers to the table. I think that it is very important to be realistic about the context of these events and their impact on the area. Here is hoping that an area with a rich Germanic history, such as ours, can see this tradition grow into a truly regional event.

B. Proclamation Presented to Ms. Teena Willis Declaring November 14 – 20, 2010 as “Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week” in the City of Hickory - The Mayor made the presentation. This coalition sponsored national hunger awareness and homeless week. The proclamation is intended to help people understand the plight of people who are hungry and homeless. It is meant to encourage support for homeless assistance service providers and and community assistance opportunities for students and community service organizations. There are many organizations involved in this process including the Salvation Army, grace house, family care Center, safe Harbor rescue mission, family guidance Center, Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian ministry, Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministries., Mental health partners, greater Hickory United Way, Exodus homes, the department of social services, ALFA, Catawba County behavioral health care, our fathers pavilion, Sipes Orchard home, and many more partners.

The theme of national hunger and homeless awareness week is bringing America home. The Council recognizes hunger and homelessness is a problem in Hickory and Catawba County.

For people associated with this effort made comments. Among those comments were that they that people would participate in events that will be held from November 14 through the 20th. What statement that was made was about a grant provided to this foundation in the amount of $133,800 in that amount of money will typically house about 4 to 5 households. Another program grants applied for will be geared toward those who are not chronically homeless but need assistance. It was mentioned that 48 families have received assistance through these programs.

The continuum of care is intended to avert crisis in key people from ever becoming homeless. And effort has been made to create for the first time a food policy Council in Catawba County. This would help to assure the nutritional value of every citizen whether.

The Hound believes that this mission is very important to our area during these difficult times. This reflects on our wellness as a community. Wellness isn't about the wealthy in a community. They can afford to eat right and afford exercise and recreational amenities. The wellness of our community correlates with Quality of Life issues of middle class and poor people. It is essential that our community make investment in the health and well being of working class people!

Hickory - The lowest well being in the United States of America

Consent Agenda:
A.Acceptance of Governor’s Highway Safety Program Grant to Purchase In-Car Digital Cameras and Radars in the Amount of $24,375 - The Hickory Police Department received notification that its application was approved for a Governor’s Highway Safety Program Grant. These grant funds will be used to purchase five (5) in-car digital cameras and radars at a total cost of $42,500.00. The grant funds awarded are in the amount of $24,375.00 and the City’s portion will be $18,125.00. Funds have been budgeted. Staff recommends acceptance.

B. Approve Agreement for Services with Stephen F. Austin for Preparation of the City of Hickory’s Annual Action Plan and Application for Funding to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for FY-2011-12 Community Development Block Grant Entitlement Program in the Amount Not to Exceed $2,500 - The City receives yearly funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program, and the City is required to submit an Annual Action Plan prior to being funded each fiscal year. The Annual Action Plan details the City’s planned Community Development Block Grant expenditures for the fiscal year. Mr. Stephen F. Austin has prepared the City’s prior plans and Mr. Austin proposes to prepare the FY 2011-12 Annual Action Plan and application for funding at a cost not to exceed $2,500.00. Having prepared the City’s previous Consolidated Plan, he is quite knowledgeable with both the Hickory area as well as the work involved in completing this document as required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Staff recommends approval.

The Hound is curious about Mr. Austin being paid this money to do this paperwork. Two comments were made relating to this issue in the Newsletter from February 17, 2009. Why can't city staff do this paperwork?

Comment from Anonymous - While you're asking about wasted money, why is Stephan Austin being paid $2500 annually to simply reprint the Grant Application that he's submitted for the last 8 or 10years, since he left working for the Western Piedmont Council of Governments? Don't we have any qualified planners in the City that can fill out a 5 page grant form successfully, especially when all they have to do is copy what he submitted the year before? The Planners are already on staff and that would seem to be one place that money can be trimmed from the budget.

Oh, wait - he's another of Sally & Jill's pets, isn't he? Never mind. Answered my own question.

Comment from Anon2 - Sometimes things in the Action Plan change, like someone new asking for and receiving money...but Todd Hefner gives Mr. Austin most of that information. You're quite right...it IS basically the same document with the dates changed. The planners do not have anything to do with it though...it's a Community Development thing paid from from Community Development grant funds received by the City. Todd could, however, update it himself...and he has an assistant who could easily help him. The document is always given to the city on disc, and it's on the computer there already, so it's very easy to update. Personally, I like Steve Austin....nothing in the world bad can really be said about him. I don't know about his being Sally & Jill's pet...but I know Todd likes the way it looks and sounds to hire a consultant to do a job for him, such as the Annual Action Plan. The city of Hickory is an entitlement city meaning they will be funded regardless of how wonderful the grant application sounds...it's a formality, preparing and submitting the paperwork. It DOES have to be done, but you are right...it could be done without hiring the job out.

Mr. Austin was allocated $2,500 during the meeting from February 17, 2009 for Hickory’s Annual Action Plan and Application for Funding to HUD for 2009-10. On October 6, 2009 he received $7,500 for Preparation of the City of Hickory’s Five Year Consolidated Plan and One Year Annual Update, as Required by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, in the Amount Not to Exceed $7,500.

So in the last 20 months Mr. Austin has been allocated and will have been paid $12,500 for work that could be done in-house. If I am wrong and what has been stated in the comments is wrong, then please explain it to me so that I can explain this to the public.


C. Amendment to Traffic Ordinance by Reducing the Speed Limit From 35 mph to 25 mph Along 23rd St Dr, NE From the Intersection With 25th St, NE South Approximately 1,296 Feet to the Intersection With 24th St Ln, NE, 25th Av, NE From the Intersection With 23rd St Dr, NE East Approximately 200 Feet to the City Limits, and 25th Av Ct, NE From the Intersection With 23rd St Dr, NE West Approximately 350 Feet to the Dead End - Under the City’s Traffic Calming Program an application was received for a speed limit reduction along 23rd St Dr, NE as indicated above serving the Grayfield Subdivision. Staff determined that a speed limit reduction from 35 mph to 25 mph would be acceptable, if the residents desired. The petition packages were received and were determined by Staff to be valid and met the 75% signature requirement. Staff recommends approval.

D. Amendment to Traffic Ordinance by Regulating Access to 2nd Av, SE Between 5th St, SE and Lenoir-Rhyne Boulevard, SE With Certain Class Vehicles - The above-described street segment has long been the de facto truck route used to access Lenoir-Rhyne Blvd., SE from origination points to the west. This traffic flow proved to be undesirable in several respects. Even with the recent completion of the Lenoir-Rhyne Blvd. Extension project, 2nd Av, SE continues to experience undesirable and unnecessary truck traffic. Following a thorough analysis by the City of Hickory Traffic Division, it was concluded to prohibit access of certain classes of trucks along this segment of 2nd Av, SE, being no truck tractors with semitrailers, commercial vehicles with three (3) or more axles, commercial combination single unit trucks with trailers or buses with trailers.

E. Approval for the City of Hickory to Purchase Property From Freddie Mac Located at 304 3rd Street, SW in the Amount of $25,900- The subject property is located adjacent to City-owned property located at 347 2nd Avenue, SW containing approximately 6.18 acres, which is Hickory Police Department (HPD) property. The purchase of the .41 acres could be used for potential expansion of the HPD. The property is in foreclosure and a vacant house is situated on the property. Tax value is $80,600.00 with a purchase price of $25,900.00. Staff recommends approval.

F. Transfer of Cemetery Lot in Oakwood Cemetery From Eric McNeely and Gloria McNeely to Beth W. Huffman

G. Approve Change Order No. 2 With Hickory Sand Company, Inc. Regarding the Cripple Creek Outfall Replacement Project in the Amount of $86,879.15 - Staff requests approval of the project close out Change Order No. 2 with Hickory Sand Company, Inc. in the amount of $86,879.15 for the Cripple Creek Outfall Replacement Project. This change order is necessary to address project concerns that have risen during construction and field conditions on the project. The largest item on the change order is replacement of the pier crossing beside Moose Club Lift Station. Other items are related to construction. The change order amount of $86,879.15 represents 3.86% of the original project cost and results in a total project change order amount of $141,579.15 or 6.29%. Funds are available within the project and no budget amendment is necessary.Staff recommends approval.

H. Affirm Designating Mayor Wright as Voting Delegate for the National League of Cities – 2010 Congress of Cities Annual Business Meeting in Denver, CO on Saturday, December 4, 2010 - As a direct member city, Hickory’s elected officials are entitled to vote at the annual business meeting. To be eligible to cast the City’s vote, each voting delegate and alternate must be officially designated by the City.

I. Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 8 -
1. To budget a $532 insurance claim check from Trident Insurance Company to the Fire Department Maintenance and Repair of vehicles line item. This payment is for damage sustained to the Ladder 2 fire apparatus on 09-11-10.
2. To appropriate $15,000 of General Fund Balance and budget in the Landscape Division Street Tree Planting line item. This appropriation is to pay for the plant materials needed for the Lenoir Rhyne Blvd. Landscaping project. The total cost of the planting project is $17,000. $2,000 is budgeted in this line item therefore
an additional $15,000 appropriation is necessary.
3. To budget a $205 insurance claim check from Nationwide Insurance Company in the Water and Sewer Pipes, Hydrants and Meters line item. This payment is for damage sustained to a fire hydrant on 09-13-10.

Informational Items:
A. Report of City Manager Berry’s Travel to Raleigh, NC for the NCLM Tax and Finance Legislative Action Committee Meeting on October 5, 2010; mileage - $165.50

B. Report of Mayor Wright’s Travel to Washington, DC to Meet With Legislators and Government Officials on October 7, 2010; airfare - $493.15; per diem - $22.40

C. Report of Alderman Guess’s Travel to Washington, DC to Meet With Legislators and Government Officials on October 7, 2010; airfare - $493.15; per diem - $22.40

D. Report of Alderwoman Patton’s Travel to Washington, DC to Meet With Legislators and Government Officials on October 7, 2010; airfare - $493.15; per diem - $11.74

E. Report of Alderman Seaver’s Travel to Washington, DC to Meet With Legislators and Government Officials on October 7, 2010; airfare - $493.15; per diem - $22.40

F. Report of City Manager Berry’s Travel to Raleigh, NC for the NC Spin H2O Conference on October 12, 2010; mileage - $169.00; registration - $60.00

New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Approval to Amend Engineering Agreement With Louis Berger Group, Inc. for Additional Engineering Services for Grace Chapel to US 321 Connector Road Project in the Amount of $15,187.36 - Request approval to amend the original agreement with Louis Berger Group, Inc. dated July 29, 2008 for additional engineering services for the Grace Chapel to US 321 connector road project in the amount of $15,187.36. A redesign of the Open Bottom Culverts (OBC’s) is needed due to comments by Raleigh NCDOT indicating what was originally approved by the local DOT will not be approved. The change also includes additional environmental work that the NCDOT has agreed to undertake in house at their expense. This project is funded by the NCDOT and therefore must comply with their comments for approval. By letter dated September 22, 2010, Caldwell County will reimburse the City of Hickory $7,600.00 toward this amendment. The City of Hickory therefore will be responsible for $7,587.36. An appropriation from fund balance is required. Staff recommends approval. Chuck Hanson went over the above facts in his presentation to council. Council unanimously approved.

Hickory - The lowest well being in the United States of America

The following article was pointed to me from a good friend and a mentor. Someone that I didn't think I had a lot in common with until sitting down to chat almost 2 years ago. What I realized was that this person is very much like myself. We don't agree on everything, but I would say that we agree on 90% of everything.

I think we have both learned a lot from one another, but I think he has a lot more to offer than I do. I enjoy his perspective and his intellectual capabilities when it comes to explaining himself in detail. I am not going to name this person, but he is someone that is well thought of by the people who are working to fix the problems in this community.

Tonight he sent me an article from the Herald-Sun of Durham from October 28th entitled Raleigh has one of highest well being in U S Hickory N C has LOWEST .

Despite the economy, residents at Raleigh, N.C., say they are thriving and have the best of all worlds, reporting one the highest Well-Being Index in the country, with an overall ranking of 16, according to Gallup and Healthways.

Yet less than 200 miles away, residents of Hickory, N.C. are suffering. So much so that according to the Gallup and Healthways’ Well-Being Index, the city of Hickory scored dead last at — 185 — among American cities when it comes to Life Evaluation and Emotional Health.

The Well-Being Index is the largest behavioral economic database ever created and measures Americans’ physical, emotional and financial well being in real time. Since 2008, Gallup and Healthways have been taking a snapshot of America’s well being.

While unemployment likely plays a significant role in how the communities feel (Hickory’s unemployment rate tops 12.6%), other factors, such as access to health care, location, and public resources also play a role.

The Hound wants to ask how many of these surveys do we have to rank at the bottom of until everyone who is a supporter of the Status Quo has their Come to Jesus Moment?

This survey ranks us dead last in well-being. Well-Being is defined as a good or satisfactory condition of existence; a state characterized by health, happiness, and prosperity; welfare.

There are people in this area that are still doing well, but the majority of people are stressed because the system we are living in is failing. If one looks around they can see the relative state of unhealthiness of most of the citizens in this area. Look at what they eat. Look at the foods that are available to our citizens and look at the restaurants that are busiest in our area. Do people eat junk, because it is what they demand or because it is what is available?

We need to find out what is going on around here with people's health. Do they exercise. If the obesity epidemic is caused by a lack of exercise, then what is the reasoning. Is it because of a lack of education on the issue, lack of availability of fitness opportunities, lack of time???...

The City of Hickory has already displayed an unwillingness to create an affordable facility for Aquatic recreation, which most healthcare professionals believe is the best form of aerobic exercise for all ages. The Mayor this morning on Hal Row's First Talk show on WHKY basically gave it a thumbs down by saying that we couldn't afford it and poo pooing a survey that he asked to have administered. Apparently he didn't like the way the questions were asked. Do we not see this exact form of manipulation and heavy handed administration with all of the Boards, Commissions, and Task Forces.

The information that I have been provided in regards to Hank Guess's Rental Property Task Force is that attempts have been made to derail it by some members of the City Council and Administration. People who were appointed to look at this issue have attempted to subvert the process and end any furtherance of the proceedings. Those involved in this subversion know who they are and their attempts wreak of individuals looking to protect the good ole boy network of special interests who do not want to adhere to the property code structure laid out and set forth by Council, administration, and staff. We have a local elected official who is an out and out slumlord and he owns dilapidated rental properties inside the city limits of Hickory.

What bothers me is that this violates the fairness that I have constantly railed about. I am tired of having to talk about the fact that certain people in the City of Hickory are not expected to respect the law, because of their status. That assessment has been verified by action and inaction pertaining to certain people and groups over and over again. Those closely associated with local governance should not only follow the rules, but they should be held to a higher standard.

We have seen administrative problems time and time again with tin eared cooperation over the years. The Airport Task Force, The Stormwater Task Force, the handling of the Drinking Establishment Ordinance in relation to the Cercil Brothers, the Randolph's situation... There are plenty of situations under this context that I have not exposed and I am sure even more that I have not been made privy to.

I have appreciated a lot of what Mayor Wright has said over the years. I like what he says about the Fair Trade issue. I like the way that he has shown a willingness to adapt to new ideas when information shows that the old contexts aren't cracked up to what they were thought to be. I think we are on the same page when it comes to moving away from the Retirement Village concept. I appreciated his energy and passion when it came to the Inter Basin Transfer.

I just hope that others will come to the table and realize that this community has headed down the wrong path on many issues. Some of these people are associated with local governance and others are considered Prime Movers in the community. The bottom line is that we are all stakeholders in this community, not just the hoity-toities.

The saying goes "Pride cometh before the fall." There have been too many special interests and individuals who are proud and think they are better than everyone else and their specialness means that they don't have to follow the rules. Well, the statistics and surveys show that this community is not doing well. You can live in denial, but in the end the amount of evidence is overwhelming and makes one look delusional to argue against it. So the best thing to do is join those of us who are looking for outside the box solutions in this fast paced, exponentially changing World.