Dr. Inglefield answers questions from last weeks Mayor candidate forum of the League of Women's Voters. It was held last Friday September 13, 2013. He had been unable to attend, because it was organized at the last moment and he had a prior committment. I had also been unable to attend.
Here is a copy of the link of the article detailing the actual forum, The video is available and embedded here and is also available on Youtube.
Hickory Mayor Forum - League of Women Voters - September 13, 2013
And here is a 15 minute video in which Dr. Inglefield answers the questions posed by the moderator and audience that night.
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Friday, September 20, 2013
The Mesh Hickory Mayoral Candidate Forum and Hound Commentary
newsMESH: Hickory Mayor Candidate Round-Table - recorded on September 18, 2013
This was a lively discussion. I felt that too much time and bias was devoted by the hosts to Hickory Incorporated's desired "Inspiring Spaces" initiative. I understand the bias, because of where the Jackson Group office is located and the heavy involvement of the Jackson family in the Current Hickory Incorporated system, but people out here in St. Stephens are wondering when someone is going to factor in their interests. People in South Hickory are wondering when someone is going to factor in their interests. People in West Hickory are wondering when someone is going to factor in their interests. Most of us look at this initiative and we see the same ole backs getting scratched. The same ole parties monopolizing the decision making process.
I will let you be the judge, but the challengers certainly held their own when speaking about this initiative. Who is going to sit there and say that they are against Inspiration. That is the reason why they attached this slogan to this initiative. They seem to believe that they can describe everything as "Inspiring" or "Well Crafted" and if any of us say anything against it, then we are labeled as being negative. To me, these people who force all of this on the public come across as a cult. If you don't drink their Kool-Aid, they will ostracize you. It doesn't matter what positive you do, dissent will not be tolerated. It is very scary.
Everyone, except the City Incorporated and its insiders, says that they are inspired by people and not property. For the most part, the people who have bought into this are the people in the latter years of their lives. They seem so out of touch with where the whole of Hickory stands, its direction, and the end result if we continue on this path for a few more years. These are dead serious times and have been for years and yet we keep looking to apply band-aids instead of tourniquets. We see a lot of spoiled attitudes and hubris from the people who have Hickory in their clutches. That is where the talk of division, lack of transparency, lack of openness, and the negative opinion about the way things are done comes from.
Perfect example, one of the candidates for Mayor expressed my exact thought about the recent articles that were in the Hickory Daily Record about young people leaving the area.
Young and Restless: College students speak out - Hickory Daily Record - John Tinkelenberg - September 2, 2013
Young and Restless: Community leaders respond - Hickory Daily Record - John Tinkelenberg - September 2, 2013
The Old White Men that proliferated the article about community leaders seemed so out of touch as they told us all what the young people want and need and that we already have a lot of it, we just need to get the word out. The young people, all white, not taking into account Hickory's diversity, said things such as:
You see there is plenty to do for these established Old White Guys making 6-figures plus, playing golf on a regular basis, going on vacations and enjoying their expense accounts. This community or any community would probably look pretty rosy to anyone in that position. To be honest, I'd probably be looking to keep things the way they are too and not seeing the sense of urgency necessary. They think they're working their tails off rearranging those deck chairs between breakfast, lunch, golf, and dinner. But, some of us are created and endowed by God to be inclusive and look out for the interest of others and the well-being of our eco-system.
The Old White Guys are out of touch with 21st century realities. Oh, they talk a good game and regurgitate the on the job lessons that are necessary to "fake it cause you made it," but the bottom line is that when you want to argue against the expressions of the subject of study -- the young people, then we can all see that you just don't get it and most likely you never will.
The hosts on this Mesh broadcast wanted to brag about getting Beer under the Sails. They apparently didn't care about the process around the beer being sold; just get us our beer... we want our beer. But, once again there was no open process. The city just went to Olde Hickory Brewery and told them they could sell beer and they weren't even going to charge them a fee to sell beer and in the end they only are charging them $25 a month to sell beer during these musical events. No other brewer was even given a chance to bid and/or offer their services; so we don't even know if the public is getting the best deal.
Funny, the beer situation is a perfect microcosm of how the "Sails on the Square" initiative, implementation, and construction took place. Just the good ole boys never meanin' no harm... No open process, no bids, no transparency, and plenty of obfuscation... Oh and myself and the people I associate with were/are the bad guys for pointing out that the city broke the law with the lack of a bidding process and the accounting for the project is a joke.
Now we come to Inspiring Spaces. I said it over a year ago when it was proposed by Andrea Surratt on May 1, 2012, although the Mayor made out like it was all his idea/vision last Friday Night at the League of Women Voter's forum. The Mayor point blank said it was an $80 million initiative a couple of months ago. Now he's doing the ole back track, but folks it is provided in the link.
When you take all that has gone down in the very recent past and couple it with an ambiguous process, then you better demand that this thing be slowed down. Mayor Wright says he wants to immerse us in it. Immersion can lead to drowning when you don't know what you are doing.
The bottom line is that you have a big decision to make and like I said the other day, this election has consequences. Rudy Wright said some amazing things. He admitted we had been in a Depression in 2009. I think we are still in one in this area. Then Mayor Wright said we had turned the corner. There are very few people that would agree with that statement. Then he said he was going to keep on doing what he has been doing. Most of us agree that Hickory must be transformed out of the Economic Malaise we have been in over the past dozen years. It won't come through tweaking and insider politics.
I have been accused of being divisive since I began addressing the public in 2007 and yet I hold no office or position of power. I will admit that I can be cantankerous at times, but it comes from frustration. It comes from being shut out and seeing people around me shut out of the body politic in our area. If people will look at all of this objectively, they will realize where the division and contentiousness has come from. It is going to take opening up the system to bring everyone together. This cannot be instituted with a facade of frills and half-hearted gestures. It is time to invest time, energy, and resources in our greatest asset -- THE PEOPLE!!!
This was a lively discussion. I felt that too much time and bias was devoted by the hosts to Hickory Incorporated's desired "Inspiring Spaces" initiative. I understand the bias, because of where the Jackson Group office is located and the heavy involvement of the Jackson family in the Current Hickory Incorporated system, but people out here in St. Stephens are wondering when someone is going to factor in their interests. People in South Hickory are wondering when someone is going to factor in their interests. People in West Hickory are wondering when someone is going to factor in their interests. Most of us look at this initiative and we see the same ole backs getting scratched. The same ole parties monopolizing the decision making process.
I will let you be the judge, but the challengers certainly held their own when speaking about this initiative. Who is going to sit there and say that they are against Inspiration. That is the reason why they attached this slogan to this initiative. They seem to believe that they can describe everything as "Inspiring" or "Well Crafted" and if any of us say anything against it, then we are labeled as being negative. To me, these people who force all of this on the public come across as a cult. If you don't drink their Kool-Aid, they will ostracize you. It doesn't matter what positive you do, dissent will not be tolerated. It is very scary.
Everyone, except the City Incorporated and its insiders, says that they are inspired by people and not property. For the most part, the people who have bought into this are the people in the latter years of their lives. They seem so out of touch with where the whole of Hickory stands, its direction, and the end result if we continue on this path for a few more years. These are dead serious times and have been for years and yet we keep looking to apply band-aids instead of tourniquets. We see a lot of spoiled attitudes and hubris from the people who have Hickory in their clutches. That is where the talk of division, lack of transparency, lack of openness, and the negative opinion about the way things are done comes from.
Perfect example, one of the candidates for Mayor expressed my exact thought about the recent articles that were in the Hickory Daily Record about young people leaving the area.
Young and Restless: College students speak out - Hickory Daily Record - John Tinkelenberg - September 2, 2013
Young and Restless: Community leaders respond - Hickory Daily Record - John Tinkelenberg - September 2, 2013
The Old White Men that proliferated the article about community leaders seemed so out of touch as they told us all what the young people want and need and that we already have a lot of it, we just need to get the word out. The young people, all white, not taking into account Hickory's diversity, said things such as:
“I wouldn’t have even come home for the summer if my parents hadn’t made me,”
Even though Coulter was able to find a job for the summer in Hickory, she plans to move back to Greensboro because of the lack of appealing activities for young people here. She said family ties or relationships are the only reasons people she knows have stayed after college. Her sister, she said, felt similarly after attending N.C. State in Raleigh.
... 'Hickory being more appealing 10 years ago. She said, however, she does not feel there are job opportunities in the area today.'
“There’s just not much to do for our age group,”
You see there is plenty to do for these established Old White Guys making 6-figures plus, playing golf on a regular basis, going on vacations and enjoying their expense accounts. This community or any community would probably look pretty rosy to anyone in that position. To be honest, I'd probably be looking to keep things the way they are too and not seeing the sense of urgency necessary. They think they're working their tails off rearranging those deck chairs between breakfast, lunch, golf, and dinner. But, some of us are created and endowed by God to be inclusive and look out for the interest of others and the well-being of our eco-system.
The Old White Guys are out of touch with 21st century realities. Oh, they talk a good game and regurgitate the on the job lessons that are necessary to "fake it cause you made it," but the bottom line is that when you want to argue against the expressions of the subject of study -- the young people, then we can all see that you just don't get it and most likely you never will.
The hosts on this Mesh broadcast wanted to brag about getting Beer under the Sails. They apparently didn't care about the process around the beer being sold; just get us our beer... we want our beer. But, once again there was no open process. The city just went to Olde Hickory Brewery and told them they could sell beer and they weren't even going to charge them a fee to sell beer and in the end they only are charging them $25 a month to sell beer during these musical events. No other brewer was even given a chance to bid and/or offer their services; so we don't even know if the public is getting the best deal.
Funny, the beer situation is a perfect microcosm of how the "Sails on the Square" initiative, implementation, and construction took place. Just the good ole boys never meanin' no harm... No open process, no bids, no transparency, and plenty of obfuscation... Oh and myself and the people I associate with were/are the bad guys for pointing out that the city broke the law with the lack of a bidding process and the accounting for the project is a joke.
Now we come to Inspiring Spaces. I said it over a year ago when it was proposed by Andrea Surratt on May 1, 2012, although the Mayor made out like it was all his idea/vision last Friday Night at the League of Women Voter's forum. The Mayor point blank said it was an $80 million initiative a couple of months ago. Now he's doing the ole back track, but folks it is provided in the link.
When you take all that has gone down in the very recent past and couple it with an ambiguous process, then you better demand that this thing be slowed down. Mayor Wright says he wants to immerse us in it. Immersion can lead to drowning when you don't know what you are doing.
The bottom line is that you have a big decision to make and like I said the other day, this election has consequences. Rudy Wright said some amazing things. He admitted we had been in a Depression in 2009. I think we are still in one in this area. Then Mayor Wright said we had turned the corner. There are very few people that would agree with that statement. Then he said he was going to keep on doing what he has been doing. Most of us agree that Hickory must be transformed out of the Economic Malaise we have been in over the past dozen years. It won't come through tweaking and insider politics.
I have been accused of being divisive since I began addressing the public in 2007 and yet I hold no office or position of power. I will admit that I can be cantankerous at times, but it comes from frustration. It comes from being shut out and seeing people around me shut out of the body politic in our area. If people will look at all of this objectively, they will realize where the division and contentiousness has come from. It is going to take opening up the system to bring everyone together. This cannot be instituted with a facade of frills and half-hearted gestures. It is time to invest time, energy, and resources in our greatest asset -- THE PEOPLE!!!
Thursday, September 19, 2013
The Status Quo - No! Vision, No! Communication - submitted by Common Sense
This evening I received an anonymous e-mail from a person who says that they are a frequent viewer of the Hound and they said they knew the Mayor and Council personally and stated they could not post this information with their name on it for fear of reprisal. I seem to hear that a lot from people who send me e-mails. So I present their submission below, because it does not have outlandish claims and is opinion based. My opinion is that I can't see where I disagree with any of it.
In today's HDR, we finally get to read about two more candidates running for City Council - Michael Robbins and Hank Guess. If you'll remember last Tuesday the HDR treated us to pieces on Zagaroli and Brannock - along with Ribbons, all running for the Ward 5 seat.
In reading these articles in the paper one thing stands out to me. Where are the expressly stated goals for the next four years? This contrast is most prevalent in the two pieces of Brannock and Zagaroli - which was only compounded by the fact that they ran side by side last week. While Mr. Zagaroli covered nearly everything he's done over the past 40 years, he offers nothing as to what we can expect over the next four.
Mr. Brannock on the other hand focuses entirely on what he feels needs to be accomplished over the next four years. His focus is on Hickory's future, not the past. He realizes Hickory is changing.
Where is Zagaroli's vision? He seems to be playing the incumbent game of not stepping out on a limb and proposing anything that may shake things up. His signs say Progress, yet he tells us nothing about how we are going to get there from here.
And on that topic, isn't it odd how challengers are often the most vocal in their criticisms. However, once elected those criticisms quickly vanish.
Jill Patton easily wins the prize for this. In the year leading up to her election, the Little General led a group that hounded the city over the Lowe's Hardware store decision. She made claims that Lowe's would be an eyesore; wouldn't "fit" into the community; traffic congestion would be an issue; and she even went as far as to claim that kids safety would be compromised.
Now, here we are all these years later and what do we have. The kids' safety issue is in fact a non-issue; there are no traffic congestion problems to speak of; and as far as being an eyesore - well, Lowe's is easily the best developed property for miles in either direction in Hwy 127. In short, Mrs. Patton was misguided at least (dead wrong at best) in her criticisms as a candidate.
What's more interesting is that since being elected, Mrs. Patton's critiques of the city have fallen silent. It would appear that Councilwoman Patton has single-handedly cured Hickory City government of all its woes. Well done, Mrs Patton! She even goes a step further now, and simply can't understand why people are so critical of the City. She's fond of saying about those who do criticize the City that they "just don't have information 'We' do."
It's interesting that she would say this. She believes that if people only had the same information she has access to then all the citizens would better understand - and most likely agree with - what the City is doing.
Mrs. Patton, if you truly believe this, then why do you march in lockstep with your fellow Council members in opposing any and all efforts to make those Council meetings more accessible to the citizens by having them broadcast on Charter's Public Access Channel?
Sincerely,
Common Sense
In today's HDR, we finally get to read about two more candidates running for City Council - Michael Robbins and Hank Guess. If you'll remember last Tuesday the HDR treated us to pieces on Zagaroli and Brannock - along with Ribbons, all running for the Ward 5 seat.
In reading these articles in the paper one thing stands out to me. Where are the expressly stated goals for the next four years? This contrast is most prevalent in the two pieces of Brannock and Zagaroli - which was only compounded by the fact that they ran side by side last week. While Mr. Zagaroli covered nearly everything he's done over the past 40 years, he offers nothing as to what we can expect over the next four.
Mr. Brannock on the other hand focuses entirely on what he feels needs to be accomplished over the next four years. His focus is on Hickory's future, not the past. He realizes Hickory is changing.
Where is Zagaroli's vision? He seems to be playing the incumbent game of not stepping out on a limb and proposing anything that may shake things up. His signs say Progress, yet he tells us nothing about how we are going to get there from here.
And on that topic, isn't it odd how challengers are often the most vocal in their criticisms. However, once elected those criticisms quickly vanish.
Jill Patton easily wins the prize for this. In the year leading up to her election, the Little General led a group that hounded the city over the Lowe's Hardware store decision. She made claims that Lowe's would be an eyesore; wouldn't "fit" into the community; traffic congestion would be an issue; and she even went as far as to claim that kids safety would be compromised.
Now, here we are all these years later and what do we have. The kids' safety issue is in fact a non-issue; there are no traffic congestion problems to speak of; and as far as being an eyesore - well, Lowe's is easily the best developed property for miles in either direction in Hwy 127. In short, Mrs. Patton was misguided at least (dead wrong at best) in her criticisms as a candidate.
What's more interesting is that since being elected, Mrs. Patton's critiques of the city have fallen silent. It would appear that Councilwoman Patton has single-handedly cured Hickory City government of all its woes. Well done, Mrs Patton! She even goes a step further now, and simply can't understand why people are so critical of the City. She's fond of saying about those who do criticize the City that they "just don't have information 'We' do."
It's interesting that she would say this. She believes that if people only had the same information she has access to then all the citizens would better understand - and most likely agree with - what the City is doing.
Mrs. Patton, if you truly believe this, then why do you march in lockstep with your fellow Council members in opposing any and all efforts to make those Council meetings more accessible to the citizens by having them broadcast on Charter's Public Access Channel?
Sincerely,
Common Sense
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Economic Stories of Relevance in Today's World -- September 15, 2013
I didn't put out an Economic Stories of Relevance article for September 8, 2013, so I am including articles of economic relevance for the past two weeks.
Households on Food Stamps Now Outnumber All Households in Northeast U.S. - CNS News - September 17, 2013 - A record 23,116,928 American households were enrolled in the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—AKA food stamps—during the month of June, according to data released this month by the Department of Agriculture. That outnumbers the 20,618,000 households that the Census Bureau estimated were in the entire Northeastern United States as of the second quarter of 2013. According to the Census Bureau, the Northeast region includes Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania. Thus, in June, the households receiving food stamps exceeded the total combined households in all of these states.
Census on Obama’s 1st Term: Real Median Income Down $2,627; People in Poverty Up 6,667,000; Record 46,496,000 Now Poor - CNS News - September 17, 2013 - During the four years that marked President Barack Obama’s first term in office, the real median income of American households dropped by $2,627 and the number of people in poverty increased by approximately 6,667,000, according to data released today by the Census Bureau. The record total of approximately 46,496,000 people in the United States who are now in poverty, according to the Census Bureau, is more than twice the population of Syria, which, according to the CIA, has 22,457,336 people. In 2008, the year Obama was elected, real median household income in the United States was $53,644 according to the Census Bureau. In 2012, the last full year of Obama’s first term, median household income was $51,017. Thus, real median household income dropped $2,627—or 4.89 percent—from 2008 to 2012. In fact, real median household income dropped in every year of Obama's first term. In 2008, when he was elected, it was $53,644. In 2009, the year he was inaugurated, it dropped to 53,285. In 2010, his second year in office, it dropped to $51,892. In 2011, his third year in office, it dropped to $51,100. And, in 2012, his fourth year in office, it dropped to $51,017.
Median Household Income Has Fallen For FIVE YEARS IN A ROW - The Economic Collapse Blog - Michael Snyder - September 17th, 2013 - If the economy is getting better, then why do incomes keep falling? According to a shocking new report that was just released by the U.S. Census Bureau, median household income (adjusted for inflation) has declined for five years in a row. This has happened even though the federal government has been borrowing and spending money at an unprecedented rate and the Federal Reserve has been on the most reckless money printing spree in U.S. history. Despite all of the "emergency measures" that have been taken to "stimulate the economy", things just continue to get worse for average American families. Americans are working harder than ever, but their paychecks are not reflecting that. Meanwhile, the cost of everything just keeps going up. The Federal Reserve insists that inflation is "low", but anyone that goes grocery shopping or that stops at a gas station knows that is a lie. In fact, if inflation was calculated the exact same way that it was calculated back in 1980, the inflation rate would be somewhere between 8 and 10 percent right now. Paychecks are being stretched more than ever before, and that is probably the reason why about three-fourths of the entire country is living paycheck to paycheck at this point.
According to the Census report, the high point for median household income in the United States was back in 1999 ($56,080). It almost got back to that level in 2007 ($55,627), but ever since then there has been a steady decline. The following figures come directly from the report, and as you can see, median household income has fallen every single year for the past five years...
2007: $55,627 2008: $53,644 2009: $53,285 2010: $51,892 2011: $51,100 2012: $51,017
More Americans Struggle to Afford Food - Americans' overall access to basic needs is close to record-low - Gallup Wellbeing - Alyssa BrownGallup - September 12, 2013 - WASHINGTON, D.C. -- More Americans are struggling to afford food -- nearly as many as did during the recent recession. The 20.0% who reported in August that they have, at times, lacked enough money to buy the food that they or their families needed during the past year, is up from 17.7% in June, and is the highest percentage recorded since October 2011. The percentage who struggle to afford food now is close to the peak of 20.4% measured in November 2008, as the global economic crisis unfolded.
Record 90.5 Million Out Of Labor Force As Half A Million Drop Out In One Month; Labor Force Participation Rate Plunges To 1978 Levels - Tyler Durden - September 6, 2013 - While the Establishment survey data was ugly due to both the miss and the prior downward revisions in the NFP print, the real action was in the Household survey, where we find that the number of people not in the labor force rose by a whopping 516,000 in one month, which in turn increased the total number of people outside the labor force to a record 90.5 million Americans.
And what is even worse, the Labor Force Participation Rate declined from 63.4% to 63.2%: the is the lowest print since August 1978!
Chart Of The Day: Where The World's Fattest People Are - Tyler Durden - September 17, 2013 -
51% Favor Government Shutdown Until Congress Cuts Health Care Funding - Rasmussen Reports - September 17, 2013 - President Obama yesterday criticized congressional Republicans for insisting on spending cuts in any budget deal that continues government operations past October 1, saying they risk "economic chaos." Most voters agree a federal government shutdown would be bad for the economy, but they're willing to risk one until Democrats and Republicans in Congress agree on ways to cut the budget, including cuts in funding for the new national health care law. Just 20% of Likely U.S. Voters believe a partial shutdown of the federal government would be good for economy, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-six percent (56%) say such a shutdown would be bad for the economy, even though payments for things like Social Security, Medicare and unemployment would continue. Sixteen percent (16%) think it would have no impact. (To see survey question wording, click here.) But 58% favor a federal budget that cuts spending, while only 16% prefer one that increases spending. Twenty-one percent (21%) support a budget that keeps spending levels about the same. This helps explain why 53% would rather have a partial government shutdown until Democrats and Republicans can agree on what spending to cut. Thirty-seven percent (37%) would prefer instead that Congress avoid a shutdown by authorizing spending at existing levels as the president has proposed. Some conservative Republicans in both the House and Senate are refusing to approve a budget unless it slows or stops funding for the health care law, but the president and most congressional Democrats are adamantly opposed to any such cuts. However, 51% of voters favor having a partial government shutdown until Democrats and Republicans agree on what spending for the health care law to cut. Forty percent (40%) would rather avoid a government shutdown by authorizing spending for the health care law at existing levels. Late last month, 42% of Republicans said threatening to vote against a government funding bill unless it cuts off funds for the health care law will help the GOP. Twenty-eight percent (28%) disagreed, while 14% said it would have no impact. Fifty-two percent (52%) of Democrats and 48% of unaffiliateds thought it would hurt Republicans.
Most voters continue to dislike the health care law, and 54% expect it to increase, not reduce, health care costs. From the beginning of the debate over the law four years ago, voters have consistently said that cost is their number one health care concern. Under the health care law, uninsured Americas are required to have health insurance by January 1, and failure to do so could result in sizable penalties. Now that the president has delayed implementation of the employer mandate portion of his new national health care law, 56% of voters think he also should delay the requirement that every American buy or obtain health insurance.
BofA: If The American Economy Doesn't Accelerate Soon, It NEVER Will - Business Insider - Matthew Boesler - September 13, 2013 - BofA Merrill Lynch chief investment strategist Michael Hartnett – the one who coined the term "Great Rotation" – takes a gloomy view of the future in his latest note to clients:
Households on Food Stamps Now Outnumber All Households in Northeast U.S. - CNS News - September 17, 2013 - A record 23,116,928 American households were enrolled in the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—AKA food stamps—during the month of June, according to data released this month by the Department of Agriculture. That outnumbers the 20,618,000 households that the Census Bureau estimated were in the entire Northeastern United States as of the second quarter of 2013. According to the Census Bureau, the Northeast region includes Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania. Thus, in June, the households receiving food stamps exceeded the total combined households in all of these states.
Census on Obama’s 1st Term: Real Median Income Down $2,627; People in Poverty Up 6,667,000; Record 46,496,000 Now Poor - CNS News - September 17, 2013 - During the four years that marked President Barack Obama’s first term in office, the real median income of American households dropped by $2,627 and the number of people in poverty increased by approximately 6,667,000, according to data released today by the Census Bureau. The record total of approximately 46,496,000 people in the United States who are now in poverty, according to the Census Bureau, is more than twice the population of Syria, which, according to the CIA, has 22,457,336 people. In 2008, the year Obama was elected, real median household income in the United States was $53,644 according to the Census Bureau. In 2012, the last full year of Obama’s first term, median household income was $51,017. Thus, real median household income dropped $2,627—or 4.89 percent—from 2008 to 2012. In fact, real median household income dropped in every year of Obama's first term. In 2008, when he was elected, it was $53,644. In 2009, the year he was inaugurated, it dropped to 53,285. In 2010, his second year in office, it dropped to $51,892. In 2011, his third year in office, it dropped to $51,100. And, in 2012, his fourth year in office, it dropped to $51,017.
Median Household Income Has Fallen For FIVE YEARS IN A ROW - The Economic Collapse Blog - Michael Snyder - September 17th, 2013 - If the economy is getting better, then why do incomes keep falling? According to a shocking new report that was just released by the U.S. Census Bureau, median household income (adjusted for inflation) has declined for five years in a row. This has happened even though the federal government has been borrowing and spending money at an unprecedented rate and the Federal Reserve has been on the most reckless money printing spree in U.S. history. Despite all of the "emergency measures" that have been taken to "stimulate the economy", things just continue to get worse for average American families. Americans are working harder than ever, but their paychecks are not reflecting that. Meanwhile, the cost of everything just keeps going up. The Federal Reserve insists that inflation is "low", but anyone that goes grocery shopping or that stops at a gas station knows that is a lie. In fact, if inflation was calculated the exact same way that it was calculated back in 1980, the inflation rate would be somewhere between 8 and 10 percent right now. Paychecks are being stretched more than ever before, and that is probably the reason why about three-fourths of the entire country is living paycheck to paycheck at this point.
According to the Census report, the high point for median household income in the United States was back in 1999 ($56,080). It almost got back to that level in 2007 ($55,627), but ever since then there has been a steady decline. The following figures come directly from the report, and as you can see, median household income has fallen every single year for the past five years...
2007: $55,627 2008: $53,644 2009: $53,285 2010: $51,892 2011: $51,100 2012: $51,017
More Americans Struggle to Afford Food - Americans' overall access to basic needs is close to record-low - Gallup Wellbeing - Alyssa BrownGallup - September 12, 2013 - WASHINGTON, D.C. -- More Americans are struggling to afford food -- nearly as many as did during the recent recession. The 20.0% who reported in August that they have, at times, lacked enough money to buy the food that they or their families needed during the past year, is up from 17.7% in June, and is the highest percentage recorded since October 2011. The percentage who struggle to afford food now is close to the peak of 20.4% measured in November 2008, as the global economic crisis unfolded.
Record 90.5 Million Out Of Labor Force As Half A Million Drop Out In One Month; Labor Force Participation Rate Plunges To 1978 Levels - Tyler Durden - September 6, 2013 - While the Establishment survey data was ugly due to both the miss and the prior downward revisions in the NFP print, the real action was in the Household survey, where we find that the number of people not in the labor force rose by a whopping 516,000 in one month, which in turn increased the total number of people outside the labor force to a record 90.5 million Americans.
And what is even worse, the Labor Force Participation Rate declined from 63.4% to 63.2%: the is the lowest print since August 1978!
Chart Of The Day: Where The World's Fattest People Are - Tyler Durden - September 17, 2013 -
51% Favor Government Shutdown Until Congress Cuts Health Care Funding - Rasmussen Reports - September 17, 2013 - President Obama yesterday criticized congressional Republicans for insisting on spending cuts in any budget deal that continues government operations past October 1, saying they risk "economic chaos." Most voters agree a federal government shutdown would be bad for the economy, but they're willing to risk one until Democrats and Republicans in Congress agree on ways to cut the budget, including cuts in funding for the new national health care law. Just 20% of Likely U.S. Voters believe a partial shutdown of the federal government would be good for economy, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-six percent (56%) say such a shutdown would be bad for the economy, even though payments for things like Social Security, Medicare and unemployment would continue. Sixteen percent (16%) think it would have no impact. (To see survey question wording, click here.) But 58% favor a federal budget that cuts spending, while only 16% prefer one that increases spending. Twenty-one percent (21%) support a budget that keeps spending levels about the same. This helps explain why 53% would rather have a partial government shutdown until Democrats and Republicans can agree on what spending to cut. Thirty-seven percent (37%) would prefer instead that Congress avoid a shutdown by authorizing spending at existing levels as the president has proposed. Some conservative Republicans in both the House and Senate are refusing to approve a budget unless it slows or stops funding for the health care law, but the president and most congressional Democrats are adamantly opposed to any such cuts. However, 51% of voters favor having a partial government shutdown until Democrats and Republicans agree on what spending for the health care law to cut. Forty percent (40%) would rather avoid a government shutdown by authorizing spending for the health care law at existing levels. Late last month, 42% of Republicans said threatening to vote against a government funding bill unless it cuts off funds for the health care law will help the GOP. Twenty-eight percent (28%) disagreed, while 14% said it would have no impact. Fifty-two percent (52%) of Democrats and 48% of unaffiliateds thought it would hurt Republicans.
Most voters continue to dislike the health care law, and 54% expect it to increase, not reduce, health care costs. From the beginning of the debate over the law four years ago, voters have consistently said that cost is their number one health care concern. Under the health care law, uninsured Americas are required to have health insurance by January 1, and failure to do so could result in sizable penalties. Now that the president has delayed implementation of the employer mandate portion of his new national health care law, 56% of voters think he also should delay the requirement that every American buy or obtain health insurance.
BofA: If The American Economy Doesn't Accelerate Soon, It NEVER Will - Business Insider - Matthew Boesler - September 13, 2013 - BofA Merrill Lynch chief investment strategist Michael Hartnett – the one who coined the term "Great Rotation" – takes a gloomy view of the future in his latest note to clients:
The Next 5 Years: Curb Your Enthusiasm
Significant monetary stimulus, the end of fiscal austerity, a booming housing market, a cheap dollar, record corporate cash balances...if the US economy does not significantly accelerate in coming quarters, it never will. We assume it will, and favor assets (e.g. equities), sectors (e.g. banks) and markets (e.g. Europe) that have lagged in the “High Liquidity-Low Growth” world of recent years.
Asset price will not do as well in the next 5 years, no matter what the “nouveau bulls” say. Central banks will be less generous, corporations less selfish. And when excess liquidity is removed it will get “CRASHy”. The dollar and (temporarily) volatility will be the last assets to surge as Deleveraging ends and an era of Normalization begins.
In short, don't expect stocks to go on an awesome tear over the next few years as they have in the past few years, beware of a market crash, and watch developments in the U.S. economy closely.Monday, September 16, 2013
Your vote for Mayor in Hickory has Consequences
This Thursday voters will begin to go to the polls to flex their electoral muscle - each doing their part to keep our democracy strong. To me the choices are easy. As a city we can continue down the same, status quo path that has brought and kept us above 10% unemployment (one of the highest in the country) for going on 5 years, national rankings that are even less flattering (5th worst place to live), and leadership that is chomping at the bit to enact higher taxes on us to pay for even more "pet" projects (Rudy's food tax and Inspiring Spaces).
Rudy Wright is definitely not one for numbers and facts. Rudy instead bases his campaign on words. At Friday night's forum we heard a lot about "turning the corner" and "Inspiring Spaces". While the other candidates talked about ideas they would like to work towards over the next four years, our mayor repeatedly insulted and demeaned them by referring to their proposals as unrealistic and telling the audience that the other candidates needed to address his go to slogan "Inspiring Spaces".
Rudy is resting his entire case for re-election on the undefined and unsubstantiated claim that Hickory has "turned the corner". Mr. Mayor, I know you read this blog. Would you please tell me and the other readers what exactly you mean by "turned the corner"?
Under your tenure as mayor, we have seen the loss of over 30,000 jobs. Several of the other candidates from the League of Women Voters' forum offered up ideas on how they would address our current unemployment situation. While those individual plans can be debated as to their effectiveness, what matters is that those candidates are actually willing to address the issue. Where is your plan Mr. Mayor?
The most honest thing you said at the forum was this - " I'm going to keep on doing what I've been doing." Translation: Re-elect me and you're going to get more of the same.
Mr. Mayor, Hickory doesn't deserve, nor can we afford, more of the same. We are owed fresh new ideas. We deserve actual leadership willing to actually get out of "campaign mode" and roll up sleeves and govern - making the tough and sometimes unpopular decisions truly great leaders are tasked to make.
It would be nice to be led by a mayor that isn't constantly campaigning. I'm sorry Mr. Mayor, but leading/governing isn't making the daily morning stops at Bojangles, McDonald's, or the Snack Bar. Governing is actually directing the City Manager's office to fund the projects you know the citizens want. Your job isn't to accept the answer of "we can't do that" from the City Manager. Your job is to instruct the City Manager to bring you the different options of how to get something done and then deciding which option is the best - not going to the City Manager with a "mother may I..." approach. Sadly, you have either forgotten or never understood that the City Manager serves at the Council' s pleasure - and perhaps more importantly, the mayor serves at the pleasure of the voters. The mayoral "job" belongs to the people.
I ask all the citizens to please consider that, in Hickory, we have a truly important decision to make. Please don't accept that Rudy is the best we can do simply because he is what we have. Until now, we haven't had qualified, capable, and legitimate alternatives who were willing to get into the arena and truly challenge Rudy Wright. This election cycle we have more than one alternative. Please look closely at all the candidates. Don't be afraid to consider one of those alternatives. No one can honestly say that Hickory is better off today than we were 12 years ago. What new has Rudy offered that will significantly change things over the next four years that he hasn't been able to accomplish during the previous 12 years? If he hasn't done it by now, then what makes you think he will do it in the next four years? Please consider voting for something more than just personality. Vote for ideas.
And consider this - Rudy has been mayor in Hickory longer than he hasn't. He was a citizen for only 8 years before he ran for mayor, and now he's been mayor for 12 years. I ask you this question - has Rudy been good for Hickory, or has Hickory been good for Rudy?
Rudy Wright is definitely not one for numbers and facts. Rudy instead bases his campaign on words. At Friday night's forum we heard a lot about "turning the corner" and "Inspiring Spaces". While the other candidates talked about ideas they would like to work towards over the next four years, our mayor repeatedly insulted and demeaned them by referring to their proposals as unrealistic and telling the audience that the other candidates needed to address his go to slogan "Inspiring Spaces".
Rudy is resting his entire case for re-election on the undefined and unsubstantiated claim that Hickory has "turned the corner". Mr. Mayor, I know you read this blog. Would you please tell me and the other readers what exactly you mean by "turned the corner"?
Under your tenure as mayor, we have seen the loss of over 30,000 jobs. Several of the other candidates from the League of Women Voters' forum offered up ideas on how they would address our current unemployment situation. While those individual plans can be debated as to their effectiveness, what matters is that those candidates are actually willing to address the issue. Where is your plan Mr. Mayor?
The most honest thing you said at the forum was this - " I'm going to keep on doing what I've been doing." Translation: Re-elect me and you're going to get more of the same.
Mr. Mayor, Hickory doesn't deserve, nor can we afford, more of the same. We are owed fresh new ideas. We deserve actual leadership willing to actually get out of "campaign mode" and roll up sleeves and govern - making the tough and sometimes unpopular decisions truly great leaders are tasked to make.
It would be nice to be led by a mayor that isn't constantly campaigning. I'm sorry Mr. Mayor, but leading/governing isn't making the daily morning stops at Bojangles, McDonald's, or the Snack Bar. Governing is actually directing the City Manager's office to fund the projects you know the citizens want. Your job isn't to accept the answer of "we can't do that" from the City Manager. Your job is to instruct the City Manager to bring you the different options of how to get something done and then deciding which option is the best - not going to the City Manager with a "mother may I..." approach. Sadly, you have either forgotten or never understood that the City Manager serves at the Council' s pleasure - and perhaps more importantly, the mayor serves at the pleasure of the voters. The mayoral "job" belongs to the people.
I ask all the citizens to please consider that, in Hickory, we have a truly important decision to make. Please don't accept that Rudy is the best we can do simply because he is what we have. Until now, we haven't had qualified, capable, and legitimate alternatives who were willing to get into the arena and truly challenge Rudy Wright. This election cycle we have more than one alternative. Please look closely at all the candidates. Don't be afraid to consider one of those alternatives. No one can honestly say that Hickory is better off today than we were 12 years ago. What new has Rudy offered that will significantly change things over the next four years that he hasn't been able to accomplish during the previous 12 years? If he hasn't done it by now, then what makes you think he will do it in the next four years? Please consider voting for something more than just personality. Vote for ideas.
And consider this - Rudy has been mayor in Hickory longer than he hasn't. He was a citizen for only 8 years before he ran for mayor, and now he's been mayor for 12 years. I ask you this question - has Rudy been good for Hickory, or has Hickory been good for Rudy?
State of Catawba County 2013 - presentation by County Manager Tom Lundy
This is a follow up to Catawba County by the Numbers.
As I stated in that report:
Went to this "State of Catawba County" meeting on Tuesday that was sponsored by the Catawba County Interagency Council. The meeting was held at the Conover Station, a fitting place to be on 9/11 with the 9/11 Memorial they have there. Had a Spaghetti lunch provided by Austin Pearce of the Hickory Soup Kitchen. It was a nice event and Catawba County Manager Tom Lundy summarized the Demographic, Economic, and Social status of the area by providing the following interactive quiz and then providing the answers.
Here are the answers:
20130911- State of Catawba County - Tom Lundy - (Audio Quality is mixed - Big Room without a Mic, but is interesting)
As I stated in that report:
Went to this "State of Catawba County" meeting on Tuesday that was sponsored by the Catawba County Interagency Council. The meeting was held at the Conover Station, a fitting place to be on 9/11 with the 9/11 Memorial they have there. Had a Spaghetti lunch provided by Austin Pearce of the Hickory Soup Kitchen. It was a nice event and Catawba County Manager Tom Lundy summarized the Demographic, Economic, and Social status of the area by providing the following interactive quiz and then providing the answers.
Here are the answers:
20130911- State of Catawba County - Tom Lundy - (Audio Quality is mixed - Big Room without a Mic, but is interesting)
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Agenda about the City Council meeting of September 17, 2013
This Agenda is about the Hickory City Council meeting that will take place on the date listed above. City council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each Month in the Council Chambers of the Julian Whitener building.
At right of this page under Main Information links is an Hickory's City Website link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the left of the page you will see the Agenda's and Minutes link you need to click. This will give you a choice of PDF files to upcoming and previous meetings.
You will find historic Agenda and Minutes links. Agendas show what is on the docket for the meeting of that date. The Minutes is an actual summary of the proceedings of the meeting of that date. You can also look in the upper right hand corner of the front page of the Hickory Hound and (will soon) find the link to the past history of Hickory City Newsletters.
Here is a summary of the agenda of the meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below:
Please remember that pressing Ctrl and + will magnify the text and page and pressing Ctrl and - will make the text and page smaller. This will help the readability for those with smaller screens and/or eye difficulties.
City Website has changed - Here is a link to the City of Hickory Document Center
All materials and maps for this meeting are provide at this link:
City Council Agenda - September 17, 2013
( Hound Pre-meeting comment) - Nothing stands out in this agenda. The Departmental Report involving Bill Sudderth vs Hickory Inc. will be a one sided report in which the City Staff attorney will say that HUD inquiries are baseless. Nothing to see here move along type of report.
Invocation by Rev. Whit Malone, Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church
Special Presentations
A. Business Well Crafted Award to First Security Company, Inc. – Presented by David Gissy
from the Business Development Committee
Persons Requesting to Be Heard
Consent Agenda
A. Approval of an Appearance Grant for Non-Residential Property Owned by Judy Greenhill and Ricky D. Greenhill in the Amount of $3,307.43. - The Community Appearance Commission requests approval of an Appearance Grant for non-residential property owned by Judy Greenhill and Ricky D. Greenhill located at 805 Main Avenue SW, in the amount of $3,307.43. The proposal involves the renovation of the exterior façade of the building. These improvements will include new stonework and painting, as well as exterior lighting fixtures. The applicant has provided two bids for the items listed above, which total $6,614.85 and $7,698.08. Given the estimates provided, the proposal qualifies for a $3,307.43 grant.
B. Approval of an Appearance Grant for Non-Residential Property Owned by 7HE Properties LLC in the Amount of $5,000. - The Community Appearance Commission requests approval of an Appearance Grant for non-residential property owned by 7HE Properties LLC located at 1010 3rd Avenue Drive NW, in the amount of $5,000. The proposal involves the renovation of the exterior façade of the building. These improvements will include the replacement of the existing awning, exterior painting, lighting fixtures and guttering. The applicant has provided two bids for the items listed above, which total $10,476 and $15,491. Given the estimates provided, the proposal qualifies for a $5,000 grant.
C. Approval of an Appearance Grant for Non-Residential Property Owned by Katie Hudson Purgason, Julie J. Hudson, Harry Lindy Hudson Jr. and Anita C. Hudson in the Amount of $5,000. -
The Community Appearance Commission requests approval of an Appearance Grant for non-residential property owned by Katie Hudson Purgason, Julie J. Hudson, Harry Lindy Hudson Jr. and Anita C. Hudson located at 248 1st Avenue NW in the amount of $5,000. The proposal involves the renovation of the exterior façade of the building. These improvements will include the replacement of the existing awning and windows, trim work and paint. The applicant has provided two bids for the items listed above, which total $16,128 and $18,900. Given the estimates provided, the proposal qualifies for a $5,000 grant.
D. Approval of an Appearance Grant for Non-Residential Property Owned by Cornerstone Counseling Center in the Amount of $4,400. - The Community Appearance Commission requests approval of an Appearance Grant for non-residential property owned by Cornerstone Counseling Center located at 439 1st Avenue NW, in the amount of $4,400. The proposal involves the renovation of the landscaping around the building. These improvements will include the removal of unkempt landscaping materials and their replacement with new plant materials, mulch, and stone work. The applicant has provided two bids for the items listed above, which total $8,800 and $9,890. Given the estimates provided, the proposal qualifies for a $4,400 grant.
E. Approval of a Landscape Grant for Non-Residential Property Owned by Cornerstone Counseling Center in the Amount of $2,500. - The Community Appearance Commission requests approval of a Landscape Grant for non-residential property owned by Cornerstone Counseling Center, located at 439 1st Avenue NW, in the amount of $2,500. The proposal involves the renovation of the parking area located on the property. These improvements will include the resurfacing and restriping of the parking area. The applicant has provided two bids for the items listed above, which amount to $8,257.05 and $9,300. Given the estimates provided, the proposal qualifies for a $2,500 grant.
F. Approval of a Landscape Grant for Non-Residential Property Owned by EDGE Coaching LLC in the Amount of $2,500. - The Community Appearance Commission requests approval of a Landscape Grant for non-residential property owned by EDGE Coaching LLC located at 825 3rd Avenue NW, in the amount of $2,500. The proposal involves the renovation of the exterior landscaping and parking area located on the property. The improvements will include new plant materials and concrete. The applicant has provided two bids for the items listed above, which amount to $5,100 and $8,570. Given the estimates provided, the proposal qualifies for a $2,500 grant.
G. Approval of a Landscape Grant for Non-Residential Property Owned by Half Step Down LLC in the Amount of $2,500. - The Community Appearance Commission requests approval of a Landscape Grant for non-residential property owned by Half Step Down LLC, located at 406 4th Street SW, in
the amount of $2,500. The proposal involves the renovation of the exterior landscaping and parking area located on the property. The improvements will include the removal of a tree stump and the resurfacing of the parking area. The applicant has provided two bids for the items listed above, which amount to $5,400 and $7,150. Given the estimates provided, the proposal qualifies for a $2,500 grant.
H. Call for Public Hearing – For the Consideration of Rezoning Petition 13-11 for the Property Located at 1076 Fox Chase Drive, Newton, containing .43 acres. (Authorize Public Hearing for October 1, 2013)
I. Approval of an Offer to Purchase and Contract for Property Located at 2051 Snow Creek Road NE, Hickory, North Carolina, in the Amount of $85,000 from Frank L. Evans and wife, Reeva P. Evans. -
The property located at 2051 Snow Creek Road NE is adjacent to the city owned wastewater lift station. The property is currently developed with one single family home. The Public Utilities Department has expressed interest in the property to serve both as a buffer for the existing lift station, and to enable future expansion of the lift station. The tax value of the property is currently $93,800. The property owner has presented an offer for the City of Hickory to purchase the property for $85,000. Total cost will be approximately $92,000 with closing costs and demolition costs. Public Utilities acquisition funds are available to purchase the property.
J. Approval of Change Order Number 2 in the Amount of $11,532.76 to Jimmy R. Lynch & Sons for the Hickory-Catawba Wastewater Treatment Plant (HCWWTP) Upgrade. - Change order number two consists of eight items, with two being deductive changes from the project and six items being added due to permitting or unforeseen construction issues. The largest item that is included in this change order is $7,199.57 for revisions to the egress plan at the control and pump building due to Building Code requirements. Building Code required that a safe egress platform be added to this exit due to the door leading to the stairs. All other additive items are related to unanticipated conditions and have arisen through construction activities. The largest of the remaining items is for $6,818.42 for addition of plug valves at the sand filters to simplify draining and isolation for maintenance. The City of Hickory and Catawba County will split all expense equally at 50% each according to the contract.
The two deductive items total $15,856.99 and are related to a piping change that simplified the custom piping that had been designed for the effluent structure and eliminated some heat tracing and insulation from pipes that will maintain a continuous flow.
Contract change orders one and two total $72,580.19, or .71% of the original project contract. The revised contract total to date will be $10,292,237.19.
K. Approval of Task Order (Change Order) Number 2 in the Amount of $4,400 to Davis & Floyd, Inc. for Hickory-Catawba Wastewater Treatment Plant (HCWWTP) Upgrade. - Task order (change order) two consists of one item related to additional services required by the Public Utilities Department. This item is related to the rerouting of the air lines from the pump control building to the sludge storage tanks due to excessive slope on the lines and the presence of rock discovered in the field. This task order will save the project money related to trench rock blasting and excavation. The City of Hickory and Catawba County will split all expense equally at 50% each according to the contract. Task orders one and two total $13,400, or 2.57% of the original contract amount.
L. Citizens’ Advisory Committee Recommendations for Assistance through the City of Hickory’s Housing Programs. - The following request was considered by the Citizens’ Advisory Committee at their regular meeting on September 5, 2013:
Jeffrey Beard was approved for recommendation to City Council for first time homebuyer’s assistance to purchase a house located at 1446 20th Avenue NE, Hickory. He had requested $6,500 for assistance with down payment and closing costs. The First-Time Homebuyers Assistance Loan is zero interest, no payments and repaid upon sale, refinance or payoff of first mortgage. Funds are budgeted for this item through the City of Hickory’s former Rental Rehabilitation Program income received in FY2011 and/or program income received through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant Program.
M. Approval of a Resolution and Lease Agreement Between the City of Hickory and Ronald Andrew Jones and Jennie Nicole Frye for Property Located at 304 3rd Street SW, Hickory. - Hickory Police Department purchased and renovated the property located at 304 3rd Street SW, Hickory, and are requesting City Council to approve the lease of the property to Ronald Andrew Jones and Jennie Nicole Frye. The lease will be for a one year period, beginning October 1, 2013, at a rate of $600 per month.
N. Approval of an Agreement for Bulk Water Sales with Icard Township Water Corporation. - The City of Hickory and Icard Township Water Corporation had a contract for the provision of potable water since January 5, 1993. The City of Hickory has provided water to Icard Township Water Corporation (ITWC) at a water metering station located west of the Hickory Regional Airport. ITWC and the City jointly constructed these improvements in 1993 to allow for this interconnection and provision of potable water to ITWC customers including the Town of Hildebran area and other portions of Burke County surrounding the town. The existing agreement was for an initial 20 year period and expired on June 30, 2013. Staff request approval of a renewal 20-year agreement for bulk water sales with Icard Township Water Corporation.
O. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Ron Swift (aka Ronald Clay Swift) and wife, Rhea H. Swift to Brenda Parsons Bush and husband Bobby Wesley Bush Jr. in Oakwood Cemetery
P. Grant Project Ordinance Number 1.
1. To budget a $23,860 FY2013 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant award in the Police Departments non-asset inventory line item. The City of Hickory received the grant through the Federal Justice Assistance Grant (J.A.G.) program. This grant requires no local matching funds from the City. The Police Department will use funds to purchase in-car cameras.
Q. Budget Ordinance Amendment Number 4.
1. To appropriate $500 of General Fund-Appropriated Fund Balance to the Parks and Recreation Departmental Supplies line item. $500 of unspent Easter Egg Hunt donations were not used and therefore funds rolled into General Fund at year end. This amendment will place $500 back in the Parks and Recreation Departmental line item for the FY13-14 Easter Egg Hunt.
2. To transfer $38,313 of remaining revenues in excess of expenditures, related to the Hickory District Court Facility in FY12-13, from the General Fund to the District Court Capital Reserve Fund.
3. To decrease the Fire Department Capital Vehicles line item by $729,864 and transfer funds back to General Fund-Appropriated Fund Balance. This budget amendment is necessary for an accounting adjustment to reflect the purchase of a fire truck in FY12-13.
4. To transfer $5,500 of GF-Appropriated Fund Balance to the FBO (Fixed Base Operations) Departmental Supplies line item. In FY12-13 the Airport received a $20,000 grant from Eastern Aviation of which $5,500 remained at year end. Those funds didn't roll forward to the current year, therefore an amendment is necessary to budget the remaining funds in the FBO departmental supplies line item. The remainder of funds are for repairs to the FBO and airport improvements.
5. To transfer $92,000 of Water and Sewer-Appropriated Fund Balance and budget in the Water and Sewer Capital Land line item. This amendment is necessary to pay $85,000 for the purchase of the home and an additional $7,000 to cover closing costs and demolition of the building on the property located at 2051 Snow Creek Rd. NE. This property is located adjacent to a city owned wastewater lift station. The property will serve both as a buffer for the existing lift station and will enable future expansion of the lift station.
6. To transfer $55,000 from Water and Sewer Capital Reserve to the Distribution Division Contracted Services line item. This amendment is necessary to pay for two resurfacing projects located at 34th Ave. NE and 13th Ave. NW which resulted from waterline projects at those locations.
New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Library’s Presentation of Summer Reading Program Highlights
2. Legal Department’s Update Regarding the HUD Housing Discrimination Complaints, re: Billy Sudderth et. al. vs City of Hickory
3. Appointments to Boards and Commissions
At right of this page under Main Information links is an Hickory's City Website link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the left of the page you will see the Agenda's and Minutes link you need to click. This will give you a choice of PDF files to upcoming and previous meetings.
You will find historic Agenda and Minutes links. Agendas show what is on the docket for the meeting of that date. The Minutes is an actual summary of the proceedings of the meeting of that date. You can also look in the upper right hand corner of the front page of the Hickory Hound and (will soon) find the link to the past history of Hickory City Newsletters.
Here is a summary of the agenda of the meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below:
Please remember that pressing Ctrl and + will magnify the text and page and pressing Ctrl and - will make the text and page smaller. This will help the readability for those with smaller screens and/or eye difficulties.
City Website has changed - Here is a link to the City of Hickory Document Center
All materials and maps for this meeting are provide at this link:
City Council Agenda - September 17, 2013( Hound Pre-meeting comment) - Nothing stands out in this agenda. The Departmental Report involving Bill Sudderth vs Hickory Inc. will be a one sided report in which the City Staff attorney will say that HUD inquiries are baseless. Nothing to see here move along type of report.
Invocation by Rev. Whit Malone, Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church
Special Presentations
A. Business Well Crafted Award to First Security Company, Inc. – Presented by David Gissy
from the Business Development Committee
Persons Requesting to Be Heard
Consent Agenda
A. Approval of an Appearance Grant for Non-Residential Property Owned by Judy Greenhill and Ricky D. Greenhill in the Amount of $3,307.43. - The Community Appearance Commission requests approval of an Appearance Grant for non-residential property owned by Judy Greenhill and Ricky D. Greenhill located at 805 Main Avenue SW, in the amount of $3,307.43. The proposal involves the renovation of the exterior façade of the building. These improvements will include new stonework and painting, as well as exterior lighting fixtures. The applicant has provided two bids for the items listed above, which total $6,614.85 and $7,698.08. Given the estimates provided, the proposal qualifies for a $3,307.43 grant.
B. Approval of an Appearance Grant for Non-Residential Property Owned by 7HE Properties LLC in the Amount of $5,000. - The Community Appearance Commission requests approval of an Appearance Grant for non-residential property owned by 7HE Properties LLC located at 1010 3rd Avenue Drive NW, in the amount of $5,000. The proposal involves the renovation of the exterior façade of the building. These improvements will include the replacement of the existing awning, exterior painting, lighting fixtures and guttering. The applicant has provided two bids for the items listed above, which total $10,476 and $15,491. Given the estimates provided, the proposal qualifies for a $5,000 grant.
C. Approval of an Appearance Grant for Non-Residential Property Owned by Katie Hudson Purgason, Julie J. Hudson, Harry Lindy Hudson Jr. and Anita C. Hudson in the Amount of $5,000. -
The Community Appearance Commission requests approval of an Appearance Grant for non-residential property owned by Katie Hudson Purgason, Julie J. Hudson, Harry Lindy Hudson Jr. and Anita C. Hudson located at 248 1st Avenue NW in the amount of $5,000. The proposal involves the renovation of the exterior façade of the building. These improvements will include the replacement of the existing awning and windows, trim work and paint. The applicant has provided two bids for the items listed above, which total $16,128 and $18,900. Given the estimates provided, the proposal qualifies for a $5,000 grant.
D. Approval of an Appearance Grant for Non-Residential Property Owned by Cornerstone Counseling Center in the Amount of $4,400. - The Community Appearance Commission requests approval of an Appearance Grant for non-residential property owned by Cornerstone Counseling Center located at 439 1st Avenue NW, in the amount of $4,400. The proposal involves the renovation of the landscaping around the building. These improvements will include the removal of unkempt landscaping materials and their replacement with new plant materials, mulch, and stone work. The applicant has provided two bids for the items listed above, which total $8,800 and $9,890. Given the estimates provided, the proposal qualifies for a $4,400 grant.
E. Approval of a Landscape Grant for Non-Residential Property Owned by Cornerstone Counseling Center in the Amount of $2,500. - The Community Appearance Commission requests approval of a Landscape Grant for non-residential property owned by Cornerstone Counseling Center, located at 439 1st Avenue NW, in the amount of $2,500. The proposal involves the renovation of the parking area located on the property. These improvements will include the resurfacing and restriping of the parking area. The applicant has provided two bids for the items listed above, which amount to $8,257.05 and $9,300. Given the estimates provided, the proposal qualifies for a $2,500 grant.
F. Approval of a Landscape Grant for Non-Residential Property Owned by EDGE Coaching LLC in the Amount of $2,500. - The Community Appearance Commission requests approval of a Landscape Grant for non-residential property owned by EDGE Coaching LLC located at 825 3rd Avenue NW, in the amount of $2,500. The proposal involves the renovation of the exterior landscaping and parking area located on the property. The improvements will include new plant materials and concrete. The applicant has provided two bids for the items listed above, which amount to $5,100 and $8,570. Given the estimates provided, the proposal qualifies for a $2,500 grant.
G. Approval of a Landscape Grant for Non-Residential Property Owned by Half Step Down LLC in the Amount of $2,500. - The Community Appearance Commission requests approval of a Landscape Grant for non-residential property owned by Half Step Down LLC, located at 406 4th Street SW, in
the amount of $2,500. The proposal involves the renovation of the exterior landscaping and parking area located on the property. The improvements will include the removal of a tree stump and the resurfacing of the parking area. The applicant has provided two bids for the items listed above, which amount to $5,400 and $7,150. Given the estimates provided, the proposal qualifies for a $2,500 grant.
H. Call for Public Hearing – For the Consideration of Rezoning Petition 13-11 for the Property Located at 1076 Fox Chase Drive, Newton, containing .43 acres. (Authorize Public Hearing for October 1, 2013)
I. Approval of an Offer to Purchase and Contract for Property Located at 2051 Snow Creek Road NE, Hickory, North Carolina, in the Amount of $85,000 from Frank L. Evans and wife, Reeva P. Evans. -
The property located at 2051 Snow Creek Road NE is adjacent to the city owned wastewater lift station. The property is currently developed with one single family home. The Public Utilities Department has expressed interest in the property to serve both as a buffer for the existing lift station, and to enable future expansion of the lift station. The tax value of the property is currently $93,800. The property owner has presented an offer for the City of Hickory to purchase the property for $85,000. Total cost will be approximately $92,000 with closing costs and demolition costs. Public Utilities acquisition funds are available to purchase the property.
J. Approval of Change Order Number 2 in the Amount of $11,532.76 to Jimmy R. Lynch & Sons for the Hickory-Catawba Wastewater Treatment Plant (HCWWTP) Upgrade. - Change order number two consists of eight items, with two being deductive changes from the project and six items being added due to permitting or unforeseen construction issues. The largest item that is included in this change order is $7,199.57 for revisions to the egress plan at the control and pump building due to Building Code requirements. Building Code required that a safe egress platform be added to this exit due to the door leading to the stairs. All other additive items are related to unanticipated conditions and have arisen through construction activities. The largest of the remaining items is for $6,818.42 for addition of plug valves at the sand filters to simplify draining and isolation for maintenance. The City of Hickory and Catawba County will split all expense equally at 50% each according to the contract.
The two deductive items total $15,856.99 and are related to a piping change that simplified the custom piping that had been designed for the effluent structure and eliminated some heat tracing and insulation from pipes that will maintain a continuous flow.
Contract change orders one and two total $72,580.19, or .71% of the original project contract. The revised contract total to date will be $10,292,237.19.
K. Approval of Task Order (Change Order) Number 2 in the Amount of $4,400 to Davis & Floyd, Inc. for Hickory-Catawba Wastewater Treatment Plant (HCWWTP) Upgrade. - Task order (change order) two consists of one item related to additional services required by the Public Utilities Department. This item is related to the rerouting of the air lines from the pump control building to the sludge storage tanks due to excessive slope on the lines and the presence of rock discovered in the field. This task order will save the project money related to trench rock blasting and excavation. The City of Hickory and Catawba County will split all expense equally at 50% each according to the contract. Task orders one and two total $13,400, or 2.57% of the original contract amount.
L. Citizens’ Advisory Committee Recommendations for Assistance through the City of Hickory’s Housing Programs. - The following request was considered by the Citizens’ Advisory Committee at their regular meeting on September 5, 2013:
Jeffrey Beard was approved for recommendation to City Council for first time homebuyer’s assistance to purchase a house located at 1446 20th Avenue NE, Hickory. He had requested $6,500 for assistance with down payment and closing costs. The First-Time Homebuyers Assistance Loan is zero interest, no payments and repaid upon sale, refinance or payoff of first mortgage. Funds are budgeted for this item through the City of Hickory’s former Rental Rehabilitation Program income received in FY2011 and/or program income received through the City of Hickory’s Community Development Block Grant Program.
M. Approval of a Resolution and Lease Agreement Between the City of Hickory and Ronald Andrew Jones and Jennie Nicole Frye for Property Located at 304 3rd Street SW, Hickory. - Hickory Police Department purchased and renovated the property located at 304 3rd Street SW, Hickory, and are requesting City Council to approve the lease of the property to Ronald Andrew Jones and Jennie Nicole Frye. The lease will be for a one year period, beginning October 1, 2013, at a rate of $600 per month.
N. Approval of an Agreement for Bulk Water Sales with Icard Township Water Corporation. - The City of Hickory and Icard Township Water Corporation had a contract for the provision of potable water since January 5, 1993. The City of Hickory has provided water to Icard Township Water Corporation (ITWC) at a water metering station located west of the Hickory Regional Airport. ITWC and the City jointly constructed these improvements in 1993 to allow for this interconnection and provision of potable water to ITWC customers including the Town of Hildebran area and other portions of Burke County surrounding the town. The existing agreement was for an initial 20 year period and expired on June 30, 2013. Staff request approval of a renewal 20-year agreement for bulk water sales with Icard Township Water Corporation.
O. Transfer of Cemetery Deed from Ron Swift (aka Ronald Clay Swift) and wife, Rhea H. Swift to Brenda Parsons Bush and husband Bobby Wesley Bush Jr. in Oakwood Cemetery
P. Grant Project Ordinance Number 1.
1. To budget a $23,860 FY2013 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant award in the Police Departments non-asset inventory line item. The City of Hickory received the grant through the Federal Justice Assistance Grant (J.A.G.) program. This grant requires no local matching funds from the City. The Police Department will use funds to purchase in-car cameras.
Q. Budget Ordinance Amendment Number 4.
1. To appropriate $500 of General Fund-Appropriated Fund Balance to the Parks and Recreation Departmental Supplies line item. $500 of unspent Easter Egg Hunt donations were not used and therefore funds rolled into General Fund at year end. This amendment will place $500 back in the Parks and Recreation Departmental line item for the FY13-14 Easter Egg Hunt.
2. To transfer $38,313 of remaining revenues in excess of expenditures, related to the Hickory District Court Facility in FY12-13, from the General Fund to the District Court Capital Reserve Fund.
3. To decrease the Fire Department Capital Vehicles line item by $729,864 and transfer funds back to General Fund-Appropriated Fund Balance. This budget amendment is necessary for an accounting adjustment to reflect the purchase of a fire truck in FY12-13.
4. To transfer $5,500 of GF-Appropriated Fund Balance to the FBO (Fixed Base Operations) Departmental Supplies line item. In FY12-13 the Airport received a $20,000 grant from Eastern Aviation of which $5,500 remained at year end. Those funds didn't roll forward to the current year, therefore an amendment is necessary to budget the remaining funds in the FBO departmental supplies line item. The remainder of funds are for repairs to the FBO and airport improvements.
5. To transfer $92,000 of Water and Sewer-Appropriated Fund Balance and budget in the Water and Sewer Capital Land line item. This amendment is necessary to pay $85,000 for the purchase of the home and an additional $7,000 to cover closing costs and demolition of the building on the property located at 2051 Snow Creek Rd. NE. This property is located adjacent to a city owned wastewater lift station. The property will serve both as a buffer for the existing lift station and will enable future expansion of the lift station.
6. To transfer $55,000 from Water and Sewer Capital Reserve to the Distribution Division Contracted Services line item. This amendment is necessary to pay for two resurfacing projects located at 34th Ave. NE and 13th Ave. NW which resulted from waterline projects at those locations.
New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Library’s Presentation of Summer Reading Program Highlights
2. Legal Department’s Update Regarding the HUD Housing Discrimination Complaints, re: Billy Sudderth et. al. vs City of Hickory
3. Appointments to Boards and Commissions
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