Neighborhood Planning Council 2 - North Central

NORTHCENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COUNCIL #2 Meeting Minutes—June 11, 2018 SWMDC 47 N. Washington Avenue Battle Creek, MI 1. Call to Order & Welcome: Pastor Joe Hooper, Chair, called to order the NPC#2 meeting at 7:00 p.m. 2. Attendance: Members: Rev. Hooper, Ron Sweet, Kitty Hillian, Prentice Thompson, Jeffrey Dinkins, Bettie Robertson, Geraldine King, David Draper, Larz Martin Bey, Yvonne Powell, Linnea Mobley. Guests: Ofc. Brand Gentry, Kelly Dillman-, Yolanda Johnson-Code Compl. Ofc, Hatfield Meats—Jaime Crane and Monica Wolqast, Penny Beemer, Jeff Breedlove-Church of Scientology. 3. Approval of Minutes: Mr. Larz Martin Bey motion to accept minutes of May 14, 2018 and seconded by Mr. Sweet. 4. Correspondences: Historical agency and other agencies taking a break for the summer. 5. Guest Presentations: Clemens Food Group: Jamie Crane and Monica Wolquast. We started as Hatfield meats started in Hatfield, PA, 120 years ago. John C. Clemens in 1895 who started the business was a man of tremendous entrepreneurial spirit and man of core values who started with ethics—I’m going to do the right thang, for integrity—I am going to do what I say I’m going to do, for stewardship—I’m going to build a foundation for the future. The company’s core beliefs are founded upon those precepts. We have 3000 employees. We have never had a layoff. We just hit a billion dollars in sales. We only do direct hire. We are a Christian organization. We are six generations owned. Our Mission statement is about being servants of Jesus Christ but we don’t shove religion down on our employees. It’s how we incorporate our business through ethics, stewardship, time and integrity and that’s kind of how we drive our business. This is our uniqueness. What we realized when we opened in September, while being in the Coldwater area, we realized that no one came to B.C. area to recruit. We believe in second chances, because Jesus gives us chances all the time. We have people with criminal records and we don’t care what’s on your criminal record. You don’t have to read or write to get a job with us. We don’t work on weekends. We start out 13.50 to 15.50 hour. We are the 5th largest pork product manufacturing company. We go by ethical animal standard practices and how we treat our animals. Everything we do is 100% humane. We euthanize our pigs by carbon monoxide. Our farms are free range. It’s not the cheapest. We employ our practices based on ethics, integrity stewardship—build a foundation for the future. We well established in NJ, NY and PA areas. We have a lot of opportunity at our plant. We hit a billion dollar in sales, and in two years we will double the sales, and by fifth year we will be triple the sales. We have 4:00a.m to 6: 00a.m and out no later than 3:00 or 4:00 p.m. M-F and maybe 8 weekends a year. You get 17 Holidays off. Full prescription Dental, Vision, and Health coverage. We get paid every Thursday. We have a cafeteria and we give credit. As said before we are a Christian organization and we have an employee benevolent fund for any family emergencies. When we hit a billion in sales, we gave out visa gift cards. Week 2. We gave visa cards for restaurants. Week 3 we gave out jackets. Week four. Dollars for Doers program. Any volunteer hours we match them. For Christmas you get a ham and $250 through our shared blessing program. We are an employee based business. We don’t do background checks so we hire felons. We will do a drug screen looking at five drugs and a physical assessment to determine if you can do the job. Also, Ms. Mobley can also provide people with two weeks of gas if needed to get back and forth for the first two weeks. We are about removing barriers. We have strength trainers because there is a lot of heavy lifting and moving of objects so we have a pain assessment person to asses all situations. We do have positions available on the Corporate side. Also, if someone has a medical marijuana card they are still eligible for employment. 6) Committee Reports: Police Department—For March 1-31 and April 1-30, May 1-31. Ofc. Brad Gentry gave report for incidents, foot patrols 92, 100, 155; Traffic Stops, 75, 69, 87 Assaults 21, 16, 17 Burglary 3, 7, 4; Larceny 8, 13, 10; Damage to Property 5, 7, 1 Drug Offense 7,10, 12; Obstruct Justice 12, 23, 15. (This section may be revised for later) Kelly Hillman: Thank you to all the people who attended the session. Last week we had a story-boarding session. Last session June 25, 2018 at Salvation Army 6:30 – 8:30. The Battle Creek Foundation will facilitate that session. Still work needed to be done in NPC2. We will narrow the projects down to two ideas. Be Safe Battle Creek Project is a Euphemism for Byrne Grant, and we are shifting to this usage. B) Neighborhood Services: Yolanda Johnson. Code enforcement report. Sherry Cunningham is for the summer and we call her the “weed fairy” because she addresses all the tall grass and weeds. City of B.C. has change the contractor. The new contractor wasn’t doing a good job, so the city went back to the old contractor. The county is going through some delays with their crew. Ms. Robertson spoke to the weather and the fact with all the rain, the parcels couldn’t be cut. Some people have concerns about the lots on Roosevelt. There is a parcel that has been made a dumping station. These parcels don’t have addresses. Across from 100 Roosevelt. Dinkins: House on Wood and Roseneath is wide opens. It is not secured. 175 Roseneath. I spoke with Amy and had a crew to go in and gut it out. They are about to tear the house down. C) Beautiful Battle Creek Awards—None D) Membership: Rev. Hooper says the council is always in need of members, so if they are some able bodies from the community to help us on projects we love to have more members and let their voices be heard. E) Committee Report: Engagement Committee: J. Dinkins, having been ill, could not hold meetings yet. F) School Board: None G) Elected Officials: Not made it yet. 7) Old Business: None 8) New Business: P. Thompson. How is it that factories can work people 7 days a week for weeks on end consecutively without a break? The short answer is Ms Mobley states: Where the corporate office maintains their home base determines the rules. Ms. Mobley eloquently answered to her objections to this practice. She expressed her concerns about company’s’ practices and environment. This is why she toured the facility of the Clemens Group in Coldwater and she saw acceptable practices and encouraged employment here. P. Thompson asked, I thought that were Federal Laws? Dinkins states, Gov. Snyder made Michigan a right-to-work state. So, the “at-will” employment means the employee has few rights and can be terminated for no reason at all. Ms. Mobley is a great advocate for the people. 9) Public Comments: Jeff Breedlove---The Church of Scientology has the construction documents all finished for the Hart Hotel which is a big milestone towards the renovation of that building. Now we can get the bids going and what contractors we are going to use. I ask about minority contractors. So, he said he believes this will be case of contracting with minority contractors. Yvonne Powell: She took the time to tell everyone that she would be retiring. And that this meeting would be the last meeting. I have been employed Neighborhood’s Inc. for 17 years. So, I have told everyone. I am not leaving the community. I’ll be a part of NPC 1. I’ll still be a part of Be Safe Battle Creek. Our property manager who is here tonight will become more involved. Also, Federal Home Loan Bank of which we started with $6 million and now we are down to $1.4 million. This money about gone and then the projects will be happening starting in October. Jeff Breedlove thanked Ms. Powell for her services and time to the community and she received an ovation from NPC2. P. Thompson. My Prof. T’s Sweet Tea will be on sale. Please support! Especial thanks to Mrs. Dillman, Mrs. Robertson, Rev. Hooper, and the person who has lots of compassion for her community and fellow wo-man, Ms. Hillian. Juneteenth is Friday and Saturday. June 15 and 16, 2018. Ron Sweet liked to thank Mrs. Dillman for the trip taken to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. Ms. Robertson said we stood on the same ship that brought the slaves over here. Mr. Sweet said this was a real nice experience. For our next bus we’d like to fill two buses up. Also, thanks to Mr. Dennis McKinley who orchestrated and facilitated this event. Rev. Hooper: I thank and welcome everyone in coming out and look forward to seeing you at next meeting. 9) Meeting adjourned by Rev. Hooper at 8:00 p.m. The next meeting will be July 9, 2018.