High Point finance committee approves multiple contracts, property purchase and opioid fund allocation

The High Point City Council Finance Committee on May 15 approved several vendor contracts, agreed to buy a property for a shared-use commercial kitchen and directed a portion of opioid settlement money to evidence-based addiction treatment programs.

The committee approved a $160,000 change order to the Burford Construction contract for tree-trimming and clearing work on the Johnson Street–Sandy Ridge project, increasing that contract’s total to $1,430,000, and voted to award contracts ranging from replacement radios for transit vehicles to a new facility maintenance building and HVAC replacements at the Eastside Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The actions matter because they allocate capital and operating funds, authorize purchases needed for public services and set aside local opioid-settlement dollars for treatment — all steps that will affect municipal operations and planned infrastructure work in High Point.

Tyler Barrier, electric utilities director, told the committee the Burford change order covers unanticipated clearing and higher labor rates: "we'd like to execute a change order for $160,000 to bring up the new contract amount to 1,430,000.00." Barrier said funding exists in the department’s budget but the extra amount was not part of the original contract.

Damon Duquesne, assistant city manager, presented an annual update to the public transportation agency safety plan and said the plan must be revised yearly because the city receives federal transit funds: "Every year, we have to look at our safety, plan and update because we do receive federal funds." Council members asked detailed questions about fare categories and safety exercises; Duquesne said staff would provide the date and evaluation score for the last full-scale drill when available. The committee approved the safety-plan update without amendment.

The committee approved a state-contract purchase of 30 replacement mobile radios from Motorola Solutions Inc. for $139,194 to replace obsolete equipment used by transit staff. Adam Ward, information technology services director, presented a two-year renewal of cloud hosting services with Acela Incorporated totaling $614,667.55 — $296,940.84 for fiscal year 2024–25 and $317,726.71 for fiscal year 2026–27 — which staff said is included in the proposed budget pending full council approval.

Robbie Stone, public services director, recommended contracts to replace five HVAC units at the Eastside Wastewater Treatment Plant ($101,525 to Miller Services HVAC Inc.) and to award a $2,164,500 contract to Barr Construction Company for a new facility maintenance building after two bidders were found nonresponsive. Melinda King presented a sole-source contract with Precision Safe Sidewalks to address trip hazards in Burns Hill and Emerywood for $150,000; staff said the work is the same as a previously proposed change order but had to be executed as a separate contract because of corporate structure.

Assistant city manager Eric Almedo presented a resolution directing expenditure of opioid settlement funds; he said the city will receive about $2,500,000 over roughly 15 years, has received about $741,000 to date and has made one prior distribution of $33,400 to Caring Services. The resolution approved by the committee would allocate $121,600 for evidence-based addiction treatments.

Almedo also presented a proposal to acquire 1661 (transcript references gave both 11661 and 1661) Westchester Drive — a roughly 12,000-square-foot former K&W Cafeteria built in 1988 — for use as a commercial shared-use kitchen. He said staff negotiated a purchase price of $970,000 and that financing for acquisition and renovation would combine a $2,000,000 SBA grant and roughly $700,000 in local funds (split as $350,000 in the current fiscal year and $350,000 in the proposed budget), leaving an estimated renovation budget target of just over $3,000,000. Staff said the city intends to use a construction manager-at-risk approach for renovations.

Bobby Fitzjohn, financial services director, gave an informational briefing on a bond order authorizing issuance of the Series 2025 combined enterprise system revenue bonds to fund water and sewer projects including pump-station and filter replacements and UV disinfection system work; no committee action was required on the bond item at the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Item 2025-169: Burford Construction change order (tree clearing, Johnson Street–Sandy Ridge). Motion to approve carried (ayes recorded). Change order: $160,000; new contract total: $1,430,000. - Item 2025-170: Transit agency safety-plan update. Approved. - Item 2025-171: Motorola Solutions Inc. state-contract purchase for 30 mobile radios. Approved; contract amount $139,194. - Item 2025-172: Miller Services HVAC Inc. contract to replace five HVAC units at Eastside Wastewater Treatment Plant. Approved; contract amount $101,525. - Item 2025-173: Precision Safe Sidewalks sole-source contract for trip-hazard remediation in Burns Hill and Emerywood. Approved; contract amount $150,000. - Item 2025-174: Barr Construction Company contract for new facility maintenance building. Approved; contract amount $2,164,500. - Item 2025-176: Acela Incorporated (cloud hosting) two-year renewal. Approved; total $614,667.55. - Item 2025-177: Resolution directing opioid-settlement funds; approved; proposed allocation $121,600 for evidence-based addiction treatment. - Item 2025-186: Proposed acquisition of 1661 Westchester Drive for commercial shared-use kitchen; motion to adopt recommendation carried; negotiated purchase price $970,000.

(Where roll-call tallies were not provided, the minutes record vocal "aye" from the committee; no votes in opposition were recorded.)

The committee adjourned after brief announcements and a birthday recognition for Councilwoman Monica Peters.