Finance committee approves Amtrak easement extension, multiple purchases and wastewater repairs; stadium bond hearing set

High Point Mayor Pro Tem Bridal Moore presided over the finance committee on Thursday and the panel approved a series of procurement and property items, including an extension of Amtrak's easement at the downtown depot through Dec. 31, 2039, several fleet purchases for the police department, a sole-source repair for wastewater treatment equipment and contracts for water- and wastewater-related chemicals and meters.

The approvals affect multiple city departments: transportation, fleet services, public service (water/wastewater) and customer service. The committee also heard an information-only presentation on a planned issuance of limited-obligation bonds to reimburse prior stadium improvement expenditures related to accommodating a professional soccer team at Truist Point.

Greg Venable, High Point transportation director, described the agreement with Amtrak as an extension of a long-standing easement that allows Amtrak to use the city depot for passenger service. "This is an agreement with Amtrak, and it will allow them to continue to use the depot to conduct passenger rail service in High Point," Venable said, and noted the new expiration date would be Dec. 31, 2039. Venable said Amtrak will pay a pro rata share of utilities, maintenance and repair expenses and that there is no budget impact for the city on this item.

The committee approved two separate fleet purchases for the police department presented by Kevin Rogers, fleet director. Rogers said Fleet Services recommended purchasing five vehicles and associated equipment from Capital Chevrolet at a total cost of $262,869 to replace police vehicles removed from service for total loss or major mechanical failure; delivery was estimated within six months. The committee separately approved a purchase of five Ford Interceptors from Deacon Jones Ford at a total cost of $240,485, also with estimated delivery within six months. Council members asked for a per-vehicle breakdown and were told staff would provide the detail.

Robbie Stone, public service director, presented a reverse-bid auction awarding contracts for four water- and wastewater-treatment chemicals. Stone said vendors bid in a reverse auction (prices decrease with successive bids) and staff recommended awarding the low bids for the four chemicals on a one-year contract with up to four one-year renewals. Stone said four different bidders were the low bidders on the items and staff recommended approval.

Stone also presented a sole-source emergency purchase request for the Westside Wastewater Treatment Plant. He said the plant's fine bar screen and compactor No. 1 had failed and that inspection showed compactor No. 2 in poor condition; staff budgeted for further work in the upcoming budget. Stone recommended awarding a sole-source contract to Charles R. Underwood, the authorized service representative for the equipment, for $89,685 to repair bar screen No. 1 and compactor No. 1; the committee approved the sole-source purchase.

Jeremy Coble, customer service director, asked the committee to approve a sole-source purchase of water meters to support the city's advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) project. Coble told the committee the meters will be used for new installations and to replace malfunctioning meters and that the meters integrate with the AMI system to provide real-time consumption data to customers. The transcript did not provide a clear single total cost for the meters; staff said a figure during the meeting but the amount in the record was not clearly stated.

Assistant City Manager Damon Duquesne briefed the committee on the city's role in a community-change grant administered by the Southwest Renewal Foundation. Duquesne said the city is a partner on two specific tasks: an evaluation and subsequent rehabilitation or replacement of sewer infrastructure in Census Tract 143 (he cited an estimated $4,900,000 for that task), and a $100,000 task for purchase and installation of cameras in areas of habitual illegal dumping. Duquesne said roughly $65,000 of the grant was to reimburse city administrative costs; staff requested approval to accept reimbursement via the foundation.

City Attorney Megan McGuire introduced an easement exchange request involving the city-owned property at 120 W. Commerce Ave. and the Natuzzi Americas building at 151 W. High Ave. Paul Arena, attorney for Natuzzi, described a narrow encroachment on the city's property and said the parties agreed to exchange a 99-foot easement for a prior easement that is no longer needed. McGuire said staff had reviewed the handouts and found no issue; the committee approved the easement exchange.

Financial Services Director Bobby Fitzjohn provided an informational briefing on a proposed issuance of up to $6.8 million in limited-obligation bonds to reimburse the city for stadium modifications related to accommodating a professional soccer team at Truist Point. Fitzjohn said the city previously contracted for construction of stadium modifications and incurred additional equipment and nonconstruction costs; the city issued a request for proposals in January, received six proposals, and identified a private bank placement with TD Bank at a proposed rate of 5.53% for 15 years as the most favorable. He said the borrowing would be taxable because of the project's nature and that the Local Government Commission would review the issuance in early April; Fitzjohn said a public hearing and initial resolution would be on the March meeting agenda and a final resolution on March 17.

Votes at a glance

- Item 2025-0067 (Amtrak depot easement extension through Dec. 31, 2039): approved. Motion made and seconded; chair announced the motion passed. - Item 2025-0068 (Fleet purchase — 5 vehicles from Capital Chevrolet, $262,869; budget ordinance amendment): approved. - Item 2025-0069 (Fleet purchase — 5 Ford Interceptors from Deacon Jones Ford, $240,485): approved. - Item 2025-0570 (Reverse-bid auction awards for four water/wastewater chemicals; one-year contract with four one-year options): approved. - Item 2025-0574 (Sole-source repair purchase for Westside WWTP fine bar screen and compactor No. 1 to Charles R. Underwood, $89,685): approved. - Item 2025-0571 (Sole-source purchase of water meters for AMI project): approved; transcript did not contain a clearly stated total cost. - Item 2025-0572 (City partnership tasks under Southwest Renewal Foundation community-change grant: sewer evaluation/rehab in Census Tract 143 — approx. $4,900,000; cameras — $100,000; admin reimbursement — approx. $65,000): approved. - Item 2025-0576 (Exchange of 99-foot easements with Natuzzi Americas concerning overhang at 151 W. High Ave.): approved.

Several motions were passed by voice vote with no roll-call recorded in the transcript. No items were tabled or failed during the meeting.

The committee recognized staff member Ryan Ferguson for his upcoming departure and heard brief community announcements about a free trolley event and a local exhibition soccer game. The finance committee indicated these approved items would appear on the consent agenda at the full city council meeting on Monday.