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Residents raise concerns about Axon ties, recycling center fees and blasting; Declan Donahue Foundation to build playground
Summary
During public comment at the Jan. 27 High Point City Council meeting, residents urged reconsideration of an Axon contract, criticized recycling‑center fee structures, reported foundation cracks they attribute to nearby blasting, and the Declan Donahue Foundation announced a new playground at North Overlook Park.
Several High Point residents used the Jan. 27 public‑comment period to raise concerns about city contracts, local services and nearby development, and a nonprofit announced a new park project.
Sean McElroy told the council he was addressing 'contract C3, Axon Enterprises' and said, citing a media report, 'It was recently reported in, Forbes Magazine that Axon accepted seed capital from 1 mister Jeffrey Epstein.' He asked the council to reconsider the contract and to consider alternative vendors; no city response is recorded in the meeting transcript.
Rick Smith described operations at the Ingleside Recycling Center, saying the employees, equipment and property are paid for by the city and urging staff (he named "Randy and Damon") to revisit fee structures and residency pricing so High Point taxpayers are treated differently than nonresidents. Jackie Baker highlighted a long‑running weekly 'cruise in' on South Main that she said has operated more than 30 years and that proceeds have benefitted local charities (she cited about $7,600 donated to Hospices of Piedmont).
Richard Orr, a long‑time resident of Country Club Drive, said blasting at a nearby development called Canner Creek (he said the developer is Windsor Homes and that the majority owner is Dawa) has caused cracks in some homes and expressed concern about plans to extend Country Club and increase density. Orr asked elected officials for oversight; the transcript records no staff answers on structural inspections or remediation.
Separately during the consent portion of the meeting, Nicole Donahue of the Declan Donahue Foundation thanked the council and parks staff and announced the foundation will build its seventh playground in High Point at North Overlook Park, continuing prior partnerships with High Point Parks & Recreation and noting past fundraising for Hospices of Piedmont.
No formal council action resolved the public commenters’ requests at this meeting; some items (notably the street‑abandonment hearing) were continued to a future meeting for further staff work.
