Finance committee approves contracts, opioid-settlement allocations and utility purchases
May 15, 2026 | High Point, Guilford County, North Carolina
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The High Point Finance Committee on May 14 approved a series of routine contracts, equipment purchases and budget amendments, including two allocations from the city’s opioid-settlement funds and several sole-source utility purchases.
Why it matters: The actions commit existing city resources and settlement proceeds to public-safety, behavioral health and infrastructure needs, and clear operational purchases that maintain water, wastewater and electric services.
Committee action and key details
- Opioid-settlement allocations: Assistant City Manager Eric Almedo asked the committee to allocate $91,000 in opioid-settlement funds to Caring Services for licensed mental-health and outpatient substance-use treatment and to allocate $50,000 to Guilford County’s GSTOP program. Almedo said the city has received about $940,000 to date, is projected to receive roughly $2,490,000 through 2039, and currently has a balance just under $786,000. The committee approved both budget amendments on voice votes.
- Police vehicle procurement (item 2026-128): Police Chief Curtis Cheeks requested approval to purchase a Ford Transit cargo van to be upfitted as a surveillance vehicle for the vice and narcotics unit, saying the department’s current vehicle has “reached the end of its life cycle.” Funding was identified in the 2026 budget; the committee approved the purchase on a motion and voice vote.
- Utilities and AMI purchases: Electric Utilities Director Tyler Barrier said the city’s AMI (advanced metering infrastructure) rollout is essentially complete and requested sole-source purchases of spare collectors, repeaters and cellular modems ($102,864.35) and additional meters ($138,501.72) to support system maintenance and expansion. Both purchases were approved by voice vote.
- Solid-waste contract and fleet cameras: Assistant Public Services Director Melinda King presented a three-year contract with RouteWare Inc. to provide routing software, tablets and to outfit collection trucks with cameras. King said the first-year cost (including hardware) is $155,099.72 and the three-year total is $379,996.80; the committee approved the contract. (A separate article in this package covers the RouteWare contract in more detail.)
- Water and wastewater supplies: Water Resource Director Allison Craft asked the committee to award a one-year contract (with two one-year renewal options) for dewatering polymer at $171,549.60, and to approve a purchase of large-diameter water pipe and fittings from Fortiline Incorporated for emergency and routine repairs. Both items passed on voice votes.
- Settlement ratification: The committee ratified a previously signed form for a remnant-defendant settlement that is part of a larger nationwide settlement (reported at about $97 million nationwide); High Point’s expected share is small — staff estimated roughly $5,000 (possibly up to $7,000) — and staff said there is no budget impact.
Votes and procedure
Most items were presented by staff, moved by Councilman Bridal Moore and seconded as recorded in the transcript; they were approved by voice vote. Where staff referenced long-term funding streams (notably the opioid settlement), they noted payments are scheduled in annual installments through 2039, per the settlement agreement.
The committee adjourned after brief closing remarks and an observance of National Law Enforcement Week.
Why it matters: The actions commit existing city resources and settlement proceeds to public-safety, behavioral health and infrastructure needs, and clear operational purchases that maintain water, wastewater and electric services.
Committee action and key details
- Opioid-settlement allocations: Assistant City Manager Eric Almedo asked the committee to allocate $91,000 in opioid-settlement funds to Caring Services for licensed mental-health and outpatient substance-use treatment and to allocate $50,000 to Guilford County’s GSTOP program. Almedo said the city has received about $940,000 to date, is projected to receive roughly $2,490,000 through 2039, and currently has a balance just under $786,000. The committee approved both budget amendments on voice votes.
- Police vehicle procurement (item 2026-128): Police Chief Curtis Cheeks requested approval to purchase a Ford Transit cargo van to be upfitted as a surveillance vehicle for the vice and narcotics unit, saying the department’s current vehicle has “reached the end of its life cycle.” Funding was identified in the 2026 budget; the committee approved the purchase on a motion and voice vote.
- Utilities and AMI purchases: Electric Utilities Director Tyler Barrier said the city’s AMI (advanced metering infrastructure) rollout is essentially complete and requested sole-source purchases of spare collectors, repeaters and cellular modems ($102,864.35) and additional meters ($138,501.72) to support system maintenance and expansion. Both purchases were approved by voice vote.
- Solid-waste contract and fleet cameras: Assistant Public Services Director Melinda King presented a three-year contract with RouteWare Inc. to provide routing software, tablets and to outfit collection trucks with cameras. King said the first-year cost (including hardware) is $155,099.72 and the three-year total is $379,996.80; the committee approved the contract. (A separate article in this package covers the RouteWare contract in more detail.)
- Water and wastewater supplies: Water Resource Director Allison Craft asked the committee to award a one-year contract (with two one-year renewal options) for dewatering polymer at $171,549.60, and to approve a purchase of large-diameter water pipe and fittings from Fortiline Incorporated for emergency and routine repairs. Both items passed on voice votes.
- Settlement ratification: The committee ratified a previously signed form for a remnant-defendant settlement that is part of a larger nationwide settlement (reported at about $97 million nationwide); High Point’s expected share is small — staff estimated roughly $5,000 (possibly up to $7,000) — and staff said there is no budget impact.
Votes and procedure
Most items were presented by staff, moved by Councilman Bridal Moore and seconded as recorded in the transcript; they were approved by voice vote. Where staff referenced long-term funding streams (notably the opioid settlement), they noted payments are scheduled in annual installments through 2039, per the settlement agreement.
The committee adjourned after brief closing remarks and an observance of National Law Enforcement Week.
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