[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6320997,"mediaKeyId","2353867-19cc1f445d110cb945d2e3878771cb8a","parentId",2353867,"title","Carter County updates FEMA recovery, votes emergency loan and budget items as debris and billing concerns surface","audioSeconds",3761,"startMs",1131000,"endMs",4892000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2353867-19cc1f445d110cb945d2e3878771cb8a&start=1131&end=4892","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2353867-19cc1f445d110cb945d2e3878771cb8a/thumbnail_1131000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6320997/Carter-County/Tennessee/Carter-County-updates-FEMA-recovery-votes-emergency-loan-and-budget-items-as-debris-and-billing-concerns-surface","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6320997-a4b3f0d4325aa3ae303e038329679a69/orig.mp4?Expires=1777757496&Signature=BdvlGR4VIR77RH2UaSIUUx5gnqTGDSCNx~F5h6C~C~gGkjRtvjtskbVdxXEibZBRw9SrLyA3-p7hwtDlHAu9UzW006G3uugJeUZONTeWouax-yEgFCaCnVE8feXqbHvXcF~2DgaJK~g8RigBPkqY2rsPGWDnspZkiANi061APmdA2FYR0JY1dhmBeGf5r3IY0ttW~6Jdj1v8p7Yejo5NdZ0Og58Kd1B16ryAYihjPeSpBm7bvnX5mawTXhDC2cXtjoauelXIT7Fsm2oGNPObVyR-fhLhEymXX0Fp2n8yR2eUuNXALjN7IKvAfLgPqJPXZozYQ4nDUKw54TvkRODQ-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Carter County, TN","date","2025-02-20T07:04:13.947Z","article","County staff gave an extensive update on federal and state disaster recovery work linked to Hurricane Elaine, and the Board of County Commissioners approved several emergency budget items to keep recovery work moving while residents and commissioners pressed for more transparency on debris removal and contractor billing.

Sonia Jonas of Charles, LLC (presenting a FEMA update) told the board there are 51 FEMA projects in the grants pipeline representing about 44 separate projects, that debris removal in the county’s rights-of-way was nearly complete and that waterways debris removal (lakes, rivers, streams) is being handled under a state contract. Jonas said 16 FEMA road-and-bridge projects are active or scheduled (75–80 roads referenced) and that building-and-equipment damage remains under insurance review. The presentation also noted 52 NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) projects for waterway and bank stabilization are pending and that hazard-mitigation applications were in process.

Commissioner Angie Hogan and others asked about timelines and the status of a pre-application that had been submitted by the Jan. 31 deadline; presenters clarified a pre-application had been filed and county staff and state contacts had indicated the counties have months to complete full applications. A county staff member explained the difference between the pre-application and the full application and said the pre-app required department-level assessments of needs (for example, volunteer fire departments needing generators).

Budget committee vice chair Julie Gwyn presented a package of emergency budget motions related to the disaster response. The board approved a motion to schedule a standing monthly commission meeting on the first Thursday of each month to consider emergency spending related to the declared state of emergency; the meetings will be canceled if there is no emergency spending to consider. The board approved a one-time correction payment of $6,426.42 to elected officials to fix a transfer miscalculation, with funds taken from the unassigned fund balance. The board also authorized the county mayor to sign required paperwork to accept opioid settlement funds received by the county.

The board voted to authorize the county to borrow an additional $3,000,000 from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (a \"TEMA lien emergency assistance loan\") to cover additional pre-removal debris expenses and to get through final cleanup. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Todd Smith and recorded with the same terms as prior loans.

During public comment several residents raised concerns about contractor billing and expense detail. James Berg, a resident, cited invoices he said showed a contractor charging $560 per hour combined for senior FEMA project managers and asked whether resumes or qualifications were on file for personnel billed at that rate; he urged more detailed, 15-minute billing breakdowns before approving additional invoices. Others raised complaints that some debris left at the roadside was not FEMA-eligible and therefore county staff had told affected homeowners the county could not pick it up under FEMA rules. County staff and FEMA/TEMA representatives explained that certain roadside debris and items placed at the road after private property cleanup are not eligible for FEMA reimbursement and that if the county picks up noneligible debris it may not be reimbursed.

Long-term-recovery volunteers and an unmet-needs committee member said a contractor’s individual-assistance contract had ended and 12 households still needed debris assistance; staff said those cases were being tracked and that nonprofits and churches were being asked to help with unmet needs when debris did not qualify for FEMA assistance. Staff cautioned that picking up non-FEMA-eligible debris using county funds could result in costs the county would not recover through federal reimbursement programs.

Ending: Commissioners approved the emergency spending measures at the meeting and asked staff to provide more detailed billing and eligibility information for upcoming budget approvals; residents asked the board for greater transparency and more detailed invoices from contractors paid on disaster work.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","CC Commission Meeting for February","oneSentenceSummary","Carter County commissioners approved emergency budget measures including a $3 million TEMA loan and accepted opioid settlement funds as staff updated the board on FEMA and NRCS recovery projects and residents raised concerns about contractor billing and debris eligibility.","taxTitle","Carter County, Tennessee","taxId",71162,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6321002,"Carter County honors two deputies for lifesaving response",112,893000,1005000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2353867-19cc1f445d110cb945d2e3878771cb8a&start=893&end=1005","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2353867-19cc1f445d110cb945d2e3878771cb8a/thumbnail_893000.jpg","/articles/6321002/Carter-County/Tennessee/Carter-County-honors-two-deputies-for-lifesaving-response","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321002-7d8224c338d2b11db63a63551e769566/orig.mp4?Expires=1777757496&Signature=BKGPuDp75l8tGsj11hgWa-zcJUHAsFGW~nM0OJy0Qa6txu4EXcEHEB7nJ1cm6UA~D8SaQXOmbCx9p5NeNyhlAk815OVKNqVtL8LHS7UgEnz6yETZqKtIeSGtQ2Ap1edDGgw9NC8S8h34iycSxjT4fRj7rFK4KQV3b63Onuvw50irrEX~6tCvEITZW5qqKzi8VT4tbNthQOxFY5R9n77wyrai1IP76fEi1Tjs966vK0~0~oqBozLCUIxrLcQW3qmy1hRnhxU-AUnRw-NCzGVv2Ehf7RRIRACBxzvqhhqaiIn4R6XOTqeYtltPZX4TW~-zpY~Qz0~ipiCgSyyxWbSZqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Carter County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution honoring two sheriff’s deputies for life-saving actions during a January 6, 2025, call in the Stony Creek community.

The resolution states that deputies Dalton Taylor and Matthew Lyle encountered unresponsive individuals suffering a life-threatening medical emergency and rendered aid to stabilize the person until medical personnel arrived. The board’s resolution praises the deputies for calm, professional action and recognizes their service as deserving of the county’s official thanks.

The resolution was presented and read into the record and then put to a vote. The record shows the motion to consider the resolution was made and seconded; the board approved the resolution during the meeting and then invited the deputies to the front for recognition.

Ending: The board’s approval formalizes public recognition of the deputies’ actions; no further votes or appropriations were recorded in connection with the resolution at that meeting.","The Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution recognizing two Carter County Sheriff's deputies for providing life-saving aid during a January call for service in the Stony Creek community.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6321007,"Carter County commission narrows public comment to matters germane to the agenda",155,0,155000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2353867-19cc1f445d110cb945d2e3878771cb8a&start=0&end=155","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2353867-19cc1f445d110cb945d2e3878771cb8a/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6321007/Carter-County/Tennessee/Carter-County-commission-narrows-public-comment-to-matters-germane-to-the-agenda","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321007-2988d39d765f134106c2ad42dba709bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1777757496&Signature=Ye45jC69upVc-cwsZ43dzjGUBMl227u5msYwnN3wPGhXY-XkcyJo5nVpU~ZF8SQIA3I3gj61WkI5vkIwCQWW~PZNX751JkJfhRl3Wkaxoq25zUdi5NdmWQBnPLcfRMCzh1JkqYVUb6bpFCrv9GMWhGS0NZ1gA3ZQm0-5UJ1GIsw5foebwvkQI7L4PAJFI-n-ymXgHERotSMIZE1AmsR7ViqR-lzPA1wL6S1l26PDKylufhbPJ5JqzEYyRUf41Mf1bUVtKA7LSMexzb6EnhcVBzPWpLlCQ5tZl-9xOm4R4hz0VPBWEIgbVclU2tG3qLFphYJo6Z2GmJAbVHT49ExDCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Carter County Board of Commissioners voted to approve an amendment limiting the public comment period to remarks germane to items on the meeting agenda.

A county attorney opened discussion by reading portions of the Open Meetings Act, saying, \"Bodies as defined in the Open Meetings Act are required to preserve a period of time for public comment, provide the public with the opportunity to comment on matters that are germane to the items on the agenda for the meeting. Governing bodies are authorized to remove reasonable restrictions on the period for public comment, such as the length of period, the number of speakers, and the length of time that each speaker will be allowed to provide comment.\" The attorney noted the law also allows a governing body to require advance notice of a desire to speak and to take steps to ensure opposing viewpoints are represented.

Commissioners debated whether the restriction had been included in the public notice for the meeting. The county attorney said the county’s standard advertisement mentions a reserved public-comment period but that the level of restriction (for example, whether comments may be limited to agenda items) must be stated in the public notice if the body intends to apply it. A friendly amendment to limit comment to matters germane to the agenda was introduced during the motion process.

After discussion the board voted to approve the agenda with the amendment restricting public comments to those germane to the agenda. The motion passed; the clerk recorded one abstention. The approved change means future meetings will limit public remarks to topics that are directly related to agenda items unless the board adopts a different rule or announces otherwise in its public notice.

Commissioners and members of the public raised procedural questions during debate, including whether the notice had to include the restriction in advance and how strictly the board would enforce ‘‘germane’’ remarks. Those procedural clarifications will now guide how the clerk frames future meeting notices and how chair rulings are applied at subsequent meetings.

The action occurred during the opening portion of the meeting while the commission considered and approved the agenda.

Ending: The board did not set a further policy text at that meeting beyond approving the amendment; the county attorney’s reading of the Open Meetings Act will serve as the legal basis for how the restriction will be noticed and enforced going forward.","The Carter County Board of Commissioners voted to approve an amendment restricting public comment to subjects directly related to agenda items after a legal briefing on the Open Meetings Act and brief debate over notice requirements.","actionData","errors"]

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Carter County updates FEMA recovery, votes emergency loan and budget items as debris and billing concerns surface

Carter County honors two deputies for lifesaving response

Carter County commission narrows public comment to matters germane to the agenda