Pike County approves state master contracts for debris removal, urges residents to follow FEMA rules as recovery continues

Pike County Judge Jones told the fiscal court on the meeting record that the county has contracted with state-approved firms to oversee debris removal and FEMA public-assistance claims after the recent flood, and he urged residents to follow FEMA rules for debris separation and documentation to ensure reimbursement.

The motion to acknowledge and approve state master-agreement contracts with Title Basin Group (to oversee federal public-assistance processing), DRC Emergency Services (debris removal), and Thompson Consultants (monitoring) was made by Judge Jones and seconded by Commissioner Atkins; the roll call was unanimous (Commissioners Ronald Scott, Atkins, Freddie Lewis and Judge Jones voted yes). Judge Jones said the firms were on the state master agreement so they did not require local bidding and that the county would hold contractors accountable for any charges not FEMA‑eligible.

Why it matters: The contractors will manage debris removal and monitoring that FEMA requires for reimbursement, a major step for recovery. Judge Jones noted that the county will be financially responsible only for amounts not covered by federal and state programs and stressed the paperwork and eligibility rules that determine reimbursements.

The court and staff described eligibility and operational details the public should know.…