Carter County accepts NRCS watershed aid and approves hazard-mitigation work amid debate over consultant fees
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Summary
The Carter County commission voted to accept NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection assistance and to move forward with Hazard Mitigation grant applications using Schaus LLC, while several commissioners questioned high consultant hourly rates and the lack of a fee cap.
The Carter County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Jan. 21 to begin the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) application process to repair stream, road, bridge and culvert damage from recent flooding.
Sonja Shows of Schaus LLC told the commission her team identified 52 sites and estimated bank-stabilization work “close to $2 million.” She also said Carter County currently has about $54 million in projects listed with FEMA and that $8 million has been obligated so far. "It takes a team of five people to document and submit the actual data," Shows said, describing submissions that can include hundreds of attachments.
Following that vote, the board debated and then approved a separate motion to accept Addendum #2 with Schaus Professional Services to pursue Hazard Mitigation grant applications. The addendum passed 16–7 after commissioners raised concerns about consultant billing and contracting terms. Commissioners opposing the addendum cited lack of a spending cap and high hourly rates; County Chair Ginger Holdren said she could not "see an hourly rate of $175," calling the figure "exorbitant." (Roll-call: 16 yes, 7 no.)
Schaus explained FEMA cost-sharing and reimbursements: FEMA provides 75% of eligible costs, the state typically covers 12.5% and counties 12.5%, and volunteer hours can reduce a county’s match obligation. Shows also said Schaus' current charges to date are $318,000 and that grant-administration fees are commonly covered within awarded grants' administrative set-asides.
The board approved moving ahead with the NRCS EWP application and with the hazard-mitigation pre-application, which Schaus said could expand the county’s pre-application list to as much as $70–100 million in recoverable projects. Several commissioners asked for clearer caps and oversight provisions before further contract amendments are executed.
Next steps include completing NRCS project documentation within program timelines (Schaus said projects must be completed in 220 days after contract award) and advancing pre-applications for state hazard-mitigation funds. The commission did not set an immediate cap on the Schaus addendum at the meeting.