Carter County commissioners approve more than $3.1 million in Hurricane Helene recovery contracts and payments
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Summary
At a special session April 3, the Carter County Board of Commissioners approved a package of disaster-recovery payments and contracts — including major debris-removal invoices, bridge repairs and architect estimates — most funded through FEMA rapid funding and the HEAL Loan.
At a special-called session on April 3, 2025, the Carter County Board of Commissioners approved a package of disaster-recovery payments and contracts related to damage from Hurricane Helene, voting to authorize more than $3.1 million in expenditures and purchase orders.
Finance Director Carolyn Watson updated commissioners on the FEMA reimbursement process and said debris removal is nearly complete; Mayor Woodby reported crews had removed about 140,000 cubic yards of debris and that county staff are working to add eight tributaries to the state cleanup contract. The meeting then moved to a series of roll-call votes on payment requests, purchase orders and consultant agreements.
The board approved multiple engineering payments to Rummel, Klepper & Kahl (RK&K) for bridge design work — $48,456.56 for Poga Road Bridge #1, $42,056.22 for Poga Road Bridge #2 and $22,499.57 for Long Hollow Bridge — all described as FEMA rapid-funded projects. Commissioners also approved $90,734.58 for debris-monitoring services from Thompson Consulting, and a $70,014.75 payment to Schaus Professional Services.
The largest single payment approved was $1,939,750.54 to TFR Enterprises for debris removal; the board approved additional TFR invoices of $164,323.46 and $4,694.09. County documents indicate those debris-removal payments will be paid from the HEAL Loan and submitted through the FEMA portal for reimbursement.
Other approvals included: - A $419,750 PO for Summers & Taylor to repair four bridge locations on Heaton Creek Road damaged by the storm; the proposal referenced state-contract details. - A $306,696.55 PO for Summers & Taylor for paving and road repairs in the Hampton area related to storm damage. - Monthly rental payments of $5,600 each for temporary bridges at Poga Road (two separate payments to Landworx Construction). The Landworx invoices and contract terms in the meeting packet show a longer rental schedule and replacement-cost terms. - Small operational payments, including $194.63 to Tri-City Business Machines for copier usage at the Emergency Operations Center and $115 to United Rentals for portable restrooms. - Architect-fee estimates from Thompson Litton for school facilities: $1,900 to dry-proof a building at HHS, $27,500 for an HVHS roof estimate and $17,440 for an HVMS roof estimate; the School Board had previously approved those POs as noted in the packet. - A $456 PO to Nippon Carbide Industries for sign-machine supplies and an agreement with Environmental & Civil Engineering Services for hydraulic/hydrologic (H&H) studies on four Shell Creek Road crossings required by FEMA.
Most motions passed unanimously by recorded roll call. One motion — payment of $11,654.65 to Maury County Government for a TEMA response team deployed to Carter County — recorded two no votes (Commissioners Nick Holder and Danny Deal) and passed 18–2. Several agenda items noted that payments would be charged to the HEAL Loan and later submitted through FEMA’s portal for reimbursement.
During commissioner comments, Commissioner Charlene Thomas asked about the status of the landfill director position. Commissioner Steve Burrough said the county had hired Robert Chip Chambers as Landfill Director. The board adjourned at 8:15 PM after a motion from Brad Johnson and a second from Todd Smith.
Next steps for the county include submitting approved invoices through the FEMA reimbursement portal and proceeding with contracted repairs and studies; several approvals referenced further county attorney review or state contract details.