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Carter County approves one-year renewal for Schaus LLC contract despite dissent

Carter County Board of Commissioners · March 1, 2026

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Summary

The commission voted 13–5 with two abstentions to renew the county's professional-services contract with Schaus, LLC, which the packet describes as FEMA/TEMA project and administrative support tied to recovery from Tropical Storm Helene; several commissioners recorded no votes or abstentions.

The Carter County Commission voted Sept. 15 to renew a professional-services contract with Schaus, LLC that covers FEMA project worksheet preparation, project management and related administrative assistance for the county's declared disaster projects.

The motion, introduced in Financial Management committee business, carried 13 yes, 5 no and 2 abstain. Commissioners who registered no votes on the renewal as reported in the minutes included Angie Odom, Danny Deal, Gary Kemp, Lisa Childress and Jason Clawson; the minutes record abstentions by Steve Burrough and Donnie Cable. Despite the dissent and abstentions, the majority approved automatic renewal for an additional one-year term effective Oct. 1, 2025 on the same terms and rates as the current contract.

The contract included in the meeting packet (Contract #92924) describes Schaus, LLC’s scope as assistance with FEMA project worksheets across FEMA categories and representation of Carter County before the county emergency management (EMA), Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and FEMA for matters related to EM-3620-TN. The contract text in the packet references work related to Tropical Storm Helene and direct administrative cost (DAC) assistance; it specifies hourly rates and expense reimbursement practices, and includes standard termination and record-retention provisions.

Commissioners who opposed or abstained did not have extended debate recorded in the minutes; the packet shows the contract terms and a stated renewal request. The contract renewal is effective Oct. 1, 2025 unless the county issues written notice per the contract’s termination provisions.

Next steps: EMA and the county finance office will finalize renewal documentation and notify the contractor and relevant state agencies in accordance with contract terms.