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Carter County approves disaster‑recovery payments, sets aside $500,000 from $40M loan for highway work
Summary
At a Sept. 30 special session, the Carter County Board of Commissioners approved a series of disaster‑recovery payments — including three Bakers Construction applications for Heaton Branch repairs and multiple vendor invoices — and set aside $500,000 of a $40 million loan for the Highway Department; a Nov. 6 special meeting was also scheduled.
The Carter County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 30 approved a slate of disaster‑recovery payments and set aside $500,000 from a $40,000,000 loan for the Highway Department.
Budget Committee Chair Robert Acuff moved a package of payments and purchase orders intended to support post‑storm repairs and recovery work; Aaron Frazier and other commissioners seconded specific motions. The commission approved multiple vendor payments, including three applications by Bakers Construction for Heaton Branch repairs (Application #1, $504,174.22; Application #2, $296,271.98; Application #3, $219,296.75), BEAM Construction invoice #1815 for $341,760.60 for NRCS bank stabilization work, and a Schaus Professional Services invoice for $60,905.58.
The minutes record that the Bakers Construction Heaton Branch work is an NRCS project fully funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture; one portion (Bakers Application #3) was recorded as FEMA‑reimbursable and will be paid from bond proceeds. The commission also approved multiple road and drainage purchases and smaller vendor invoices, including payments to Landworx Construction Contractors for two temporary bridge rentals (each invoice $5,600), Summers‑Taylor invoices for Shell Creek Road repairs (including $97,004.62 and $189,484.43), and a purchase order of $40,000 to Summers‑Taylor for asphalt to repair roads damaged by Hurricane Helene.
In a separate motion, the commission set aside $500,000 from a previously authorized $40,000,000 loan for the Highway Department; the minutes state that when the $500,000 allocation is exhausted the highway superintendent (Burchett) must request additional funding. Commissioners approved a special called Budget/Full Commission meeting for Nov. 6, 2025; that motion passed 17–1 with Commissioner Jason Clawson recorded as the lone no vote.
Most payment motions passed by electronic vote with the minutes recording 18 yes votes for each listed payment. The meeting agenda had originally included a disaster update from EMA Director Umrichin, but the minutes note the director was unable to attend; a disaster update from Schaus, LLC (Sonja Shows) remained on the agenda. No public comments were recorded.
The commission adjourned at 7:54 PM.
Votes at a glance • Bakers Construction — Application #1: $504,174.22 — approved (motion by Robert Acuff; second by Gary Kemp). • Bakers Construction — Application #2: $296,271.98 — approved (motion by Robert Acuff; second by Aaron Frazier). • Bakers Construction — Application #3 (FEMA‑reimbursable, bond proceeds): $219,296.75 — approved (motion by Robert Acuff; second by Avery Wynn). • BEAM Construction (Invoice #1815): $341,760.60 — approved. • Schaus Professional Services (Invoice #91225): $60,905.58 — approved. • Landworx (Invoice #20250442 & #20250443): $5,600 each — approved. • Summers‑Taylor (multiple invoices/POs for Shell Creek Road and asphalt): approved. • Loan allocation for Highway Department: $500,000 set aside from $40,000,000 loan — approved. • Special meeting (Nov. 6, 2025): approved 17–1 (Jason Clawson no).
What this means next The payments authorize contractors and vendors to proceed with recovery work. The minutes specify federal funding sources for several items (USDA/NRCS funding and FEMA reimbursement) and note that certain repairs will be paid from bond proceeds or highway and flood‑related purchase orders. The county’s highway superintendent must seek additional funds when the $500,000 allocation is exhausted. The county scheduled a follow‑up budget/full commission meeting for Nov. 6, 2025.
