Carter County Commission approves $1.8 million in budget amendments, awards Poga Road bridge contracts

The Carter County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 20 approved a package of budget amendments and disaster-recovery spending and awarded the Poga Road Bridge #1 and #2 replacement contract to Summers Taylor.

The commission approved County Fund Budget Amendment 101‑7 (Items 1–7) totaling $1,826,832.65, with $18,440.80 drawn from reserve accounts and $1,795,395.64 from the Unassigned Fund Balance. Julie Guinn moved the measure and Steve Burrough seconded; an electronic roll call showed the motion carried with the commissioners recorded in favor. The amendment covers multiple departmental adjustments and was presented as part of the Finance Department packet.

In related action, commissioners approved Solid Waste Fund Budget Amendment 116‑5 for $745,000 (funded from Solid Waste’s fund balance) and ARP Fund Budget Amendment 127‑3 for $236,426.39, with $35,179.50 from ARP reserves. The commission also approved Debt Service Fund Amendment 151‑1 for $675,150 and County Capital Projects Fund Amendment 171‑1 for $38,000, all by recorded electronic votes as listed in the meeting minutes.

The board approved an Other Capital Projects‑Helene Fund Amendment 180‑5 totaling $2,022,966.89, the bulk of which is funded by Helene bond proceeds intended for road and bridge repairs tied to recovery from Hurricane Helene. County documents in the meeting packet note Helene bond proceeds and a range of project allocations (roads, bridge repairs, and multiple-site restorations).

As part of the budget committee items, the commission accepted the Highway Department recommendation to award Summers Taylor the Poga Road Bridge #1 and #2 replacement project. That award was recorded as carried by the commission vote.

The meeting recorded approval of payments to vendors for emergency and recovery work, including two invoices from Schaus Professional Services (Invoice #10626 for $50,479.50 and Invoice #10726 for $2,880.00). The larger invoice drew several recorded 'no' votes but passed with a majority.

Finance Director Carolyn Watson noted the additional HEAL funds received in December and that several projects remain pending in the FEMA/TEMA portal; EMA Director Cathy Umrichin reported 42 projects in the portal and ongoing construction on Long Hollow Bridge.

The commission closed the budget items with recorded votes for each amendment. Next steps include project-specific procurement and execution under the awarded contracts and the continued processing of reimbursement requests with TEMA/FEMA.