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Commission approves RK&K inspection addenda for Poga bridges, advances White Rocks access road bid process; records Helene emergency spending and reimbursements
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Summary
Carter County approved RK&K addenda to provide construction engineering inspection services for Poga Road Bridge #1 ($362,447.87) and Poga Road Bridge #2 ($567,334.30), authorized moving forward on White Rocks Tower access road bidding ($650,000 estimated, ARP reserves), and recorded ongoing Helene emergency expenditures and reimbursements tied to HEAL loan, bond proceeds and FEMA/USDA/TEMA reimbursements.
The Carter County Board of Commissioners on March 16 approved multiple contract addenda and capital steps related to post-Helene infrastructure repairs and recorded updates on emergency spending and reimbursements.
During the Budget Committee section, the commission approved addenda to RK&K’s contract for construction engineering inspection (CEI) services for two bridge reconstruction projects on Poga Road over the Elk River: Poga Bridge #1 (cost not to exceed $362,447.87) and Poga Bridge #2 (cost not to exceed $567,334.30). Both motions were moved by Commissioner Julie Guinn and seconded by Commissioner Aaron Frazier; each carried on recorded 21-0 electronic votes. The RK&K addenda identify project scope, staffing and fee breakdowns and anchor services to FEMA/DR-4832-TN project documentation included in the meeting packet.
The commission also authorized proceeding with the bid process for White Rocks Tower Site access road improvements at an estimated cost of $650,000, to be funded from remaining American Rescue Plan (ARP) reserves. That motion passed 21-0.
The meeting record includes vendor invoices and payments tied to Helene emergency response work. The body approved two Schaus Professional Services invoices (invoice #22762 for $18,232.00 and invoice #22662 for $3,120.00) after recorded roll-call votes; in both cases the tally was 16 yes, 4 no (Nick Holder, Angie Odom, Danny Deal, Gary Kemp) and 1 abstain (Carole Whaley), and the motions carried.
Financial reports presented in the packet show large Helene-related obligations and reimbursements: total current debris/monitoring expenses and related emergency costs are documented in the packet at multiple line items, with total debris and monitoring expenses shown at $7,326,687.54 and loan-proceeds and bond-issue accounting listed separately. The packet lists total expenses from loan proceeds of $8,032,143.57, loan proceeds of $40,000,000.00 and an amount remaining in loan proceeds of $31,967,856.43. Reimbursements received to date from TEMA/FEMA and USDA are recorded in the packet (total reimbursements listed at $3,727,314.85) with additional payments in process according to the report.
Commissioners approved multiple budget amendments and contract actions to fund the bridge CEI work from the Helene bond and to move forward on the White Rocks bid process using ARP reserves. The meeting documents and vendor invoices are attached to the county packet and were used as the basis for the approvals.
The motions do not change the substance of the underlying construction contracts; they authorize addenda and CEI services and budget appropriations to support the reconstruction and oversight work.
Next steps documented in the packet include executing the RK&K addenda, proceeding with the White Rocks bid process, and continuing to track HEAL loan, bond and reimbursement draws in the county finance reports.