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Carter County OKs $3 million HEAL loan and millions more in Helene recovery spending
Summary
The Carter County Commission approved a $3,000,000 Tennessee Emergency Management Agency HEAL loan and a series of payments and purchase orders tied to Tropical Storm Helene response, including a $2.46 million debris removal invoice to T.F.R. Enterprises and payments to the county landfill.
The Carter County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 18 approved a $3,000,000 Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Helene Emergency Assistance Loan (HEAL) to support ongoing recovery from Tropical Storm Helene and passed a slate of related payments and purchase orders.
The motion to approve the HEAL loan was made by Commissioner Julie Guinn and carried with 19 yes votes and three no votes. The commission then approved a payment request from the HEAL loan to T.F.R. Enterprises for $2,461,581.15 to cover December debris removal, and a $1,358,098.55 payment to Carter County Solid Waste and Recycling for debris estimated taken in at no charge. The meeting record shows multiple related purchase orders and change orders for temporary Poga Road bridges, road repairs and contractor work.
Shaus LLC representative Shona Shows, who briefed the commission on the disaster effort, said, "there were fifty-one (51) projects, debris removal should be wrapping up," noting insurance work and NRCS activity on waterways and an upcoming public open house for residents to ask questions. That briefing formed part of the packet of materials commissioners cited when approving the HEAL loan and spending items.
Commissioners approved purchase orders and check requests that included: installation and rental fees for two temporary Poga Road bridges, a $240,188 purchase order to Hinkle Environmental Services LLC for Bluegrass Road and Bear Branch Road repairs, and multiple material and equipment purchase orders for stone, asphalt, pipe and fencing. Several approvals were explicitly funded from the HEAL loan proceeds or related reserve accounts.
The commission recorded separate motions to authorize landfill expansion preparations ($400,000) from HEAL proceeds and to confirm intent to initiate contracts with the Tennessee Military Department/TEMA on FEMA Project Worksheets related to DR‑4832 (Tropical Storm Helene). Commissioners who voted against certain Helene items cited reservations but did not block the measures.
The commission directed staff to proceed with the approved contracts and payments; many of the items approved are contingent on vendor invoicing and existing purchase‑order workflows.
What’s next: several Helene‑related purchases and contracts will be finalized through finance and procurement, and the county plans an open house on recovery efforts for the public.
