Carter County Commission continues paying for Helene recovery despite government shutdown

ELIZABETHTON — The Carter County Commission approved almost half a million dollars in bank stabilization projects in its regularly scheduled meeting as it awaits federal money due to the government shutdown.The commission also approved more than $150,000 for bridge engineering, which will also be partly paid for through federal funds.Carter County Finance Director Carolyn Watson said the United States Department of Agriculture would pay 100 percent of the cost of bank stabilization projects.These bank stabilizations must be completed before the washed-out mountain roads can be rebuilt on a stable foundation.Watson said that while the federal government will pay all of the bills on the bank stabilization projects, the county will pay the contractors while the federal government is shut down, then get reimbursed when the federal government reopens.On Monday night, the county commission authorized the payment of $311,465.27 to Beam Construction on the Shell Creek projects. The county commission also authorized the payment of $163,559.86 to Baker's Construction for bank stabilization on Heaton Branch.Also on Monday night, the county commission authorized several payments on three bridges which were closed by Hurricane Helene.Two of those bridges were destroyed county bridges in the Poga community. These were fast-tracked on a state program. Meanwhile, the county is also making big payments on those bridges and the Long Hollow Bridge.Those payments included a payment of $62,951 to RK&K for engineering services on one of the Poga Bridges; another payment to RK&K for $44,000 for engineering services on the other Poga Bridge; and $60,086.94 on RK&K engineering services on the Long Hollow Bridge.There are 63 county roads with a total of 55 miles of damage that will be paid for by the county.To fund these projects, the county has already had a $40 million bond issue. None of that money has been used as of the present time, but the county commission authorized the start of the expenditures during Monday's meeting.The authorization was made by allowing Highway Superintendent Shannon Burchett to have immediate access to $500,000 of these funds to pay for upcoming projects, with no further need for permission from the county commission.The county commission also authorized payment to Hampton Construction in the amount of $202,260.38 to Hampton Construction for site restoration at the Roan Mountain debris site.In an unusual vote on Monday night, the county also gave away some of its land.The commission approved giving up part of land it had in an undeveloped subdivision in Roan Mountain, called the Luther Tipton Property Subdivision. The land was in the middle of the village, adjacent to the Roan Mountain Pharmacy.Attorney Heather Behrmann appeared before the commission to explain that Jordan T. Baker, the chief executive officer and pharmacist manager, will use the additional right of way property ceded by the county through a quitclaim will allow Baker to build a more secure building which does not have the large glass windows.She said some of the land will also be used for a larger septic system for future commercial buildings.The county's interest in the right of way will be provided to the seven property owners in the subdivision.Carter County Mayor Patty Woodby also told the commission that Trevor Waycaster has just been appointed as the first chaplain of the Carter County Emergency Management Agency.