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By Buzz Trexler
Star Correspondent

Elizabethton City Council members voted unanimously Thursday night to provide notice to Schaus LLC of Ellisville, Miss., that it is terminating its storm recovery-related contract because city staff members have learned enough to handle FEMA on their own.

The city contracted with the company to consult and assist city staff with project management and direct administrative costs regarding FEMA reimbursement for expenditures related to Hurricane Helene.

According to a summary provided to council members, city staff has worked with Schaus to learn how to identify expenditures eligible for FEMA reimbursement. Furthermore, staff members have developed contacts within FEMA to learn how to document, report and substantiate expenditures.

Since contracting with Schaus on Oct. 10, the City of Elizabethton and Elizabethton Electric have paid Schaus $4,112.75, with pending invoices of $7,200.

Carter County also contracted with Schaus to assist with the FEMA process.

In other action, council members:

— Approved on second reading amending the city ordinance on the order of business for regular meetings to include a section “Consent Agenda,” to be inserted before “Old Business.” The consent agenda section will consolidate into one grouping routine items where no discussion is anticipated. The consent agenda section will be included in the April meeting agenda.

— Approved on second reading amending the 2024-2025 budget for the Water Capital Projects Fund due to a change order in the Automated Metering Infrastructure Project. According to a summary provided to council members, the majority of the $462,355 increase in costs involves increased quantities of new meter boxes and the associated labor for digging up and replacing them.