Knott County approves temporary hire to support NRCS/FEMA property buyout program

Knott County Fiscal Court on May 31 approved a resolution to hire temporary contract help to support a property buyout program administered through NRCS and FEMA.

Court members discussed the role as a bridge between landowners, attorneys handling closings and the county's PVA (property valuation administrator) office. The work described included pulling deeds, assisting with appraisals and helping complete closing paperwork so property owners could receive buyout checks. The county intends to pay the temporary worker through the fiscal-court claims list as work is completed.

The clerk told the court the NRCS portion of the program is "100% reimbursed," with a roughly 6% administration cost, and that the temporary position is a contract role without county benefits. During discussion the pay rate was given as "20 with no benefits" (the transcript did not specify whether that was dollars per hour or another unit). Court members also discussed an estimated annualized staffing cost, with a remark that two salaries might be covered but the likely annualized cost would be "about upper thirties" (the figure was not stated precisely).

The clerk reported the program is active: three buyouts had closed and checks were issued, two additional closings were scheduled for Monday, and roughly 20 appraisals were in progress. The court moved that the temporary assistant be paid through the claims list and the motion passed.

Motion and vote: Calvin Wallace moved to approve using the claims list to pay the temporary NRCS assistant; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

The resolution authorizes the temporary contract arrangement but does not enact a new county salary schedule or permanent staffing change. Court members noted the duration will depend on the length of the NRCS/FEMA program and could range from months to up to a couple of years as cases are completed.