Tennessee Risk Management Trust (TNMRT)’s involvement in county governments has been recent, but yesterday, Carter County’s Emergency Management Agency received a grant from the organization they have applied for and received every year since they first founded the program. Both groups met in the Mayor’s conference room at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12.

This is the second year Carter County has applied for the grant, with which they received $4,974, alongside 24 other members of the trust.

These 25 recipients are part of a group of 200 members total within the trust itself.

“The grant is geared for employee safety,” EMA Operations Officer Billy Harrell said.

He said Carter County already has plans as to where they will put the money, including installing eyewash stations and a chemical shower at the Landfill’s new garage. They will also invest in disposable hazmat suits, a variety of new safety cones and much more.

“Benny Lyons says they need stuff like this,” Harrell said.

Beyond purchasing new equipment, those present said the grant will ensure a quality of standard for employees across the board.

“This will be a breath of fresh air,” TNMRT Loss Control Specialist Jason Baggett said. “We have trained every employee in this county at least twice.”

County Mayor Russell Barnett said the grant was a sign of recognition for the hard work county employees put into their work.

“We started doing a 64-hour firefighter training course,” Barnett said. “[The Elizabethton Fire Department] has 24 graduates this year.”

TNMRT started in 1987 with the goal of assisting educational assets, such as Carter County Schools. The move to cover governmental agencies and employees is more recent, with this grant being but one of those initiatives.

“This will help with our ISO rating and help employees get credit for their training,” Barnett said.