Carter County commissioners on Tuesday approved payroll and claims, authorized a new three-year auditing contract and signed consent items to pursue Federal Aviation Administration airport projects. Commissioners voted to accept payroll of $297,088.34 and claims totaling $283,745.49 plus an additional claim of $2,537.50.

The consent agenda also included a three‑year contract for auditing with a successor firm after the prior auditor went out of business. County staff described a NexSys/Nexus CPA Group engagement with a first‑year audit fee of $33,190, a second‑year fee of about $34,190 and a third‑year fee of $35,200, with additional charges if a federal audit is required.

Commissioners approved airport capital improvement program documents that list three projects: a land acquisition for a runway extension (federal share $190,000, local share $10,000, total $200,000); an environmental assessment (federal $95,000, local $5,000, total $100,000); and the runway extension itself (federal $2,250,000, local $250,000, total $2,500,000). The packages include drawings and cost estimates the county will sign and forward to FAA and other agencies.

The board also approved a one‑year contract with Lane and Associates for mandated drug and alcohol testing services for commercial-driver-license and senior‑transit operations; staff said terms are the same as the prior contract and the consortium fee is about $200 annually.

County staff and commissioners said the auditing and airport documents were ready for signatures and that the county would file required copies with state local‑government services. No public comment was offered before votes on the consent agenda.