Baldwin County Defends Ivan Cleanup Efforts

BAY MINETTE, Ala. (AP) - Baldwin officials in a recent meeting
with FEMA officials in Clanton defended the county's 2004-05
hurricane cleanup operations.
The county disputes a December audit report by the federal
government's Office of Inspector General. That audit claims Baldwin
received $10.5 million more in reimbursements than it should have
following Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and hurricanes Dennis and Katrina
in 2005.
County officials said their average $12 cost per cubic yard was
much less than comparable cleanup efforts along the Gulf Coast.
FEMA officials will talk to the auditors again and make a
recommendation within 30 days. Then if county officials disagree
with a proposed settlement they can appeal at the regional and
national levels.