By Associated Press
Bay Minette, AL – 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.