The Federal Emergency Management Agency has agreed to reimburse Louisville Metro Government more than $3.2 million in previously rejected costs from the city's debris clearing effort following the January, 2009 ice storm.FEMA refused the city's initial claims, noting that Louisville's debris removal costs were higher than other communities throughout the state that also suffered damage.Louisville officials argued in an appeal that the higher costs were justified because of the higher average wage rates in urban areas and a local ban on burning debris meant higher disposal costs.The city had claimed it was owed $5.4 million in ice storm cleanup reimbursement.Metro Government officials say they will continue to to work with FEMA to clear up that discrepancy and close the books on claims related to the cleanup from the 2008 windstorm and last year's flood.
Rick Howlett is host of WFPL's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." Email Rick at rhowlett@lpm.org.
