Louisiana town settling with FEMA over Rita, Gustav payments

September 23, 2022 GMT

BALL, La. (AP) — A Louisiana town is preparing to settle a 20-year dispute with the Federal Emergency Management Agency by making a repayment of $163,102.

The Town Talk of Alexandria reports that the Town of Ball Council voted unanimously Tuesday to make the payment to settle a dispute involving $268,668 that was paid out in fraudulent claims related to Hurricane Rita in 2005 and Hurricane Gustav in 2008 when the Town of Ball applied for FEMA funds.

Mayor Gail Wilking has been working for several years to settle the matter, which, the Town Talk reported, arose under a previous administration.

The town charged FEMA for overtime work that was never performed and for the use of vehicles that were never used, among other things.

The Town Talk reported that former Mayor Roy Hebron and former town clerk Brenda Kimball were sentenced to jail time in connection with the investigation.

Several other Ball employees pleaded guilty to various charges related to the scheme.