Engineering firm accused of overbilling, questionable spending, hurting New Orleans recovery
By APThursday, March 11, 2010
Firm accused of overbilling, hurting NO’s recovery
NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans’ watchdog has found serious problems with the work of an engineering company hired to oversee the rebuilding of city buildings and infrastructure damaged in Hurricane Katrina, including overbilling, billing the city for theater tickets and Christmas gifts and questionable contract arrangements.
The report by New Orleans Inspector General E.R. Quatrevaux took aim at both city officials and Broomfield, Colo.-based MWH Americas Inc. The report, first made public Thursday by The Times-Picayune, said the recovery from the catastrophic 2005 hurricane had been hurt by the flawed contract.
MWH was hired in December 2007 to manage the massive rebuilding of city infrastructure after Katrina. As of February, MWH had been paid $29 million for its work, the report said.
City officials did not return messages seeking comment. MWH said it had helped the city rebuild.
