CEDAR RAPIDS - When it comes to cleaning up Cedar Rapids, one person is collecting a fee of $475 an hour.
That fact has left some of the flood victims concerned and disappointed at how the city is spending its money.
"Spending money like that, foolishly doesn't make us look very good right now," said Julie Deutmeyer.
Deutmeyer and her husband lost two homes in the flood.
"I wish I could make 475 dollars an hour," said Deutmeyer.
The city of Cedar Rapids is paying John Levy from the firm, Globe Midwest Risk Management, $475 dollars an hour.
Levy is specializing in reviewing recovery contracts and making sure the city gets as much federal money as possible.
"We're looking at recovering $500 million in claims, a difference of just one percent, if we can recover just one percent more, that's an extra $5 million for the city," said Jim Prosser, Cedar Rapids City Manager.
Prosser said the fee they're paying to get that help is very much on the high side, but said that's because Levy's firm is very unique and came with some good recommendations from across the country.
"If there were a lot more companies that did this work, and did it to the level Globe, we probably would not have to pay that high of a rate," said Prosser.
Prosser said Levy's already saved the city nearly $4 million.
"Contracts were presented to us and we were told they were standard operating procedure, and John came in and said no, that's not, and was able to negotiate a reduction in those margins," said Prosser.
But still, Deutmeyer says Levy's paycheck isn't easy to accept.
Email Justin Foss at Justin.Foss@kcrg.com
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