McCurtain County to participate in lawsuit over slow cleanup funds

<br>(Idabel-AP) -- McCurtain County commissioners are suing the state to pay for cleanup costs from the ice storm of 2000. <br><br>Commissioners in Idabel voted today to join in a lawsuit seeking to force

Monday, December 30th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Idabel-AP) -- McCurtain County commissioners are suing the state to pay for cleanup costs from the ice storm of 2000.

Commissioners in Idabel voted today to join in a lawsuit seeking to force the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to pay cleanup costs.

The county and the main contractor for the cleanup will seek to recover expenses of about seven (M) million dollars.

District Attorney Virginia Sanders says much of the cleanup costs arose from debris collection.

She says the county has received about five-point-five (M) million dollars so far, but the state has been delinquent in paying the full amount owed.

Sanders says the slow payment is especially disappointing after seeing how fast funds came through to repair the Interstate 40 bridge over the Arkansas River that collapsed in a May barge accident.