NATCHEZ &8212; The city directed its crews to clean up hurricane debris rather than waiting for federally-approved contractors to do the work.

And now it&8217;s paying the price &8212; literally, according to Eric Smith, director of administration for public works.

Smith told the Board of Aldermen in its Tuesday meeting that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will only reimburse the city $39,066 for labor, materials and the like used to clean up hurricane debris.

That&8217;s little more than a third of the $117,000 the city requested.

The city would have been reimbursed much more &8212; up to $60,000 for labor alone &8212; had the city waited to use FEMA-approved contractors instead of doing the work itself.

&8220;So we were penalized for doing the work ourselves, for trying to be efficient,&8221; Smith said.

Not only that, but FEMA has notified Smith it could take six months to three years for the city to get its money back.

Alderman and Mayor Pro Tem David Massey, who chairs the board&8217;s Public Works Committee, said the city will ask for the help of U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering, R-3rd District, to get the city&8217;s money reimbursed sooner.

One bright spot: Also on Tuesday, aldermen authorized West to submit paperwork to the State Department of Transportation for more than $11,000 in funds for cleaning up hurricane debris along Federal Aid Urban routes.

Those are major thoroughfares for which the city gets federal money to upgrade.