Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert says the extreme pothole problem this winter has led the city to make an exception to their long standing policy of paying pothole damage claims.
Stothert has authorized the city to pay claims for vehicle damage that were made from January 1 through March 18. She says previously denied claims and claims that are still pending will be paid if based on certain criteria.
- Potholes that caused the damage must have been reported to the city
- The location must be within city limits on streets maintained by Omaha.
- The original claim must have provided documentation of expenses and if insurance has paid the claim then documentation of that must be provided and the city will pay the deductible.
Between January 1 and March 18 the city received 59 claims totaling $28,831.90. After Monday, claims will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Stothert says March 18th was selected as the cutoff date because they now have 34 crews, including eleven contractors, using hot asphalt to fill potholes. It's a much longer lasting solution that the cold asphalt patches.
Here is how to file a claim with the city. https://cityclerk.cityofomaha.org/claims