Overgrown grass in the city of Apopka’s rights-of-way became a hot topic Wednesday, August 21, at the City Council meeting as city commissioners and others expressed frustration at the high grass on city-owned property, whether next to roads or on the city’s various athletic fields.
Public Services Director Kevin Becotte and Operations Manager Beau Kirkland both admitted that there have been serious deficiencies with the mowing of rights-of-way along the city’s roads, but that they are now on a 3-4 week rotation for mowing most grass along the city’s road.
They also said that a private contractor hired to help city staff with the mowing has given a 45-day notice that the company will no longer provide the service after mid-September.
Edward Bass, city administrator, told the City Council that a new contractor will be sought and that funds to pay for the contractor are a part of the proposed city budget that will kick in on October 1 and that next summer, the contractor will be able to help city staff keep up better with the mowing.
Bass said city staff expects to be able to keep with a 3-4 week rotation
for mowing.
“They have a game plan on getting our crews to keep up this year so we can get through this season. Our staff is going to kick in and get to that schedule,” Bass said.
This is the first time the city has hired an outside contractor.
“This is a big learning process for all of us. We’ve never done this before (hire a private contractor). Our staff did it and our inmate crews did it. This is our first year working with a contractor (for mowing). We’ve learned a lot. Staff’s learned a lot,” Bass said.
Becotte, the Public Services director, said the copious rains this summer has also hindered the amount of time that crews have been able to mow.
“There’s a lot of grass that is high, not only what the city is responsible for, but other governmental agencies are responsible for, and even private and commercial properties are responsible for. The rain that we have had creates a problem with mowing. You can’t be out there mowing when it’s raining and it gets really wet. That has been part of the problem, too,” he said.
Kirkland took over the mowing program three years ago. There are 480 acres the city must mow, he said.
This story appears in its entirety starting on page 1A in the Friday, August 23, issue of The Apopka Chief. Subscribe now!
