City considers private contractors for mowing

Talk about it

The Hudson City Council is thinking about asking private contractors to take care of the mowing of city parks, ball fields, lawns, trails and street right of ways in 2009.

Mayor Dean Knudson reported to the council at its Jan. 19 meeting that the Finance Committee still had some work to do on putting together the duties to be offered to contractors.

He said committee members were recommending breaking the park mowing into three areas so small companies would have a better chance to compete for some of the work.

The city’s hope is that private contractors will do the grass cutting for less than it costs the city to do it using its employees and mowers.

The talk of grass cutting raised the issue of weed control.

Alderperson Randy Morrissette II said he would like to see weed control improved at some of the city’s smaller parks.

Knudson noted that using herbicides to control weeds on public property is a controversial issue.

“There are those who feel we should do it organically. Some want to do nothing,” he said.

Alderperson Scot O’Malley said the city does chemical broadleaf control one time in May of each year.

“Weeds are a social concept only,” O’Malley said. We don’t do a lot of weed killing.”

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