Laserfiche WebLink
<br />. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />. s <br /> <br />CITY OF ARDEN HILLS <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />DATE: June 5, 2000 <br /> <br />TO: Joe Lynch, City Administrator <br /> <br />FROM: Thomas J. Moore, Parks & Recreation Director (, -S. \f\ . <br />Dwayne Stafford, Public Works Director y>. <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Boulevard Mowing <br /> <br />Backl!TOUnd <br />The City of Arden Hills, Parks and Public Works Departments, receive an increasing <br />number of complaints each year regarding high grass and weeds along the shoulders of <br />City and County roads in Arden Hills. The County will only assure their road shoulders <br />are mowed once a year. The City does minimal mowing as time permits, but does not <br />have the manpower or equipment to do a proper job. The City has riding mowers which <br />work well if brush and obstacles are removed and shoulders are mowed weekly, The <br />City also has a large flail mower which mounts on the rear of their largest tractor, but this <br />setup works poorly on shoulders when tree limbs, signs and brush are present. Also, the <br />flail mower chews and rips up more than it cuts, leaving an undesirable look. <br /> <br />Considerations <br />Attached are pictures and a highlighted map of several areas in the City where frequent <br />mowing may be considered. If all highlighted areas were mowed weekly, it may take one <br />man a full forty-hour week. During the mowing season, if shoulder mowing is <br />undertaken, the Public Works and Parks & Recreation Director recommend the purchase <br />of a side boom mounted rotary mower, This mower could also be used for light brush <br />trimming on trails and road shoulders, as the mower works vertically as well as <br />horizontally. <br /> <br />Options <br />If the City does decide to do additional mowing the following options may be considered: <br /> <br />. Hire another seasonal worker dedicated to shoulder mowing and provide the <br />proper equipment. (Costs are estimated to be $18,000 per year for labor and <br />equipment maintenance, plus $20,000 for a side boom rotary mower.) <br />. Choose areas to be mowed and contract out to a mowing service. <br /> <br />Recommendation <br />The Public Works and the Parks & Recreation Directors, recommend the City Council <br />inspect the areas on the highlighted map and decide if additional mowing should be <br />undertaken, and if so, which option would Council prefer. <br />