County seeks bids for lawn care, weed control
Lawn care and weed control were on the board of supervisors’ minds as they prepare to seek bids for various services in time for the start of spring.
During the March 22 Jones County Supervisor meeting, the board approved receiving bids for lawn care/fertilizer services and weed control on Tuesday, April 12. Bids will cover services at both the courthouse and the Broadway Place Annex.
County Auditor Whitney Hein commented that the right equipment is needed to mow the west side hills at the courthouse.
She also suggested the board consider mowing and trimming of the entire courthouse premises.
“You could see what it would cost to do the whole premises,” she offered, “and go from there.”
“Trimming doesn’t need to be done every time,” offered Supervisor Jon Zirkelbach.
Supervisor John Schlarmann asked if courthouse maintenance staff hours would get cut if the board decides to hire the mowing and trimming work.
“There are other things we’d like to see get done that could fill that gap in place of mowing,” said Hein.
She warned the board that just because they’re seeking bids for mowing and mowing/trimming, two different options, doesn’t mean they have to accept the bids, meaning some of the work could always fall back on the maintenance staff.
Hein also suggested that when bids are approved, that the board consider awarding both county properties to one bidder/contractor rather than two.
“I vendor is easier to keep track of and contact,” she said.
When it comes to weed control, Zirkelbach also wanted bidders to provide an analysis of their products used associated with fertilizers.
In other county business:
• Susan Yario, Veterans Affairs, will be out of the office April 11-14 for continuing education.
• The board approved an MOU (memorandum of understanding) regarding reimbursement from the East Central MHDS Region for FY 2023.
“They (the region) will give us money up front each quarter to pay our expenses and we’ll report our actual expenditures,” explained Hein.
• The board approved the hiring of Stacy Detwiler as a part-time cook for Senior Dining, effective March 28. The pay is $17 an hour.
• The board previously sought applications from the public to fill a vacancy on the Historic Preservation Commission. No applications were submitted. The board appointed Dean Zimmerman to the Commission, per the Commission’s recommendation.