Council awards 2025 mowing contract to Knotts Landcare; vote 6–1

The Bedford Town Council awarded the 2025 mowing and landscape maintenance contract to Knotts Landcare of Amherst, New Hampshire, for $142,500 and authorized the town manager to execute and, if in the town’s interest, extend the contract. The motion passed 6–1.

Public Works Director Jeff Foote reviewed the bid opening. The department received six bids; the low bid was $142,500 from Knotts Landcare, and the high bid exceeded $249,000. Foote said Knotts has operated for 21 years and the company reported 45 employees and the capacity to perform the work.

Several councilors asked about the wide spread between the low bidder and the bulk of the other proposals; Councilor Bill Griazo noted past incidents in which an unusually low bidder failed to perform and was terminated mid-season. Foote said he had called Knotts to confirm expectations, that the company had bid previously but not as the low bidder, and that he was “hopeful” they would perform.

Councilor Bill Carter moved the award motion; Councilor Becky Sowell seconded. Chair Lori Radke called for the voice vote. One councilor said “Me” in opposition; Radke announced the motion passed, 6–1.

Foote said funding will be drawn from several public works line items — field maintenance, building maintenance, local roads and cemeteries — and that the bid structure allows the town to allocate costs to appropriate accounts. He also noted the town had budgeted roughly $190,000 for the contract in a prior solicitation and that market pressures have shifted bid pricing across vendors.