Board approves two-year lawn-care contract for fire department properties

The Board of Public Health and Safety on May 7 approved a two-year contract authorizing the Indianapolis Fire Department to contract with Property Man Masters LLC for lawn care and grounds maintenance at department properties.

The board voted to approve the department’s request after Captain Rick Foss, facilities manager for the Indianapolis Fire Department, told the board, “Our request today is the Indianapolis Fire Department staff recommends the board of Office of Public Health and Safety to approve and authorize the chief of the Indianapolis Fire Department to execute a 2 year contract with property man Masters LLC for lawn care and maintenance.”

The contract is intended to cover maintenance at the department’s headquarters, the training academy and the Health and Wellness Center and can be used at other department properties “if needed,” Foss said, citing recent work performed at the new Station 20 site around its groundbreaking. He told the board the typical mowing season runs from early April through September or October and that the agreement includes contingency maintenance to accommodate weather or seasonal variation. Foss said invoices from the vendor are routed to IT finance for payment.

Board members asked for clarifications about what services the contract covers and whether the vendor is certified as an MWVBE. Foss said the contract covers mowing, trimming, planting/beautification and other grounds appearance work and confirmed the vendor is not an MWVBE. A board member asked about typical per-cut pricing; Foss said prior arrangements were hourly and that prices vary by vendor.

A motion to adopt the item was moved and seconded, board members voiced “aye,” and no opposed votes were recorded. The motion carried.

The board did not attach additional conditions or amendments to the contract on the record during the meeting. Future billing will follow the city’s standard invoice process through IT finance.