Cookeville council approves multi-vendor lawn-care contracts totaling about $115,610 for city properties

The Cookeville City Council on March 6 approved multi-vendor contracts for lawn-care services at city parks, buildings and rights-of-way and added authorization for the city manager to award to the next-lowest bidder if a contract is terminated.

City staff said the bid package covered eight parks, 12 public buildings and grounds and eight miscellaneous properties and rights-of-way. Seven providers submitted bids; staff recommended awards to four vendors. According to the staff presentation, the Leisure Services cost center will pay $72,320 for an eight-month mowing season (March through October), Public Works will pay $37,050 and the animal shelter will pay $6,240. Staff also said the agreements include a termination-for-unsatisfactory-performance clause and recommended using the second-lowest bidder for replacement work if a contract is terminated.

A motion was made and amended to add the manager-authority clause, and the council approved the contracts and the amendment by voice vote. During discussion a council member said they would probably recuse because they are related to one of the bidders; the meeting record shows the motion carried (announced as "Yes. Motion carries.").

Staff identified the award distribution on the bid tab as follows: Double Precision (8 locations), Next Step for Life (9 locations), Bays Maintenance (4 locations) and Pinecrest Lawn Care (7 locations plus a one-time mulching at Highland Park Boulevard), per the staff presentation. Contracts include termination provisions to address performance issues.

Council did not record additional conditions on the awards at the meeting.