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Council approves three on-call mowing contracts to speed nuisance abatements
Summary
Midland approved three one-year on-call mowing and nuisance-abatement contracts (each capped at $30,000 per term) to reduce backlog for code enforcement property abatements; staff said the program aims to use contractors rather than add permanent staff and will pursue nonprofit assistance for elderly and disabled property owners.
James Rawls, process improvement manager for Development Services, told council the new contracts will allow the city to assign mowing and nuisance-abatement jobs to three rotating contractors to reduce response time and backlogs. "Our number 1 goal still remains to try to get property owners to be compliant," Rawls said, adding that the city typically obtains voluntary compliance and that contractors will be targeted when owners cannot be reached or refuse to comply.
Rawls told council the city receives more than 1,000 abatement cases annually and that third-party contractors were estimated to be more cost-effective than adding staff. The three on-call contractors approved were F 2 81 Brush Hog Service, Ivy Gays LLC and M3 Landscape Maintenance and Irrigation LLC; each contract is for a one-year term with an optional one-year renewal and a not-to-exceed limit of $30,000 per contractor per term.
Rawls described the program as complaint-driven and emphasized staff would continue to prioritize outreach and assistance. "We don't want to create additional burdens to the elderly and the disabled, so we will be working with non profits, to help do those abatements," Rawls said. Council members asked about abuse prevention and collection for abatement invoices; staff said property owners are invoiced and, if unpaid after 31 days, the city files a lien against the property.
Council approved the three contracts unanimously. The department said the contractor list was chosen in part because all three firms already hold contracts with other city departments and should be ready to mobilize for the spring mowing season.
