Denison council approves plan to bring mowing in‑house, hire four employees

Denison — The City Council voted to approve a plan to bring most park and cemetery mowing in‑house and hire four full‑time employees to form a city mowing crew, while retaining contracted service for right‑of‑way mowing in the near term.

Miss Amanda Parsons, presenting the proposal, said the city currently holds two mowing contracts: one covering about 220 acres (parks, cemeteries and other city properties) for "just under $340,000" and a second for about 87 acres of right‑of‑way for "just over $100,000." She said the FY2025 budget includes $345,000 for mowing and that the administration proposes to use roughly 78 percent (about $270,000) of that allocation to fund four in‑house positions and equipment (four mowers, three weed eaters, a leased vehicle and related operating costs), while reserving about 22 percent (approximately $77,000) to continue contracting right‑of‑way mowing during a phased transition.

Parsons said bringing mowing back in house is intended to improve service quality and provide greater control and flexibility over scheduling and standards, not primarily to cut costs immediately. Council members asked whether the four positions would be new (Parsons: yes), whether staff capacity exists to expand mowing responsibilities later (Parsons: the plan starts with parks/cemeteries and could expand in subsequent years), and whether the right‑of‑way contract would be re‑bid or renewed at a reduced rate (Parsons: staff will pursue a renewal option or rebid as appropriate).

A council member moved to approve the alternative plan; the motion (recorded in the meeting as moved by Councilman Massey and seconded by Councilman Thomas) carried by voice vote.

The council did not provide a roll‑call tally in the public record; staff will proceed with the in‑house hiring and equipment procurement steps described in the presentation.