Strafford County to trial one‑year lawn and plow service at Covered Bridge Manor

Strafford County commissioners agreed to a one‑year trial for county maintenance to provide lawn care and snow‑plowing at Covered Bridge Manor, a facility on county property managed by CAP, during their budget workshop. Staff said the county would cover two parking lots and a small adjacent lawn and would bill CAP a flat amount for plowing events.

Speaker 3, who drafted the proposed agreement, told commissioners that Alliance Services Group (the prior subcontractor network) stopped subcontracting lawn and plow services for some of its clients and CAP’s manager, Betsy Andrews Parker, accepted the county’s proposed price. Staff estimated a single mower visit would take 45 to 60 minutes and said trimming and brush work were not included. For snow response, staff said they would plow after around one inch of accumulation and proposed a $100 fee per plow event.

Commissioners questioned liability and the revenue impact. County counsel/staff answered that there was no additional county liability for the task and that receipts from the work would be recorded as miscellaneous revenue. The commissioners asked staff to track labor time and operating costs while the trial runs so the board can reassess at renewal.

Commissioner (transcript mover) made the motion to proceed and the board approved the one‑year coverage by voice vote; no roll‑call was recorded. Staff said they would not invoice CAP until the board’s review had concluded and that commissioners would have first refusal at next year’s renewal if the vendor procurement is revisited.

The county instructed maintenance to begin the trial and report back to the commissioners with time and cost tracking at or before the contract renewal window.