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Bremer County approves amended lease to allow mowing and baling on up to 18.27 acres
Summary
Bremer County supervisors approved a three-season mowing-and-baling lease for county property, amending the contract to specify coverage for up to 18.27 acres and clarifying payment and performance terms.
Bremer County’s Board of Supervisors voted to approve an amended three-season lease allowing contractors to mow and bale county-owned grassland, with the board adding language to cap the leased area “up to 18.27 acres.”
Tim Maker, the county’s customer convenience center representative, briefed the board on the final draft of the mowing-and-baling agreement and the accompanying bidding procedure. He described site limitations — including areas that are not yet flattened and bridge closures that affect equipment access — and said the lease is intended to allow the county to recover value this season rather than simply mowing and discarding the crop.
The board pressed staff on a number of contractual details, including insurance requirements, how compensation is calculated and whether the acreage description could create ambiguous obligations if some areas remain unworkable. One supervisor suggested the contract should clearly state that contractors “pay for what they take,” and staff confirmed the language requires payment only for material actually removed.
After discussion, a supervisor moved to change the contract language to allow mowing and baling "up to 18.27 acres." The motion was seconded and approved; the board then voted to adopt the amended contract. The board’s action leaves discretion to staff to proceed with bidding and to clarify performance deadlines and insurance language as needed.
The lease term is for three seasons (described as three harvest seasons rather than calendar years), intended to give a successful contractor time to recover establishment costs if they choose to improve areas for longer-term production. Maker cautioned that some low terraces and rough spots may not be suitable for every contractor and that the final map and bid form will reflect those limits.
The board’s approval was procedural and did not name a specific contractor. Supervisors said they expect staff to return with any required contract amendments or clarifications if bidders identify additional constraints.
