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Board backs two‑year median mowing contract despite member’s budget objections
Summary
The Parks board recommended a two‑year contract with The Happy Mower to maintain street median islands in 2025–2026. One member objected to city crews mowing state and county medians without reimbursement and urged a council discussion on funding.
The Waukesha City Parks, Recreation & Forestry Board on March 31 voted to recommend a two‑year median island mowing and trimming contract with The Happy Mower covering 2025–2026, a package that includes maintenance on some state‑ and county‑owned medians.
Staff described the arrangement as a continuation of a program expanded in prior years, saying the city had previously added state- and county‑owned medians into the contract at the council’s direction and that the contractor had submitted a competitive low bid. “It’s a very reasonable proposal for what all gets done,” a staff member said while describing the RFP and bid results.
A committee member raised fiscal concerns about the city performing work on state and county property without reimbursement: “I have an issue with us covering almost $36,000 of what’s county and state lands when neither are willing to help us out with our budget issues,” the committee member said. That member said they would vote against the recommendation locally in order to press the broader funding issue at the common council.
Other members countered that the arrangement had been approved previously and that not performing the work would leave medians unattended. The board ultimately moved to recommend the contract to the common council; the motion carried though at least one member recorded opposition during the voice vote.
Board members directed staff that broader budget or responsibility questions could be brought to the common council if members wished a policy discussion. The board’s recommendation now goes to the common council for final action.
