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Harvey County weighs bringing park mowing in-house and issues fish-stocking bid plan
Summary
Parks Director Kass Miller presented a mowing cost comparison showing potential multi-year savings from bringing mowing in-house and a ready-to-distribute fish-stocking request for bids; commissioners directed staff to distribute the mowing request for bids and continue reviewing in-house options.
Harvey County Parks Director Kass Miller told the Board of County Commissioners the county’s long-running contracted mowing service has become more expensive and that an in-house mowing program—buying mowers and employing temporary staff—could yield savings over the multi-year life of equipment.
Kass Miller presented a detailed comparison of contracted versus in-house costs, estimated mower lifespans and staffing scenarios and concluded the county could see savings after equipment purchase if it managed mowing directly. He also provided a ready-to-distribute request-for-bids for park fish stocking in 2026 and a stocking schedule (approximate weights and dates) for East Park, West Park and Camp Hawk; he noted county staff may forgo stocking if lake water is too low.
Commissioner Becky Reimer moved and Don Schroeder seconded a motion directing staff to distribute the request for bids for mowing as presented and to continue reviewing the in-house option; the motion passed unanimously. The commission did not immediately commit to in-house staffing or equipment purchases and asked staff to return with further analysis before the next budgeting cycle.
Why this matters: The decision to move services in-house can affect long-term operating costs, capital purchases, seasonal staffing and contractor markets. The parks RFP and fish-stocking bids will be publicly advertised per county procurement rules.
