City of Mobile launches mowing plan for ditches

May 8th, 2015

MOBILE, Ala. - The City of Mobile launched a new initiative that will transform the way that the city maintains its right-of-way ditches by having many of them mowed and cleared during the peak growing season by a private contractor.

Mayor Sandy Stimpson introduced the plan and thanked members of the Mobile City Council for approving it during Tuesday's council meeting.

As approved, Best Price Lawn Services, a minority owned company, will provide the mowing services on a regular schedule beginning Monday, May 11.

The City of Mobile experienced top notch results after partnering with the private sector to handle major thoroughfare mowing during last year's growing season. This is the next step in the Stimpson Administration's efforts to improve the appearance, maintenance and overall cleanliness of the City of Mobile.

"In the past, ditches across the City of Mobile were neglected, and I am looking forward to seeing how this transforms underserved communities," said Mayor Stimpson. "The citizens deserve a clean and well maintained city. By partnering with the private sector to help us maintain our ditches, the city will expand its capacity to better serve our citizens."

The contract is broken down into three areas and is valued at a total of $236,000:

• Dauphin Island Parkway, ($140,0000), 164,942 feet
  
• Trinity Gardens, ($48,000),36,321 feet
  
• Cypress Shores, ($48,000), 49,840 feet
  

Background Information:

• These contracts were approved by the City Council on Tuesday May 5 2015.
  
• The vendor will mow and clean all right-of-way ditches in each area on an eight week cycle starting Monday (May 11) and ending December 20
  
• Mowing cycles will have all areas mowed in 56 days
  
• Contractor will notify the city every two weeks of the streets that have been completed in each area
  
• Mowing includes trimming, removal of trash/litter and blowing of specific streets.
  
• Any tires found will be piled by the contractor to be hauled by the City Public Works' Trash Division
  
• The Vendor is required to provide documentation of litter removed including the size of the bags and number of bags removed
  
• At the end of the contract, the vendor will provide a recap of the litter removed.
  

Maps of each ditch are available at http://maps.cityofmobile.org/bids/4809/index.html