It will cost an additional $280 per cut to keep the grass trimmed at the Palmerston Lions Heritage Park this summer.
Council approved the increased price for the work at the Feb. 17 meeting, at the recommendation of the local parks and recreation advisory committee (PRAC).
In a report to council, recreation services manager Matt Lubbers told council the contractor requested the increase due to longer-than-anticipated mowing and weed-eater times.
The increased work stems from planting numerous additional trees in the 17-acre park in 2014.
The contract price per cut for all Minto parks is $3,327 plus tax. The increase bumps that price to $3,607 per cut in 2015. Minutes of the Jan. 29 PRAC meeting noted the next lowest tender for the work was $3,996 per cut. The grass in the park is cut 18 to 20 times per season, Lubbers estimated.
“I realize there is a lot of trees planted, but is it a full eight hours of extra work because of this?” wondered councillor Mary Lou Colwell.
Councillor Ron Elliott replied, “It could be. We probably put in over 100 trees.”
Lubbers also pointed out the town will save money elsewhere in the grass-cutting contract, as the municipality will no longer be responsible for mowing the majority of the former Clifford ball diamond property which is being developed for residential use.
