Commission Grapples With Grass Cutting Contracts

bhcityhall2-11
bhcityhall2-11

Benton Harbor City Commissioners have plenty to say about who is hired to do the city’s landscaping. At Monday’s meeting, the commission discussed at length who should be hired to cut grass in the city, and how. Mayor Pro Tem Duane Seats, who has long had issues with the city’s landscaping bills, said efforts should be made to divvy up the work between multiple contractors.

“This is not ‘Go by your favorite contractor,’” Seats said. “If you have three people who have contracts, do not disqualify somebody just because you don’t like them.”

City Manager Darwin Watson said the four contractors selected were picked based on how much they bid on individual parcels.

“If you’re saying just split them up regardless of what the person’s submitted as a cost, just split them up, then we’re going to spend more money.”

Watson wondered if he was supposed to spend more money. In the end, the commission did vote unanimously to award the recommended bids.