Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/100060
Sarasota News Leader December 21, 2012 Page 32 contracts was developed ��� a period expected dle the mowing requirements. Reid wrote that they should change the scope of geographic to take up to six months. responsibilities or tighten the eligibility reBecause vendors had continued to struggle to quirements of vendors applying for the conprovide stable maintenance in the North Ur- tracts. He added, ���If privatization doesn���t ban Zone (generally north of Blackburn Point work as envisioned internal capacity needs Road and west of Interstate 75), short-term to be reestablished until we meet our service actions had been necessary, the memo not- levels.��� ed. County staff is being deployed to perform right of way maintenance in portions of that Anderson���s Dec. 11 memo to the commission zone and will continue to do so as needed ���un- also said that in response to the number of til a stable internal or contract alternative is phone calls and emails the County Commission had received about the mowing problems established.��� since spring, staff has been ���implementing a The memo also points out the county began tracking system to ensure email and phone employing temporary staff Nov. 19 to handle communication is initially acknowledged the work. As of Nov. 30, 10 people had been within 1 business day and replied to within hired through Advance Talent Solutions, the 3-5 business days.��� memo says, adding, ���Staff is assessing this temporary labor force and the feasibility of it Among those communications, the following evolving into a permanent County resource.��� comments were made: On Oct. 30, Reid sent the following email to ��� From a July 22 email: ���I am so embarrassed with no one mowing our medians in SaraAnderson: sota. I was told that the grass and weeds ���Per our conversation yesterday regarding are permissible up to one foot, which in my the potential of continuing problems with our opinion is still too long. If you drive down newest vendor in the Northern mowing zone I Beneva, [Webber], Gulf Gate Drive or any remained concerned. I would request that afother Sarasota Street, you will be appalled ter your meeting with them to provide clarity at the length of the grass and weeds in the as to our expectations of them as a vendor you medians. If you go to the East Coast, i.e. take some time to examine and recommend 1) Deerfield, Boca Raton, etc., everything is the advisability of the further division of the manicured and the landscaping is beautinorthern zone into a smaller geographic unit ful.��� and 2) the labor and equipment requirement for the county to create the internal capaci- ��� From a man���s Sept. 4 call regarding the mowing in and around DeSoto Lakes and ty to maintain any single mowing zone with DeSoto Road, as related by a county emcounty crews.��� ployee to the commission: ���[I]t���s the worst Reid added that he also was open to suggeshe���s seen it in 47 years. Whenever he calls tions from Anderson and Procurement Official he is told [the mowing will be done] next Ted Coyman regarding alternatives to hiring week, but [the mowing] still has not been done.��� firms that did not have the capacity to han-