Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/309372
proposal that they approve the latest mowing contract renewal — which prompted the dis- cussions. They also agreed to allow staff to continue a thorough technological review of acreage data so they can ensure future con- tracts they award will reflect accurately the amount of work a firm is supposed to handle. At Harmer's recommendation, the commis- sion voted 4-1 — with Commissioner Joe Barbetta in the minority — to: renew a con- tract with JLC Hauling Inc. for the county's North Urban zone for one year at a cost of $1,116,514.53; give staff six months to ver- ify the amount of acreage in all eight zones, including the one county staff mows; have staff return to the board with that information for a full discussion; and then consider the resolicitation of all county mowing contracts. Commissioner Nora Patterson, who made the motion, included in it a request by Barbetta to incorporate in that discussion data compar- ing the county's mowing costs for each of the past eight years. She further asked that staff research what comparable communities pay for their mowing services and present that information as well. Commissioners bemoaned the fact they seemed to have no choice but to renew the contract with JLC Hauling. They pointed out that this is the time of year grass has to be mowed regularly, so any gap in service that might result from re-soliciting the bid likely would lead to their reliving the 2012 night- mare of unsightly medians and rights of way. "The first thing people see once they get off the airplane or get off the interstate is our right of ways," Chairman Charles Hines pointed out. "We want to have a system that's fair," he said. "It sounds silly to say something that broad, [but] I want contractors and vendors to want to do business with Sarasota County." Commissioners also took numerous oppor- tunities to make it clear they were not directing any of their consternation toward JLC Hauling, which uses the working name Mega Mowers. Still, one of the firm's owners, Brigitte Campfield, addressed the board on May 6 after the contract renewal discussion began. During the public comments portion of the afternoon session in Venice, Campfield said, "It's hard not to take this personally." She added, "Are you willing to lose the ground you gained for the future to continue to rehash the past?" On Aug. 28, 2013 — after yet another dispute over mowing contracts — Campfield told the board, "We just kind of feel like we're always getting shorted on all of these contracts. We The grass was high in the median of Webber Street near Tuttle Avenue in August 2012. File photo Sarasota News Leader May 9, 2014 Page 25