Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 13, 1990                   TAG: 9003133264
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MARK LAYMAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

REPORT: MOWING MONEY NOT KEEPING UP WITH GRASS

That means there's a lot more grass to cut. But in that time, the county has hired no additional grounds maintenance employees and purchased only one additional riding mower.

The result, according to a report to be given to the Board of Supervisors today, is that the grass in the county's parks was cut only once every two weeks last year.

If riding mowers aren't purchased soon, and if the county doesn't hire outside help to mow around its public buildings, the grass probably will be cut only once a month this spring and summer, the report says.

The report, prepared by County Administrator Elmer Hodge and Assistant Administrator John Chambliss, says the number of acres owned by the county that require maintenance has increased from 427 to 780. The number of acres that require mowing has increased from 187 to 367.

The county has six riding mowers and 24 grounds maintenance employees.

The Parks and Recreation Department has requested money for riding mowers and for outside help in the 1990-1991 budget, which will be considered by the Board of Supervisors this spring. That money would be "too little, too late," the report says, because the mowing season begins in April, while the money wouldn't be available until July.

Hodge is asking the supervisors to appropriate $30,000 to purchase mowing equipment immediately and $20,000 to hire outside help to mow around public buildings during the next three months.

Ideally, the report says, grounds should be mowed every week. If the supervisors approve the $50,000 request, grounds could be mowed every 11 working days.