LAUREL HILL — City Council members have voted 4-1 to delay renewing a mowing contract with Transfield Services after Councilman Clifton Hall questioned estimated expenses.
The city had contracted mowing services with the Florida Department of Transportation until last year, when the DOT contracted Transfield Services for mowing and trash pick-up, City Clerk Nita Miller said.
Under the proposed contract, the company would provide mowing and trash pick-up twice a month for eight months on both sides of State Road 85 within city limits.
Hall, who has experience working with heavy machinery including tractor equipment in his contracting business, said service cost estimates were lower than expected.
The approximate cost of Kubota tractor use,$15 an hour, and the company’s listed salary, $7,354.12, were too low, Hall said Thursday, adding the latter should be closer to $11,000.
"I don't want to support this and then have something come up later and prove that we were wrong," Hall said.
Council members Larry Hendren, Willie Mae Toles and Betty Williamson supported Hall's motion to delay contract renewal.
Councilman Johnny James, who opposed the delay, had no concern about the proposed contract’s terms.
A revised contract will be presented for approval at next month's council meeting, 6 p.m. Sept. 10 at city hall. It will be discussed during a budget workshop at 6 p.m. Thursday at city hall.
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill city leaders delay mowing contract renewal