News | Peachtree City

PTC claims savings of $940K, awards mowing deal to TruGreen

Tue, 03/24/2009 - 4:07pm
By: John Munford

To replace 23 fired city workers, company will deploy 6 workers, plus 1 assigned full-time to litter pickup

Peachtree City will save an estimated $940,000 by going with a private company to handle mowing, landscaping, litter pickup and other duties, city officials have said.

The City Council approved a contract with TruGreen Landcare of Stone Mountain, the lowest bidding company, to handle the tasks.

The deal was necessary after council decided last month to eliminate 23 landscaping and mowing employees to save money in light of a potential $3.5 million shortfall in next year’s budget.

The services will cost the city $256,206 for the remainder of the calendar year, and the contract can be extended for one-year terms in 2010 and 2011, officials said.

The bid includes quotes for individual services so if the city needs to adjust the schedule for mowing and landscaping, it can be done, said City Manager Bernie McMullen.

The work of TruGreen will be supervised by a manager in the Public Works Department who was re-hired after being let go from one of the eliminated landscaping positions.

Likewise, another such employee has been hired for the part-time role of supervising activity at the city’s recycling center twice a week.

McMullen noted that TruGreen already had been performing mowing and landscape work for the city and was able to meet city specifications.

Al Yougel of Keep Peachtree City Beautiful was concerned about the contract’s provisions for litter pickup, which is not based on hours accrued but instead on “trips up and down the streets” for litter inspection.

McMullen said the outsourcing of the landscaping and mowing “is a major change, and we understand we are probably not going to get it right the first time.”

A TruGreen representative said the company would assign one person to pick up litter “all week long” and maintenance crews will also be tasked with litter pickup, bringing the total to about seven employees.

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Funny Thing !
Submitted by Justice for All on Wed, 04/01/2009 - 9:14pm.

I have to laugh to myself, now that the workers were laid off from the City. Remember all the times you citizens called City Hall and other departments to complain about all those lazy people taking breaks at the taxpayers expense.Remember how you could see them not doing a darn thing. Well, look at your city now. I guess those lazy public servants were doing something after all ! What do you think ?

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Outsourcing
Submitted by Justice for All on Sat, 03/28/2009 - 9:58pm.

Just wanted to comment on the condition of the roadways. In the past, the City had crews to start on the roads earlier than what's being done by the contractor.The citizens need to give them an opportunity to get started. Times are changing and the people of Peachtree City need to realize this. The City hasn't forgotten them, they are trying to save them money ! If they wanted big tax increases, they could have kept the crews they had to do the work. The City felt that the only way to keep taxes low was to outsource the maintenance. The citizens are going to have to realize that they won't get the quick service they had before. Things will get done, but not as fast as they are used to. When City Council was discussing this at City Hall public meetings, nobody was interested in attending.Your representatives at Council decided that it was easier and cheaper for the public to contract the work out, rather than paying City employees. In response to Dark Madams comments, I think she needs to get over it and move on. She doesn't even live in the City ! She has an axe to grind for some reason. What might that be "MADAM" ?

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just a side note
DarkMadam's picture
Submitted by DarkMadam on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 11:11am.

It appears that the Person chosen to be "re-hired" to be the supervisor knew it all along. It was the "plan" from the start. He never even cleaned out his office. He never even missed a day. Hmmmm, city politics at their best! I have come to the conclusion that if you are not a "drinking buddy" with someone on the council or the city manager, your voice is not even heard. It's a shame. PTC was a really nice place to live.


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They need to get busy..
Submitted by Spyglass on Wed, 03/25/2009 - 11:29am.

Because the area around the City Hall and medians everywhere in the City look as bad as I've ever seen them. Weeds are taking over the beds in front of City Hall, and the medians are beginning to look about as bad.

Frankly, I'll believe the results will look as good when I see it. Right now, they need to get cracking.

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