City commission to act on cemetery mowing bid

By RALPH ANSAMI

[email protected]

Ironwood — The Ironwood City Commission on Monday will consider awarding a $76,050 bid for a private company to mow the Riverside Cemetery grass in the summer.

The bid from Saari’s Lawn Service, of Montreal, Wis., is for a three-year contract.

The only other bid received was from Harma Lawn and Property, of Hurley, for $101,250 for three years.

At their last meeting, commissioners balked at a plan by city manager Scott Erickson to have three part-time summer city workers cut the grass at the cemetery. Erickson recommended purchasing two new mowers for the three workers.

He said the summer employees could be assigned to other tasks if the commission chose to hire the private firm for mowing, however.

Commissioners had suggested Erickson perform a cost analysis on using the workers versus hiring a private firm.

In a memo to city commissioners, Erickson said the cost would be “comparable.”

He noted that Saari “has provided very good lawn service” in previous contracts with the city and his final recommendation was to go with the private firm’s three-year bid.

The commission will also consider a bid Monday for $38,000 from Nasi Roofing LLC, of Hurley, to re-roof the Memorial Building courtyard roofs. It was the only bid received.

The project will be completed by June 15 and funding will come from previously budgeted general fund money.

The commission will also consider purchasing a $22,587 brush chipper.