A new mowing service will take care of landscaping and maintenance in the city of Boerne following the City Council approval of a mowing contract April 22. The city has been using a contractor for mowing since 2022, city staff said.

The overview

City Manager Ben Thatcher said utilizing third-party services for mowing around the city helps take the pressure off city staff, allowing a focus on streets and other maintenance. Contracting is also cheaper than hiring full-time staff positions, he said.

The contract will be awarded to Brightview Landscape Service in an amount not to exceed $98,010 alongside a 15% increase for a total construction cost of $113,500. In the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget, $192,879 was allocated for this service, meaning the contract came in under budget.

Changes to previous contracts adopted by the city include:

• Added areas maintained by the Parks department
• Added TxDOT maintained areas
• Increased mowing frequency
• Added option for contract renewal
• Included bid item to preserve wildflowers until Father’s Day

The item was unanimously approved by City Council, with Joe Macaluso highlighting the need to improve the visual appearance of the city.

“It is about image,” Macaluso said. “A city that has sloppy entrance ways looks sloppy. Whether it is or isn’t, isn’t the point, but it just looks that way.”