Plan to Trim Time Between Cobb Grass Cutting

In the last few years, Cobb County has tried to save money anywhere it could.

Because of these budget constraints, available funding for contracted shoulder maintenance, median mowing and street sweeping services has been significantly reduced, according to Faye DiMassimo, director of transportation.

The fiscal year budget for these services is $233,000, which represents a 78 percent decrease from 2009. One result: The intervals between mowing and maintenance have been significantly lengthened.

In 2010, the services were re-assigned to road maintenance crews in-house. But it is too much for them to handle, so the Cobb Board of Commissioners is being asked to approve 14 part-time, seasonal workers for the job.

Salaries and equipment comes to $176,000.

In other business, the commissioners are being asked to accept a sealed bid for two new ladder trucks for at a price tag of $1.1 million.

The commissioners meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the second-floor boardroom at 100 Cherokee St. in Marietta. Go here for the full agenda.