OLDS — A reduction in mowing frequency has resulted in complaints from the public, chief administrative officer Brent Williams says.
A report by Williams outlining the number of concerns brought forth by town residents and efforts to address those complaints was included in council’s Aug. 28 agenda.
Coun. James Cummings noted that in that report, 18 parks and trails complaints were listed (16 were resolved and two remained open).
He said he couldn’t possibly imagine what could lead to so many parks and trails complaints.
“I’m just a little curious; I mean, is this dog poop or failing infrastructure," he asked.
Williams said he believes “100 per cent” of the complaints are in regard to tall grass or weeds because town staff are now only cutting grass on a biweekly basis.
A budget containing that schedule was approved by council last December.
"Most of it is generally just unsightliness because we’re not mowing the odd trail as much,” Williams said.
Of the two complaints listed as unresolved, he believed one was because “they hadn’t got there yet” and the other involved a spraying operation that had to be done under the noxious weeds category.
Douglas Place and Hartman Green were also cited as examples of where mowing frequency is less than it used to be.
Mayor Judy Dahl said she'd discovered that firsthand at Douglas Place.
"I will tell you it was about two feet the day I tried to walk across it, so it does get pretty high," she said.
