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As of this date however, I feel obligated to budget according to what now exists. We have to mow those which receive active complaints approximately 6 -8 times per growing season. This is lots and cost is $30.00 each mowing. As an alternative, we have researched the use of a combination of herbicide and mowing. If the policy on the use of chemicals can change, I can furnish a report that will not only make the city look better but reduce mowing to three times the first year and twice a year thereafter. This reduces overall costs. Basically, the first year we mow in the spring. This is necessary to remove the early growth. As the heat of summer begins, you spray the lot. After the growth dies, you mow the second time to remove the dead matter. Towards the end of the first year growing season, you mow and spot spray. This kills remaining weeds and leaves the property looking nice for the winter. The chemical only kills the broadleaf growth. Grass and trees are unaffected. The second year you mow in the spring. This will continue to be necessary but the growth will be lighter. As the summer begins, we would do a light chemical application, mostly for spot growth. As the growth is not excessive, mowing would not be necessary. We do a final mowing in the fall. The success of this program demands that we utilize a licensed, experienced person to do the spraying. This can be contracted or we throughly train and license a crew and begin doing this in- house. Secondly we use the right chemical and at the right mixture. The real advantage is that after the first year, the lots become progressively cleaner and the need for chemical treatment is reduced to a maintenance level. Cost estimates for this method is approximately $50,000.00 the first year. I will assure you this works. The chemicals are safe to the environment, will not kill or harm trees in any manner, and when used appropriately keeps the lots, fence rows, drainage ditches, and all other areas of growth looking nice. TU Electric, Lone Star Gas, and the Department of Transportation use this method. Why don't we. Tree Removal This continues to escalate and is unpredictable. Last summer, the drought killed several trees and the number of cuts increased dramatically. This is another project for the tub grinder. While we would still have to pay for the actual cutting, we would provide the removal of the trees in -house and the remains would be added to similar waste and composted. This would save approximately 60% of the total cost of removal.