The town council has approved a contract with Somerset Landscaping Maintenance, Inc. for tree trimming and removal. The amount is not to exceed $50,000 for the first year, or an aggregate amount of $100,000 across two years of service.

During the March 20 council meeting, members considered approving a contract with a landscaping firm, specifically to handle palm tree pruning and removal services in Fountain Hills.

As Town Manager Grady Miller explained, these are projects town staff cannot undertake itself, which is why Fountain Hills usually contracts them out.

It was explained that this particular contract is basically an extension of the one being utilized by Scottsdale. Though Fountain Hills’ work load is nowhere near that of the neighboring community, the town is being offered the same bulk rate. Miller mentioned that comes out to about $10 per tree, which he described as a very good price.

Councilman Alan Magazine expressed some reservations concerning a two-year contract, as he did not like the idea of committing funds for that period of time given the town’s current finances.

Miller explained that the contract is “basically year to year,” and that it has been written in a way that would allow Fountain Hills to have an out, including financial concerns. He also stated that, given the fact that Fountain Hills would basically be piggybacking on Scottsdale’s rate, there would be no guarantee that the town would receive the same rate next year if the contract was shortened to just 12 months.

Magazine said he felt comfortable with the agreement given the additional details, and joined the rest of the council in a 6-0 vote to approve the contract.