Readers of The Augusta Press were vocal about a recent article describing how city leaders were given an “earful” at a public work session about grass maintenance on public land as well as blighted properties.
According to the article, city leaders were short on answers, but had plenty of excuses to offer.
Interim Recreation Department Director Charles Jackson blurted out that his department needed a “specialized team to handle requests related to special events.” What does that even mean? And what do special events have to do with cutting the grass at cemeteries?
This problem has plagued Augusta for years, and it won’t change anytime soon with the cast of characters we call “department heads.”
One big problem is that grass maintenance is farmed out to several different departments and none seem to have a clue as to exactly what areas they are responsible for.
Frequent commentator and former Mayor Bob Young suggested privatizing grass management, and we agree with him. It might be slightly more expensive, but at least the work will get done.
No one should have to stand among fire ant mounds in knee-high grass to visit a loved one’s grave.
