Probationers to do Landscaping Work

One Michigan city is considering the use of probationers to maintain lawns along business roads, install mulch and wood chips and weeding flowerbeds in an effort to save money yet enhance streetscapes.

Cash-strapped municipalities around the country are finding innovative ways to maintain their basic landscape needs such as cutting grass and the raking of leaves.

In southeast Michigan, the Plymouth Road Development Authority is expected to receive a little help from the city's probation department next year to assist with maintenance along Plymouth Road. The development authority also must find ways to fund irrigation of landscaping, flowers and grass along the frontage of the Plymouth Road businesses.

City officials and the authority looked for ways to maintain Plymouth Road after the authority's revenue base, just like the city's, was decimated by the buzz saw of declining property values. This year, property values have fallen below the base year of 1994, which means the authority's expenditures will be funded through its fund balance in 2011 and from the city's general fund in 2012.

In 1993, the Plymouth Road Development Authority was created, using the increasing property values to dress up the aging thoroughfare and enhance the streetscape. For years, that authority captured the increased tax revenue to pay for new streetlights and mast arms for street signs, lawn maintenance and plants, giving Plymouth Road businesses a new look. The PRDA paid for bonds for those improvements using the increased property valuation.

On Nov. 30, 2009, the fund balance totaled $2.2 million. For this fiscal year ending on Nov. 30, 2010, revenue exceeds expenditures by $665,031, but for 2011, expenses exceed revenue by $892,800. That leaves a projected fund balance of $1.9 million. Of that $892,800, $575,000 is debt that must be paid annually through 2018. That debt will be picked up in the city's general fund starting in 2012.

The authority met twice this fall to discuss the maintenance issue along the Plymouth Road corridor. PRDA members recently met to discuss the use of first-time probationers. Defendants found guilty of misdemeanors and minor nonviolent offenses can volunteer for this community service in lieu of jail time.

Work conducted in the spring would include cleanup of leaves, tilling of flowerbeds, sweeping of brick paver courtyards at Middlebelt, Merriman and Farmington roads, along with other maintenance, Livonia, Mich. Mayor Jack Kirksey said.

Summer projects would feature edging sidewalks, installing mulch and wood chips and weeding flowerbeds, along with other activities.

Litter would be picked up in the spring, summer and fall. The probationers would use hand tools, such as rakes, edgers or shovels, but are prohibited from using power equipment, Kirksey said.

In South Carolina, one city is asking its residents for a hand . . . and a mower. In an effort to save taxpayers' money and cut costs, Georgetown is asking residents to cut their grass.

The city council has adopted an ordinance in which it will require residents to maintain the state-owned right of ways in front of their yards. The right-of-ways are the patches of land between the sidewalk and the street.

''What we're trying to do is squeeze the same level of service out of fewer dollars,'' said City Councilman Paige Sawyer. ''It'll free up the city workers so they can do a better job maintaining city owned property,'' Sawyer said.

City workers say the right-of-ways add up to about 100 miles of land, and a lot of money spent on landscaping equipment. Failing to maintain these right-of-ways could get Georgetown residents a misdemeanor charge, although Sawyer says that's up for debate.