CLINTON — The Clinton City Council approved contracts for cemetery and parks mowing during its Monday regular meeting.  Two council members expressed concerns about the contracts, but a motion to table action on the issue failed.

In December, the city placed on file separate bids for mowing the cemetery and the city’s parks.  Bids for the work varied widely with differences between the low and high bids being in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Commissioner John Wise said he originally had reservations about the plan but came around to supporting it, since no city workers will lose their jobs.

“I don’t want people thinking we’re just gonna throw our guys out to the wolves or something,” said Wise.  “That was my biggest concern when we started looking into this.”

Wise said he saw advantages with contracting out the mowing work, while also understanding how city workers might fear for their jobs.

“We’re going to take care of the guys who have worked for us all these years,” Wise said.

Commission Dan Ballenger was eager to wait on a decision.

“I have quite a few concerns,” he told the council.  “I personally want to move toward tabling it, because Steve Lobb has some concerns.”

Lobb is the city’s public works administrator.

Ballenger said he felt “all the parties that are going to play in this” should hold a workshop to plan the details of the mowing plan.

“There’s too much difference between the top bid and the low bid,” Ballenger said. 

• See the complete story in the Friday, 1/8 print edition of the Clinton Journal or now in the Journal E-Edition for subscribers.