County supervisor asks, "Can we reduce roadside mowing?"

Winneshiek County supervisors will have a future discussion about the need to mow along roads in the county.

Winneshiek County spends $130,000 a year to mow along roadsides.  County Engineer Lee Bjerke says the mowing is a safety move--cutting the grass gives motorists a clearer view of the roadsides.  He also noted that a move to reduce roadside mowing 20 or 30 years ago brought loud protests from property owners.

Supervisor Dean Thompson says $130,000 is a lot of money to spend on mowing, so he believes supervisors owe it to the public to discuss whether reducing roadside mowing could save taxpayers money or free up money for badly-needed road projects.