Westchase takes bids for greener grass

The development hopes to have a landscaper chosen soon to take advantage of planting season.

By BETH MILLER
Published April 3, 2005

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WESTCHASE - Landscape companies will soon be able to vie for the chance to make one of west Hillsborough's most fashionable communities a little bit prettier.

The Westchase Community Development Districts are expected to accept bids this month for maintenance work on the community's common grounds.

With 126 acres of common areas to maintain at an estimated annual cost of at least a half-million dollars, the bid proposals will be significant, said John Daugirda, the new Westchase district manager at the Severn Trent management company.

Daugirda took over responsibility for Westchase community as Severn Trent shuffled staff in March in response to resident dissatisfaction. Complaints, some from leaders in the Westchase Community Association, also led to the district's decision to consider outsourcing the landscaping.

With planting season here, Westchase officials need to make a decision as soon as possible. In particular, the district needs an irrigation specialist to fix Westchase's sprinkler problems and make watering more efficient.

There is also the danger that, if workers don't act soon, weeds will fill in the bare patches of the turf, said Tommy Medlock, president of OLM Inc., a landscape consulting firm hired to help with the bid process.

Medlock outlined the bid package at last week's CDD meeting. It calls for more seasonal plantings, better litter control and improved lake management. Using OLM Inc.'s business format, any new contractor would have to live up to a certain standard in order to receive all of its fee. Under this performance-based contract, Medlock said residents would be able to see a noticeable difference in the landscaping in six months.

Westchase CDD supervisors are expected to approve the final bid package this Tuesday and anticipate making a decision on whether or not to outsource by early May.