LETTER: Can county’s robotic mowers really cost $100,000 each?

To Ozaukee Press:

After reading in Ozaukee Press about Ozaukee County’s proposed purchase of four robotic lawn mowers, I have a few questions.

  I am familiar with robotic lawn mowers as we have one for residential use. The cost of our mower three years ago was between $3,000 and $4,000. According to the news article, Ozaukee County is proposing to spend more than $400,000 on four mowers, or approximately $100,000 per mower.

  Based upon a brief internet search, high end fleet grade mowers range in price from $15,000 to $40,000 plus related software costs. I read one example of a fleet of five mowers at approximately $36,000 each or a total of $180,000 being used to manage the golf course acreage of traditional mowers.

  My questions are these: Is this a sole source purchase or was it completed through the competitive bidding process? If this purchase was completed through the competitive bidding process, how many bids were received? Who developed the specifications for these mowers? Who is the proposed vendor?

From what I have read, the $400,000 price tag for four mowers seems very much on the high side. We as county residents and taxpayers need to ensure that our tax dollars are prudently spent.

I agree that using robotic lawn mowers is a positive step in managing the properties; however, I need to be assured that the cost is warranted.

Jim Groskopf

Town of Port Washington