Nearly $3M price tag to mow Orange County Convention Center lawn

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35 ORLANDO) - Orange County has agreed to a new 3 year contract for $2.94 million to handle lawn maintenance at the Orange County Convention Center.

Convention Center CFO Kris Shoemaker says what they will pay for the mowing portion of the contract is very similar in rate to what a homeowner would pay for a lawn service per year.

"Of the million dollars, $420,000 is for mowing, trimming, edging, trimming the trees and all that. At $400,000, that breaks down to about $4,000 a month."

Shoemaker told us there is much more work to be done that just mowing and edging. While we were at the Convention Center, new plants were being planted at the main entrance to the West Building.

"About $60,000 a year goes for mulching. Another $220,000 goes for additional plants, and that's not a guarantee. That's just if we have to replace ones like what we have here, replacements if they die out, and also another $220,000 for irrigation."

The OCCC is required by covenant to maintain a look equivalent with the other resorts in the area. Mayor Teresa Jacobs told me that look is essential to retaining convention business.

"This Convention Center is a huge economic driver, and not having well maintained landscaping is, would be devastating."

Mayor Jacobs told us she believes this contract was done right and is fair.

"We competitively bid all our contracts. We are very cost conscious."

The Convention Center is only paying about 5 percent more for its landscaping contract than when it was last bid in 2009. They also have a $300,000 contract for lawn services like fertilization and pest control.

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Nearly $3M price tag to mow Orange County Convention Center lawn