Money-saving initiatives

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A couple of years ago, the maintenance and purchasing departments sat down to look at how the grounds maintenance contracts could be modified to save money while maintaining the same high standards. One decision was to reduce the number of annuals slightly while not sacrificing appearance. Also, the time cycles were extended on tree trimming and mowing, and the amount of fertilizer was reduced. "Purchasing supports maintenance in that area," said Patrick Eby, maintenance department manager of contracts. "It was up to us to see what we can live with, and we came up with a pretty fair percentage of savings." The contracts had been set up with unit prices, so that cost savings could be realized by extending the service cycle times without changing the contracts.

"We monitor those contracts and work with maintenance to look for opportunities to save dollars," said Schneider.

Green aspects of greenery

Environmental awareness is also part of the fabric of Orlando International Airport, which occupies the site of a former tree farm. Commitment to being environmentally responsible was part of the original design when the facility opened in 1981. The airport was also developed to accommodate low maintenance and operational costs.

Orlando International Airport

The Orlando airport uses extensive mulching to control weeds and drought-tolerant plants to minimize the need for irrigation. Reclaimed water is used for all irrigation. The airport complies will all regulations about the use of chemical pesticides. "Especially with our aquatic contract, we have specifications about what can leach into the groundwater," said Eby. "We have introduced carp into our waterways to eat the weeds, which also saves on the use of chemicals."

The airport is operated and managed by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA), which consists of a seven-member board; five are appointed by the Governor, one is a member of the Orlando City Council and one is a member of the Orlando County Commission. An executive director appointed by the authority manages the airport system.

Anderson is editor of Penton's Go Pro/Government Procurement.

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