City Of Tulsa Facing A 'Growing' Problem

By Tara Vreeland, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- There is a growing problem for the City of Tulsa.  With plenty of sunshine and rain, the grass is thriving, but the city says it only has enough money to pay for one more mowing cycle before June 30th -- the end of this fiscal year.

The Tulsa Public Works Department says the blossoming of spring will be an absolute nightmare down the road.

"I don't think the general public right now has any idea what's coming in terms of what the city will look like, but very shortly, we'll all find out," said Paul Strizek, City of Tulsa Public Works.

Tulsa's Public Works Department reports city parks will be mowed and they expect those cycles to start soon. But medians, street right of ways and city owned lots will grow with wild abandon.

"That probably won't start until around May 1st. We are just going to have to stretch it out as long as we can to get us to June 30th," said Strizek.

The city of Tulsa used to mow once a month, April through September, and officials say not even that was enough. Now imagine how high the grass will be with only one mow scheduled over the course of three months.

Strizek says June mowing is usually paid for out of the next fiscal year, which he says already starts them off behind money wise.

And mowing isn't cheap. Strizek says it costs $100,000 for a single mow, but that doesn't include parks or drainage related areas. So they'll cut corners where they can. Litter won't be picked up and the areas around poles and fences won't be trimmed.

"With my luck, it will probably be the best growing season in the history of Oklahoma," said Strizek.

The city says they are encouraging private companies or Tulsans to mow in their neighborhoods and they are hoping volunteers can help with what may soon be a jungle.