11/4/2009
County goes greener through turf removal demonstration project
Vancouver, WA – Clark County intends to remove some grass to save money and help the environment. Trees, shrubs and other vegetation will replace grass at four spots downtown near the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St.
The demonstration project may help guide similar efforts throughout the county’s downtown campus, which includes the Clark County Courthouse, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Clark County Jail and Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency.
By switching to trees and native shrubs and ground cover, the county expects to save money on mowing and other maintenance costs. The change also is intended to improve the environment by using less fertilizer, water and gasoline, along with providing better infiltration for stormwater.
"Reducing the amount of lawn surrounding county buildings not only makes environmental sense, but it also makes economic sense," said Pete DuBois, county sustainability coordinator.
Turf removal is scheduled later this month at four spots:
• West of the Public Service Center’s gazebo, on the northwest corner of West 13th and Franklin streets.
• Northeast corner of the Public Service Center, south of the Clark County Elections Department, 1408 Franklin St.
• Northwest of the Public Service Center parking garage.
• Southwest corner of the Public Service Center.
The county has trees available for planting, including birch, red maple, flowering pear and weeping cherry. These will require much less water than what is used for grass.
The county is looking to trim costs, both big and small, to prevent a $12.7 million budget shortfall before the end of 2010. For example, 33 employees in facilities maintenance have just started to work four fewer hours a week, a move expected to save the county $363,751 through the end of next year.
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