NATCHEZ — Recreation Director Ralph Tedder will present bids for privatized grass cutting at the board of aldermen meeting today.

Tedder said Thursday 18 contractors have submitted requests for proposals. Contractor bidding closed Nov. 24.

“We’re in the process of bringing a recommendation of bid awards to the next meeting,” Tedder said.

Tedder will present the four lowest bids for individual grass cutting jobs at Duncan Park, city neighborhood parks and ball field complexes.

Bids for Duncan Park range from $32,000 to $49,000 per year, bids for neighborhood parks range from $10,800 to $18,000 per year and bids for ball fields range from $15,000 to $16,890 per year. Contracts could be awarded to the same contractor or different contractors.

Contractors being considered for the jobs are:

Jeffery Ross, Ferriday: $32,000 for Duncan Park, $10,800 for neighborhood parks, $16,000 for ball fields

Unlimited Resources, Natchez: $40,200 for Duncan Park, $18,000 for neighborhood parks, $16,500 for ball fields

Grass Choppers, Vidalia: $42,770 for Duncan Park

Recreation Turf Management, Natchez: $49,000 for Duncan Park

Gasquet Clean Cuts, Natchez: $15,000 for neighborhood parks, $15,000 for ball fields

RLM Property Maintenance, Natchez: $17,680 for neighborhood parks, $16,890 for ball fields

“All the contractors have been finalized and approved, so in the case one contractor quits, we can go to the next one on the list,” Tedder said.

If the aldermen accept a contractor’s proposal, four employees in the recreation department will either be laid off or transferred to the public works department, Tedder said.

Tedder estimates privatized grass cutting will save the city $119,000. The amount includes the salaries of the four recreation department employees — $20,000 per year including benefits — and equipment and maintenance costs.

The board of aldermen meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. today at the City Council Chambers on Pearl Street.