Work-release jail inmates mow state highway medians after DOT cuts service

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The state is not paying for it anymore so Racine County is using work-release jail inmates to mow parts of state highway medians.

The Department of Transportation pays counties to keep the weeds under control on state and federal roads.

And thanks to the budget deficit, they’re only paying for one mowing job this year. Local officials say it’s not enough to avoid safety hazards and one town in Outagamie County has even talked about ticketing the state for violating its local weed ordinance.

Racine County officials say their residents are complaining, too. So they’re using work-release volunteers from the jail to mow medians with curbs and gutters. County crews do the rest.

County Executive Bill McReynolds says most of the inmates are doing time for traffic or child support violations and they do not pose a risk.

Still, they’re looking for volunteers to supervise the inmates.

By the way, there is something in it for the prisoners. Every 24 hours of work reduces their sentences by a day.

Tags: highway medians, jail inmates, wisconsin, mowing