A Walker State prisoner works to cut the grass at the Fort Oglethorpe Police Department on Tuesday.The grass is growing so quickly these days, you can almost watch it happen.
At City Hall in Fort Oglethorpe, “Hollywood” handles the lawn. He’s an inmate from Walker State Prison in Rock Spring, Ga. The city spends $39,500 annually to have a crew of prison workers come from Monday through Thursday to do tasks such as mow grass, pick up trash and run string trimmers.
“It’s a pretty good deal for the city,” City Manager Ron Goulart said.
Fort Oglethorpe is among several Northwest Georgia municipalities that recently renewed their contracts with the Georgia Department of Corrections. Walker County did, too. And the Catoosa County Commission was expected to approve a similar contract at its meeting Tuesday night.
“We have some ditches that need cleaning out,” Interim Catoosa County Manager Ann Cain said.