RACINE COUNTY - County Executive William McReynolds, along with officials from six other Wisconsin counties, are asking Gov. Jim Doyle to relax the limitations on mowing of highway medians and shoulders.

In a letter sent to the governor Tuesday, the group said despite the allowance to cut medians and shoulders for visibility and safety reasons, other difficulties have arisen from the decreased mowing. The officials said these problems are making less mowing more expensive, so the decrease is not providing the cost savings it was intended to.

The letter cites problems such as: having to pass over taller vegetation more than once; using larger equipment that blocks traffic lanes; drainage problems with bunching of cut grass, and abutting property owners cutting the grass.

Earlier this year, counties were told that mowing of medians and shoulders on state and U.S. highways would be limited to once a year. After safety concerns about visibility were raised, counties were told they could mow 300 feet from a median crossover or intersection.

"We appreciate the (Department of Transportation's) flexibility regarding mowing where safety is an issue; like the Department, safety is our paramount concern," the letter states. "But we believe that multiple cuts over the course of the season, combined with the authority to continue special cuttings for safety, would best serve the public interest."

Racine County initiated their own program earlier this month using volunteer inmates from the Racine County Jail to mow the medians. That program, which uses non-violent offenders in a work release program, will continue, according to Geoff Greiveldinger, the county's chief of staff.

Greiveldinger said even if the state decides to relax the mowing restrictions in part, the county may continue with the inmate program.

The letter from Wisconsin officials says they would be willing to work with the DOT on other approaches to median and shoulder maintenance, including low-maintenance and natural plantings that don't require continual mowing, or involving local residents in median vegetation upkeep, similar to the Adopt a Highway program.

The letter is signed by McReynolds, Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser, Milwaukee County Interim Director of Transportation and Public Works Jack Takerian, Ozaukee County Administrator Thomas Meaux, Walworth County Deputy Administrator Shane Crawford, Washington County Board Chairman Herb Tennies and Waukesha County Executive Daniel Vrakas.