RDO steps in to help local cemeteries with lawn maintenance

RAPID CITY, S.D. — A local company is helping Rapid City during its budget crisis.

With millions of dollars in cuts looming, the Mount Calvary Cemetery has stopped seasonal hiring, causing maintenance to fall by the wayside.

Lawn and maintenance company, RDO, saw that the cemeteries needed help maintaining the grounds, and stepped in.

“We were a little bit worried about the budget so we were unable to hire our seasonal labor,” said Scott Anderson of the City Parks Division. “So right when it was probably most important, about the first of May, we had basically nobody here at the cemetery to do much for mowing.”

RDO offered to volunteer their services, and is helping cut grass and edge during the week.

“Their loved ones are here, they want it kept nice. They deserve that,” said RDO Manager, Sid Houdek. “With the COVID-19 and the hiring freezes that that brought about it just makes sense that we get involved the way we can, and this is one of the areas that we’re able to help.”

RDO will have a three man crew out for eight hours a day all this week to spruce up the spots that need it.