January 2023

Grounds Management

PGMS Green Star Grand Award

A PGMS Green Star Grand Award was presented to Texas A&M University and the SSC Grounds Team, led by Mike Teal, in recognition of the Military Walk. The Military Walk is a 2,500 ft. pathway through the historic portion of campus that displays statues and memorials featuring stories of campus traditions.  The walk was originally incorporated on campus over 100 years ago as a dirt road that the Corps of Cadets used to march to and from the Mess Hall.

SSC maintains the Military Walk to APPA I standards, utilizing our horticulturalists, arborists, and specialized teams to ensure our service matches the Aggie standard of tradition and excellence.  The SSC team is responsible for maintaining seasonal color planted in containers by each monument, pruning and shaping trees along the walk, mulching the live oaks and plant beds in the area, and ensuring a well-manicured landscape at all times, among other tasks.

Only at RELLIS

There are many challenges we face in our daily operations from extreme weather conditions to many administrative duties. At RELLIS, we are tasked with a unique challenge in servicing the Texas A&M Honeybee Lab. The TAMU Honeybee Lab conducts research on honeybee colonization and pollination in multiple outdoor box stands. Even though the research is performed outdoors, the grass and landscape like any other location need to be serviced.

With safety in mind, our employees take extra precautions when servicing this property. Bee suits are always worn when mowing and trimming around the beehives. At times the bee swarms can be so extreme that it is difficult to see. The direction in which the grass is being discharged from the mower or trimmer is also key: nobody likes grass clippings in their home, including these insects. Weather plays a big role in how aggressive the bees react; clear and mild temperature days are much more ideal than cloudy and warm.

These are a few of the techniques we have picked up over the years to keep employees safe while servicing the TAMU Honeybee Lab. Challenging to say the least but only at RELLIS does one need to add bee suits the PPE repertoire.   Provided by Stephen Gerhard, Grounds Manager-Rellis

Supporting the Elephant Walk

In celebration of the annual Elephant Walk held November 16, 2022, the Greenhouse department of SSC Grounds creates an elephant topiary to be placed on Military Walk each year.  Pictured are Robbin McDougald and Shannon FitzGerald, who helped make the beautiful topiary.

Elephant Walk is a tradition at Texas A&M that was started in 1925, when seniors decided to take one final walk around campus together, to relive their times in Aggieland. As they walked single file around campus, each person with his hand on the shoulder of the person in front of him, an observer noted that “they looked like elephants about to die.” Thus the tradition of Elephant Walk was born.

Turf Times at TAMU

Early in 2020, we, the SSC Turf department, were contacted by an engineer from Exmark to see if we would be interested in helping test a prototype zero turn mower. He said it would be larger than the current 96” mower that they had in production and that specific details would follow. We were excited for the opportunity and jumped at the chance. That April we took delivery of a 144” zero turn mower and began the testing process. Throughout the 2020 and 2021 mowing seasons, we communicated regularly with an Exmark engineer in Nebraska and sent weekly log sheets detailing information like the engine hours, operating conditions, what we liked about the machine and any improvements we thought would be beneficial. This feedback was used to help Exmark make design improvements before the unit hit production.

In 2022, the mower reached the production phase but we were given the opportunity to continue using the machine and provide long-term durability testing. The A&M campus is an excellent “proving grounds” for equipment due to its long, hot growing season, diverse terrain and nearly endless amount of grass to mow.

To date, we have completed around 1400 hours of mowing throughout campus with this prototype unit and have benefited greatly from the process. We accomplish around three times more mowing with this 144” mower than we do with the other 60” mowers in our fleet, which provides a significant improvement in production, reduces labor hours and allows us to spend more time on fine details throughout campus.

Provided by Richard Scher, Grounds Manager

Custodial Services

Behind the Scenes at Kyle Field

A.J. Sims, Unit Director of Custodial Operations, and his custodial crew prepare Kyle Field for over 100,000 fans every football season.  The team spends about 1,000 hours each week getting the stadium in pristine condition for all visitors.  AJ gets his team pumped up and always enforces the team effort.

Facilities Maintenance

Maintenance Team Keeps Cool

Keep your COOL!!! Shout out to the TAMU-SSC Maintenance HVAC shop for thinking “outside the box” and being proactive in their safe work habits regarding working in the heat by using magnetic umbrellas. An HVAC technician spends most of the day in the heat while being exposed to live electricity that can kill and refrigerants that can burn the skin. Not being able to think clearly in these situations can lead to injury or even death.  An umbrella may be a pain to tote up to the roof, but it is 20+ degrees cooler in the shade. Great job Stopping and Thinking as we Act, HVAC crew.

Provided by Ronald Kleppel, Safety Manager

With Sympathy

Larry Luza, an associate for nearly 48 years passed away on December 17th, after his medical battle.  Larry worked in the maintenance department in Athletics as a general maintenance technician.  In January of 2020 Larry semi - retired as a transitional associate but continued working until early November.  He was well liked by his coworkers and the client.  His work partner, Barry had the following to say about him,  “Larry was known as “Senior” to his friends and co-workers. Never to be late, he would often have the habit of showing up to work an hour and a half early just to read the newspaper and get coffee started for everyone in the shop. He applied his skills from working at Sears Appliances and HVAC in his daily work and mentored the many that worked with him. Larry was an excellent mechanic when it came to rebuilding pumps, blowers, compressors, etc.”

Our deepest condolences to his wife and family.

Holiday Celebrations

Custodial Team

Custodial held their holiday celebration on December 9th at the Zone Club.  Great food and fellowship was enjoyed by all. 

Grounds Department held their winter training/holiday celebration on December 5th at the Hildebrand Equine Center.  Mike Teal, RDO, was gifted a custom made baseball bat and a ball signed by his team.  Food and fun was had by all.

EDCS hosted their annual Christmas Ornament Exchange on December 15th.   This event originated over 25 years ago and has happened every year (except for 2020).  Numbers are drawn and people take turns opening or stealing ornaments and the fun ensues.  A catered lunch was enjoyed as well.  It’s just another way to get into the holiday spirit.