Commending city employees for snow removal is nice, but let’s not forget the ones that do the real work. The city plows streets and deposits the snow on sidewalks that have been shoveled, or now need additional shoveling, by the homeowner. They then de-ice, and that’s it.

Spokane Public Schools maintenance had nine plow routes to clear parking lots at approximately 60 locations. Custodians use snow blowers at night to clear all sidewalks on and around their building. Plowing and blowing is done at night, to be completed by 7 a.m., before teachers and children are present.

Custodians would clear sidewalks only to find them covered with an ice berm a short time later thanks to the city. Snow blowers won’t move these berms. It takes heavy equipment from maintenance, usually during the day. The last two years, I worked for district maintenance. We had to rent loaders to put the snow over fences, only to have the city use the cleared area for their depository.

I guess taxpayers don’t care, it’s all their money, but I do think you should know who those are that are working hard solving problems with little recognition.

Dick Gardner

Spokane