Leave sidewalks clear for customers

To the editor:While the last two winter storms wreaked havoc on our city, Cape Girardeau's road crews did an outstanding job keeping the streets cleared and as safe as possible. Their hard work and long hours were much appreciated, especially with the ice storm where they had to deal with the broken limbs and downed wires as well.

I do wish, though, the city's road crews would rethink how they handle the snow and ice removable on the streets in the downtown area such as Broadway, Spanish and Main. The road crews currently clear the streets by tossing the snow and ice onto the merchants' sidewalks. While the streets are cleared, customers wanting to shop or do business with these merchants face the challenge of ice-covered sidewalks. Merchants who cleared their sidewalks to the edge of the curb, only to have the road crews toss the ice and snow back up on the sidewalks, suffer from a high level of frustration.

For these few streets, please consider pushing the snow and ice to the middle of the street instead of over the curbs. I understand the extra work involved in having to double back and remove the pile in the middle, but at least the merchants could have customers walk safely into their businesses.

MARK KNEER, Circulation and Building Operations Director, Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau