As budget talks near, it has become clear to me that if the Lewiston city officials would just use a little common sense, much savings could occur without making cuts.

That was ever so apparent when I noticed city employees sweeping sidewalks along East Avenue on March 30, two days before a snowstorm was predicted with upward of a foot of snow expected. Just as I suspected, when the city plowed on April 1, a good deal of the sand that had been swept in the road was deposited back on the sidewalks.

Now, city employees will either have to sweep those sidewalks again or leave them covered with sand. Either scenario I find unacceptable.

I appreciate sand-free roads and sidewalks as much as the next person, but the wisdom of doing this in March baffles me.

Too bad the Public Works Department was not focused on filling all the potholes I have had to avoid before wasting the taxpayers’ money sweeping so early.

Jason Lowit, Lewiston