With spring-like weather arriving early this year, your street maintenance crews will begin their spring cleanup program earlier than usual.

Once arterial and collector streets are cleaned up, city crews will be working to complete initial sweeping of residential streets. Street sweeping is an activity that street crews continue until the winter snows fly.

It reduces dust and creates an environment that benefits everyone whether we live here or are visitors. Residential streets are swept an average of four to six times annually and all arterials are swept bi-weekly.

The following tips will help us in our efforts to meet the goal of providing a high quality of life which is sustainable and which we have come to enjoy: fresh air, beautiful views, and clean water. Your continued assistance is appreciated.

Sweep your sidewalks as soon as possible.

It's OK to sweep sidewalk sand debris into the street for sweepers to pick up during the spring clean-up, but please do not make piles in the gutter.Sweepers are not designed to handle excessive amounts of sand, gravel, dirt, or large rocks.

Do not put debris such as sod, garden or wood waste, limbs, or branches in the street.

Try to move parked cars if you hear the sweeper operating in your neighborhood.

Trim low-hanging branches and limbs from your curbside trees, shrubs, or plants to allow the sweeper to clean as close to the curbline as possible. Street sweepers have a higher profile than cars and pickup trucks.Damage to mirrors, antennas, and strobe lights are costly in terms of repairs and down time.

Trying to schedule certain streets on certain days for sweeping is not a feasible option at this time.

Please listen to KVNI for daily updates and to learn when the sweepers will be in your area.

For more information, please call 769-2233.

Tim Martin is street superintendent for the city of Coeur d'Alene.