The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

Grounds Maintenance hopes to utilize students' absence

Lindsey J. Mastis

Daily Egyptian

Even with last week's snowstorm cleaned up, SIUC grounds workers aren't slowing down one bit.

With the recent snowstorm, grounds maintenance workers, along with the rest of the Physical Plant, are behind schedule, but plan to clean up and catch up while students and faculty are on winter break.

Dennis Kiehna, grounds foreman, knows his department will not be able to fully catch up while students and faculty are on break, but he hopes to come close.

"We'll do maintenance around Faner where the classes are always in session and that's a building that doesn't like noise," he said. "We'll take care of safety items such as dead limbs ˜ we'll probably put a good dent in it."

Grounds Maintenance takes care of a number of tasks involving landscaping, trash pick-up and snow removal but they also help with moving and asbestos removal.

Phillip Gatton, director, said everyone available after the 6- to 8-inch snowfall was helping with the removal.

"There is also general clean up; getting the salt off the sidewalks and getting the campus cleaned up," he said. "There is always something to do here."

John Swiger, a laborer, said his favorite part of working for SIUC is planting flowers. He and his colleagues will return to work Jan. 2, after about a week's break.

"We're going to be trimming hollies at the Parkinson Building," he said. "It's a high traffic area."

Trees and shrubs are being trimmed so students can see bikers riding around corners. Overall, the Grounds Maintenance crews hope to take care of campus hazards and try to catch up, but all that depends on the weather.

Reporter Lindsey J. Mastis can be reached at ljmastis@dailyegyptian.com

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