To Mercer Island Reporter, City of Mercer Island: We live off of East Mercer and have seen many near collisions due to bikers and frustrated drivers passing unsafely, so we are glad that a bike lane will hopefully be used by the bikers. However, there is another problem that seems to be completely ignored. Although we have underground wiring on our street, S.E. 54th, we are frequently the victims of power outages due to trees falling on East Mercer and S.E. 53rd Place. Would it not make sense to coordinate the paving of the path with the burying of the power lines? There seems to be a continuing trimming of trees along these roads, which has to be an expensive cost to the city. This trimming does not prevent the trees from falling on the power lines, which results in several days at a time of our being without power. One year because of the extended loss of power, we had to move to a hotel at considerable personal expense. May we suggest that the city coordinate with the power company and at least ask them to share the expense and bury the lines, which would be a considerable saving to all of us, as we pay as taxpayers and power customers.

Kathleen and Tom May