Lawrence resident Justin McDaniel pedals through South Park on his way to work Friday. More snow blanketed the city early Friday morning. Lawrence has received 20 inches of snow this year.

Six-year-old Terrell Spates slides an old children's car seat down a snow-packed Harper Street Friday. He

The snow that has continued to pile up this week has caused some essential city services to run at a slower pace, as slippery surfaces and mounds of snow impede workers.

“Most of our trouble comes with parking lots that haven’t been cleaned, and when they have been cleaned, they leave a pile of snow in front of the garbage cans,” said Bob Yoos, the city’s solid waste division manager. This means sanitation workers have to wait until areas are clear of snow to collect garbage.

Mike Behrend, station manager at the Vermont Street post office, 645 Vt., said slick surfaces make it harder for postal carriers to deliver mail.

“There may be some type of variance in terms of how long it takes them to get around,” he said, warning customers that their mail may be delivered later in the day than usual. “We have safety talks every day, reminding (postal carriers) to be careful out there, reminding them to be hydrated and more attentive” to street conditions and icy stairs.

But as more sun starts to peek out from behind the clouds, Yoos said his staff’s job will get easier.

“It looks like we’ll be in pretty good shape this weekend, because the streets are having some sun on them,” he said.

Behrend said his postal workers will get the job done, regardless of the weather.

“We plan to deliver every piece, every day,” he said.