Trending
EAST LIVERPOOL -- The city will remain in the state salt purchasing program for the upcoming winter season.
Council left the decision to Safety Service Director Bill Jones after discussion at council's July 6 meeting in which Jones reported a substantial price increase in the salt from $58 per ton last year to $151.85 per ton (a 262% price increase) for this year.
Jones explained that under the salt purchasing contract, the city is obligated to purchase 85% of the salt they committed to purchasing. The city committed to purchasing 1,800 tons, which means they would have to purchase a minimum of 1,500.
The city budgeted $150,000 for salt. The cost to purchase the minimum required amount would be $232,330.50, which creates a projected shortfall of $82,330.50.
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) gave municipalities who were facing this price increase the chance to opt out of the state salt contract for this year, but they would then have to purchase salt on the open market.
Jones has opted to go with the state's salt contract, because opting out would expose the city to the open market for road salt prices.
"At this time, there is no assurance regarding future availability or pricing, and vendors could potentially charge rates higher than the state contract price," Jones said.
Jones also noted that with the city having been awarded a $75,000 grant for the purchase and implementation of brine-making and distribution equipment, the use of the liquid brine as part of the city's winter maintenance operations "is expected to reduce overall salt consumption, improve winter road treatment effectiveness and help offset some of the financial impacts associated with the substantial increase in road salt costs."