County’s salt supply standing tall

By Dean Shipley

Staff Writer

Communities all across Ohio are prepared for that big winter snowfall.

It just hasn’t happened yet.

The blip which occurred a week ago was only enough for two county salt trucks to be out for just a couple of hours, according to county engineer, David Brand.

So the county’s supply of salt is standing tall in the barn at 1,400 tons.

Brand said when and if it gets used on a storm in 2012, he has a contract to purchase an additional 3,000 tons. He said purchase price came in just short of $63 per ton.

It’s much too early to be counting dollars saved at this point. Brand said any cost savings will have to wait to be tabulated at the end of the season. But at this point it looks good.

“It’s setting up to be more mild than normal, but we’ll see,” he said.

If indeed winter’s icy fang is not so keen in 2012, then money saved on salt expenditures can be channeled into spring and summer repair projects.

But the bottom line at this time is keeping roads clear of snow and ice to provide motorist safety.

“Every year is a little different,” he said.

“You can prepare. You just have to wait and see what happens.”

As it stands, the equipment is sound and ready to go.

Last year’s snowfalls began in mid-December and continued through the remainder of the winter.

Last year’s totals for tons of salt used and overtime hours were not immediately available.