Ohio Inspector General report criticizes salt companies

COLUMBUS — Anti-competitive practices by two road salt companies and a misinterpretation of state law by the state highway department cost Ohio tens of millions of dollars over 10 years, the state watchdog concluded.

The investigation report, released Thursday by the state inspector general’s office, also determined that North Olmsted-based Cargill Inc. and Chicago-based Morton Salt Co. violated a commitment to use Ohio salt by substituting salt mined elsewhere.

Both companies mine salt under Lake Erie under 100-year lease agreements with the Ohio.

Noted in the report were disparities in prices paid for salt between northeast Ohio counties and their counterparts just over the border in Pennsylvania.

For the complete story, read Saturday's Vindicator and Vindy.com