Collusion alleged in salt-price spike

By D.A. Wilkinson

wilkinson@vindy.com

LISBON

Columbiana County Engineer Bert Dawson told the county commissioners Wednesday that there was collusion in the bidding for road salt that rose in price by 236 percent during the winter of 2008-2009.

Dawson based his comment on the report generated by the Office of the Inspector General on its own. The report was released Jan. 6.

The report placed the blame on Cargill Deicing Technology and the Morton Salt Co.

The report stated that, “Cargill and Morton have engaged in anti-competitive market allocation practices that have cost the state tens of millions of dollars.”

The report also stated that the two companies did not communicate on salt bids, bit it did find that the two companies created a “duopoly” in the Ohio’s salt market.

Dawson said that in 2009, the county spent $86,000 on salt. In 2010, the county had to pay $173,000.