State Controlling Board looks into Ohio road salt purchases

COLUMBUS — A lawmaker panel has agreed to pay an expert witness for his testimony in a lawsuit alleging anti-trust activities by two salt companies while at the same time approving the purchase of additional road salt from one of the latter.

The somewhat unusual combination of items on today’s Controlling Board agenda drew questions from two Democratic members, but both were approved without objection.

The board, which reviews and signs off on certain state spending and contracting decisions, OK’d a request from the attorney general’s office to pay up to $125,000 to an Indiana man to provide “statistical and economic consulting services... as well as expert testimony” in a lawsuit against Morton Salt and Cargill, the only companies mining salt in the state.

Howard Marvel, a longtime professor at Ohio State University, will be paid $600 an hour for the task, according to documents.

The attorney general alleges the two companies divvied up the state and manipulated road salt prices in a scheme that cost state and local governments $50 million or more.

The companies deny the allegations.