Road department to use alternate salt source for upcoming winter

A massive increase in the cost of winter fill road salt has prompted the Boardman Township Road Department to opt out of the State of Ohio cooperative for road salt purchases.

While the cost of road salt in 2013-2014 was $27.50 per ton, the cost for the upcoming season when purchasing through the state program is $146.18 per ton, an increase of nearly 525 percent.

Road Department Superintendent Lawrence R. Wilson says that rather than bearing this huge increase, the township has instead purchased summer fill salt at a cost of $42 per ton, and will have a 4,500-ton supply on hand for this winter.

“We were told that all mined salt in the state of Ohio had already been purchased and that salt is now being imported from Chile,” said Wilson. “The much higher price is due to transportation costs, so we’ve opted out of the state program and instead are looking to purchase salt on our own.”

In an effort to extend the salt, the summer fill will be mixed with aggregate for application on township roads this winter.

“Due to the exceptionally severe winter, we used 7,500 tons of salt in 2013-2014,” said Wilson. “Typical usage is closer to 5,000 tons. We’re hoping for milder conditions this winter.”

The salt/aggregate mixture may not be quite as effective during heavy snow events, but it was the most economical route for the township and its residents in light of the massive increase in cost-per-ton for winter fill.