Bethel Park looking to purchase road salt
With last year’s road salt shortages in mind, Bethel Park municipal officials are getting ready to purchase a supply for the coming winter.
Council is expected to approve the purchase, being made through the South Hills Area Council of Governments Purchasing Alliance, at a meeting scheduled for Sept. 8.
Purchasing with the alliance will allow the municipality to pay a reduced price of $79.25 per ton, said Jerry Duke, director of community services.
The minimum order at that price will be 11,500 tons, which should last the whole winter, Duke said.
During an average winter, municipal road crews use just under eight tons of the ice melting product, he said. Last winter, which was exceptionally brutal with lots of small storms, the road crew said they went through 16,700 tons and even spread sand to stretch the supply.
In order to get the price through the purchasing alliance, the municipality must estimate the amount they will need and purchase at least 80 percent of that estimate. If they go over their estimate by 20 percent or more, they will pay the premium price for additional salt.