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Local municipalities stocked up on rock salt for winter

By Harry Funksuzanne Elliott 3 min read
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Yes, that was one mild November and start of December.

But winter hasn’t started officially yet, and the Farmers’ Almanac provides this post-Dec. 21 prediction for Pennsylvania: “Snowy and unseasonably cold.”

That forecast might be a bit unsettling for municipal officials who remember a similar situation two winters ago, when supplies of rock salt ran perilously low. Prices subsequently surged, with a 37 percent increase in the salt contract negotiated by the South Hills Area Council of Governments, to $79.29 a ton. Municipalities in the joint-purchasing consortium agreed to the price because of a lack of suitable alternatives.

The good news for 2015-16: Supplier Cargill, Inc., North Olmsted, Ohio, lowered the cost for SHACOG by $10 per 2,000 pounds, and there is plenty of salt to make winter driving somewhat safer for South Hills motorists.

“The township also used a salt brine application, in addition to salt, for better adhesion to the road surface and to economize salt usage and effectiveness,” Mark Mansfield, assistant manager in Upper St. Clair, said about his municipality. “In certain situations the salt brine is also used to pretreat roadways in advance of predicted storm events.”

The township has the capacity to store about 2,500 tons of rock salt under cover in its domed unit off McLaughlin Run Road.

Local municipalities generally are ordering between 5,000 and 8,000 tons for the winter and can secure more if the weather proves to be uncooperative.

“We base the estimated salt purchase upon past usage and amount of storage,” said Jerry Duke, Bethel Park director of community services. “If the previous year was a hard winter and reserve supplies are down, we will purchase additional to build up the reserve.”

Bethel Park maintains more than 120 miles of local and state roads for winter operations.

“We have a minimum of 13 trucks during an event taking care of the roads,” Duke said. “We are proud of the individuals in the public works department who complete this task, sometimes under the most dangerous conditions.”

South Fayette Township, which purchases salt through the state’s COSTARS cooperative purchasing program, also has benefited from a reduction in price over the previous year, paying $343,900 for an initial 5,000 tons. Nick Nickolas, public works superintendent, and Butch Truitt, public works director, consider factors such as the average amount of winter salt normally used, weather reports and road mileage in determining how much to order.

In addition to SHACOG, Peters Township orders some of its salt through COSTARS.

“We budget based on a moderate to severe winter,” township manager Mike Silvestri said.

In Mt. Lebanon, which purchases through SHACOG, the budget for rock salt allocated in the proposed 2016 budget decreased $13,530 compared with the current year. The severe winter two years ago resulted in the municipality amending its 2014 budget with an additional $180,000 for salt and snow-removal chemicals.

Contacts for municipalities/public works departments:

• Bethel Park – 412-833-2000

• Mt. Lebanon – 412-343-3403

• Peters – 724-941-6161

• South Fayette – 412-221-8700

• Upper St. Clair – 412-831-9000

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