Okla-homey
9/23/2008, 07:36 PM
I get this from a colleague in East Tennessee. National road salt shortage this coming winter.
By Darius Radzius
Reporter / WJHL
Published: September 23, 2008
Higher fuel costs and increased demand are blamed for a shortage of the salt that's spread on your roads when the weather becomes icy. "If" communities can find salt, they're paying a whole lot more than last year.
Another commodity throws salt on already wounded budgets for some tri-cities municipalities. More than a dozen cities and towns like Kingsport, Bristol, and Johnson City joined Knoxville to bid out for road salt as they do every August.
"This year, no bids came back. We sent out another and it too was not returned," said Ryan McReynolds, Kingsport public works director.
That means road crews will be spreading what they have left from last year. When salt can be found, towns will shell out more than 160 dollars per ton-nearly three times last years price.
Kingsport has 1,300 tons of salt on hand, but on average use anywhere from 900 to 2,200 tons per year.
"Really the question was how comfortable we felt with the amount of tonnage we have on hand and how willing we were willing to pay a premium for this period of time," said McReynolds.
While smaller cities find themselves paying more for salt, county governments are breathing a sign of relief after getting their salt contracts earlier this year.
"As the old say goes, the early bird gets the worm," said Allan Pope, Sullivan County highway commissioner.
Sullivan County locked in their price this spring at $73 a ton and they have all the salt they need this winter. "We're at maximum capacity right now," said Pope.
Pope says salt manufacturers cut back on production after several warm winters, but last winter was rough up north. "The northern states did get a lot of snow. The DOTs and the municipalities are buying it up," said Pope.
Even those who escaped the price spike this time may not be so lucky next year if manufacturers don't step up production.
By Darius Radzius
Reporter / WJHL
Published: September 23, 2008
Higher fuel costs and increased demand are blamed for a shortage of the salt that's spread on your roads when the weather becomes icy. "If" communities can find salt, they're paying a whole lot more than last year.
Another commodity throws salt on already wounded budgets for some tri-cities municipalities. More than a dozen cities and towns like Kingsport, Bristol, and Johnson City joined Knoxville to bid out for road salt as they do every August.
"This year, no bids came back. We sent out another and it too was not returned," said Ryan McReynolds, Kingsport public works director.
That means road crews will be spreading what they have left from last year. When salt can be found, towns will shell out more than 160 dollars per ton-nearly three times last years price.
Kingsport has 1,300 tons of salt on hand, but on average use anywhere from 900 to 2,200 tons per year.
"Really the question was how comfortable we felt with the amount of tonnage we have on hand and how willing we were willing to pay a premium for this period of time," said McReynolds.
While smaller cities find themselves paying more for salt, county governments are breathing a sign of relief after getting their salt contracts earlier this year.
"As the old say goes, the early bird gets the worm," said Allan Pope, Sullivan County highway commissioner.
Sullivan County locked in their price this spring at $73 a ton and they have all the salt they need this winter. "We're at maximum capacity right now," said Pope.
Pope says salt manufacturers cut back on production after several warm winters, but last winter was rough up north. "The northern states did get a lot of snow. The DOTs and the municipalities are buying it up," said Pope.
Even those who escaped the price spike this time may not be so lucky next year if manufacturers don't step up production.