$650,000 Approved To Keep Salt At Safe Levels In Stamford

STAMFORD, CT — As Stamford began digging out from the major blizzard that barreled through the region Sunday into Monday, city officials approved a $650,000 request from the Road Maintenance Division to keep salt domes at safe levels for the remainder of the winter season.

The Board of Representatives Fiscal Committee unanimously approved the request Monday night. The money comes from the city's contingency fund.

"I've already spent all our money ordering salt for this season. I'm literally out based on current orders, so I need more money. It's that simple," said Road Maintenance Division Manager Thomas Turk to the Fiscal Committee. "The ($650,000) should get us through the rest of the season, which hopefully ends mid-March like normal. It could go to April."

Turk said the combination of a decreased budget, increased salt prices, and an abnormally active winter season contributed to the request.

The previous budget was $1 million, but it was reduced to $750,000. The price of salt was $62.10 per ton during the 2021-2022 winter season, but it is now $81.24 per ton.

"It just all came to a head this time," Turk said.

Stamford received around 16 inches of snow during the most recent blizzard.