Crystal Lake to Get 1,500 More Tons of Salt

The city’s preemptive decision last week to purchase more road salt seems like a good one. Especially following a massive November blizzard that dumped several inches of snow on Crystal Lake this past week. The City Council voted on Nov. 20 to buy 1,500 tons of extra salt with the hopes of keeping local streets clear and safe through the end of the winter, according to the Northwest Herald.

The city will pay $64.41 per ton for the salt through an agreement with the Lake County Division of Transportation, according to city documents.

The city must estimate salt needs two years in advance to get its contracted price of $46.69 per ton with Mineral Compass, city officials said. And with less in reserves heading into this winter season, Public Works director Michael Magnuson wrote in a memo to that it would be wise to stock up in order “to have a reserve quantity in storage for unforeseen contingencies.”

Since no additional salt can be bought through the Mineral Compass contract, the city decided to pay more to contract with Lake County. The city reached out to Lake County after first soliciting bids for the 1,500 tons of extra salt in September and receiving just one bid from Midwest Salt for $97.35 per ton, Magnuson wrote.

• Get News Alerts and Newsletters from Patch
  

“Inquiries with some of the vendors indicate that a salt shortage for the start of this winter season is driving up costs, some vendors do want to commit to delivering additional purchases, or will only do so at an escalated price,” according to Magnuson.

City officials reached out to area municipalities and learned the Lake Co. DOT contract allowed the addition of government agencies.

MORE VIA THE CITY OF CRYSTAL LAKE'S SNOW & ICE CONTROL PROGRAM WEBSITE

PHOTO VIA CRYSTAL LAKE