There was a report by Public Works Director Tom Marquardt at the February 21, 2008 town board meeting that I think blog readers will find interesting. It was in regards to the decreasing salt supply the town and other areas of the state are facing due to the inclimate weather we are experiencing.
I am posting directly from the Feb. 21 town board minutes:
"Director Marquardt stated that the average snowfall for this area is about 46 inches per year, and we are over 70 inches this year. Our salt usage has gone up considerably. Budgeted salt for this year for purchase in 2008 is about 1500 tons. Currently, we have purchased 1200 tons. We have another 300 tons in Green Bay. Our total salt usage in 2007 was about 2000 tons. He added that the salt has been cut 50/50 with limestone chips to make our supply stretch and added that all communities are having problems with their salt supplies at this point.
Another tactic the Town is using to stretch the salt supply is by using an agricultural product made from sugar beets which pre-wets the salt and is a bio-degradable product unlike calcium chloride. This product is found to reduce the freezing point of the salt brine when placed on the road. Our salt purchase price for this year’s budget was $34.10/ton, currently if salt can be found to purchase, it is about $80/ton. With the rationing being done, we should have enough until the end of the season, but we are still looking for additional suppliers."
