Published: November 15, 2008 02:40 am      

Road salt supply may run low

Area officials are finding themselves paying higher prices for road salt, as a shortage that began last year is continuing.

In some cases, municipalities have paid upward of $100 per ton for salt. Only Clark County was able to secure salt at previous prices — typically around $55 per ton.

Clarksville paid $125 per ton and Street Department Commissioner Donnie Hansford said, “it was like pulling teeth to get it.”

Clarksville has between 500 and 600 tons left over from last year and has ordered an additional 700 tons for this season.

He noted that there were limits in place as to how much a municipality could purchase.

“I’ve had other commissioners call me from around the state, they’re having the same problem I am,” he said.

Next door, in Jeffersonville, about 400 tons of salt remain from last winter.

The Jeffersonville Street Department put out a bid to buy 1,500 tons more but was told it would only be sold 500, said Larry Thomas, the city’s communications director.

“It looks like the shortage of road salt we had last year is continuing,” he said.

Additionally, Thomas said, the price has increased for them as well. Last year, the city paid about $55 per ton. This year, it’s closer to $70 per ton.

Although, he said, he’s heard of municipalities paying much higher rates.

Sellersburg paid about the same amount as Jeffersonville, said Ken Alexander, director of the town’s Municipal Works Department.

The town was only allowed to purchase 120 tons, as much as they bought last year, he said.

Alexander said that order has been made, but he’s continuing to look for other sources.

He was unable to say how many tons the town had in stock, but said it was enough for now.

Clark County seems to have the largest supply of salt.

It has about 1,300 tons on hand and another 1,400 on order, said county highway director Hyun Lee.

He’d seen prices near $140 per ton, but was able to find a supplier selling for $55 per ton when the department took bids last May.

In a given year, the county uses between 1,000 and 2,000 tons of salt, depending on snowfall.

“We feel pretty safe based on past experience,” Lee said.

Charlestown officials could not be reached for comment on this story.