MONROE - Members of the Board of Public Works took great pains Monday in choosing an ice control product for business owners to use, but that won't break the city's tight 2010 budget.
The board chose magnesium chloride hexohydrate, which was an alternative de-icing compound, for about $12.30 for a 50-pound bag, plus a delivery fee.
The board authorized the purchase of 400 bags, about two bags per downtown business. How long the supply will last depends on the severity of the winter weather.
To help offset the cost to the city, downtown business and property owners will be charged $5 per bag to use in front of their buildings.
In determining how much to charge owners for the alternative salt, board members based the cost against sodium chloride sold at about $10 per 50-pound bag.
Board members set the price below cost to encourage owners to use the alternative salt, but did not want to issue the compound for free in order to discourage over use. The compound sells at retail for about $18-20 per bag.
Property owners will be educated on the use of the compound, most likely through block captains and Monroe Main Street.
Magnesium chloride is a common replacement for sodium chloride, and can be used in temperature down to 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sodium chloride (rock salt, or halite) should not be used in temperatures below 15 degrees Fahrenheit, but keeps sidewalks dry.
Magnesium chloride attracts moisture and can cause a slippery film and may cause skin and eye irritations.
But, it is less damaging to plants and melts ice faster than sodium chloride. It is still highly corrosive to concrete surfaces, but when utilized as a de-icer, other chemical agents are added to reduce and minimize this potential, according to the United States Department of Agriculture's Web site.
For the newly poured concrete, sodium chloride will cause pitting on concrete surfaces. It will also damage plants and soils. But it is the most inexpensive compound used for deicing.
Board members also debated using a calcium magnesium acetate compound.
According to Engineering Supervisor Al Gerber, calcium magnesium acetate is safer for concrete cured for 30 days, but less than a year old.
Calcium magnesium acetate can be used in temperatures down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit and works better to prevent re-icing than as an ice remover.
But the quote Gerber had for calcium magnesium acetate was about $71 for a 55-pound bag. Estimating a minimum need of 200 bags, Gerber told board members the cost would run about $15,000 with delivery.
Calcium magnesium acetate is safer for plants and concrete, and the board considered charging $10 per bag to property owners. Board members did not want the extra $13,000 on the city's expense sheet.
A calcium magnesium acetate spray is available at $9.59 per gallon, for a total of about $2,600 for the winter season. But spraying requires extra cost for overtime labor and equipment, which board members did not want to invest in.
The board chose magnesium chloride hexohydrate, which was an alternative de-icing compound, for about $12.30 for a 50-pound bag, plus a delivery fee.
The board authorized the purchase of 400 bags, about two bags per downtown business. How long the supply will last depends on the severity of the winter weather.
To help offset the cost to the city, downtown business and property owners will be charged $5 per bag to use in front of their buildings.
In determining how much to charge owners for the alternative salt, board members based the cost against sodium chloride sold at about $10 per 50-pound bag.
Board members set the price below cost to encourage owners to use the alternative salt, but did not want to issue the compound for free in order to discourage over use. The compound sells at retail for about $18-20 per bag.
Property owners will be educated on the use of the compound, most likely through block captains and Monroe Main Street.
Magnesium chloride is a common replacement for sodium chloride, and can be used in temperature down to 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sodium chloride (rock salt, or halite) should not be used in temperatures below 15 degrees Fahrenheit, but keeps sidewalks dry.
Magnesium chloride attracts moisture and can cause a slippery film and may cause skin and eye irritations.
But, it is less damaging to plants and melts ice faster than sodium chloride. It is still highly corrosive to concrete surfaces, but when utilized as a de-icer, other chemical agents are added to reduce and minimize this potential, according to the United States Department of Agriculture's Web site.
For the newly poured concrete, sodium chloride will cause pitting on concrete surfaces. It will also damage plants and soils. But it is the most inexpensive compound used for deicing.
Board members also debated using a calcium magnesium acetate compound.
According to Engineering Supervisor Al Gerber, calcium magnesium acetate is safer for concrete cured for 30 days, but less than a year old.
Calcium magnesium acetate can be used in temperatures down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit and works better to prevent re-icing than as an ice remover.
But the quote Gerber had for calcium magnesium acetate was about $71 for a 55-pound bag. Estimating a minimum need of 200 bags, Gerber told board members the cost would run about $15,000 with delivery.
Calcium magnesium acetate is safer for plants and concrete, and the board considered charging $10 per bag to property owners. Board members did not want the extra $13,000 on the city's expense sheet.
A calcium magnesium acetate spray is available at $9.59 per gallon, for a total of about $2,600 for the winter season. But spraying requires extra cost for overtime labor and equipment, which board members did not want to invest in.