MONROE - The winter of 2007-08 is still being felt in Monroe.
It will cost the city almost three times more this winter than last to keep streets salted, due in large part to a national salt shortage related to last year's harsh Midwest winter.
Street Supervisor Tom Boll submitted the best quote at $120 a ton from EnviroTech Services, Greeley, Colo., which the City of Monroe Board of Public Works approved Monday.
"It's not favorable," he told the board, "but it's happening all over."
Last year, salt was at $42.06 a ton, and the city used 1,600 tons, Boll said.
EnviroTech will bring the salt as far as Windsor, where it will be unloaded and stockpiled. Boll said the city will have to go get it, but added that the company will load the salt into trucks.
Board member Mark Coplien said the quote was a good one.
"There's a huge shortage," he said. "It's terrible."
"It's bad for everyone."
Boll said the city could "piggy-back" on the state when they go out for bid. He added the city's name to a state list to be notified when that happens.
Public Works also accepted the quote from Rufer & Son, Monroe, for sand at $5.25 a ton, stockpiled, or $7.25 a ton delivered. Boll said the city would go get the sand "unless we have a winter like last year, and I don't have time."
The quote for sand was not significantly higher than the last time the city ordered in 2006. Boll said the cost was around $4.75 a ton. But the city did not order any last year, and was using up the stockpile it had, he said.
The board discussed possible ways to ease the cost of keeping the streets clear this winter, including cutting back on salt and using more sand/salt mixture.
The board also discussed Madison's policy of not clearing side streets until snowfall was over 4 inches, but that approach results in snow-packed streets, they decided.
"It's best to just keep scraping on them," Boll said.
"And hope the sun shines on them," Coplien added.
It will cost the city almost three times more this winter than last to keep streets salted, due in large part to a national salt shortage related to last year's harsh Midwest winter.
Street Supervisor Tom Boll submitted the best quote at $120 a ton from EnviroTech Services, Greeley, Colo., which the City of Monroe Board of Public Works approved Monday.
"It's not favorable," he told the board, "but it's happening all over."
Last year, salt was at $42.06 a ton, and the city used 1,600 tons, Boll said.
EnviroTech will bring the salt as far as Windsor, where it will be unloaded and stockpiled. Boll said the city will have to go get it, but added that the company will load the salt into trucks.
Board member Mark Coplien said the quote was a good one.
"There's a huge shortage," he said. "It's terrible."
"It's bad for everyone."
Boll said the city could "piggy-back" on the state when they go out for bid. He added the city's name to a state list to be notified when that happens.
Public Works also accepted the quote from Rufer & Son, Monroe, for sand at $5.25 a ton, stockpiled, or $7.25 a ton delivered. Boll said the city would go get the sand "unless we have a winter like last year, and I don't have time."
The quote for sand was not significantly higher than the last time the city ordered in 2006. Boll said the cost was around $4.75 a ton. But the city did not order any last year, and was using up the stockpile it had, he said.
The board discussed possible ways to ease the cost of keeping the streets clear this winter, including cutting back on salt and using more sand/salt mixture.
The board also discussed Madison's policy of not clearing side streets until snowfall was over 4 inches, but that approach results in snow-packed streets, they decided.
"It's best to just keep scraping on them," Boll said.
"And hope the sun shines on them," Coplien added.