Park Ridge, Nation, Low on Salt Because of Nasty Winter: Mayor Schmidt

Letter from Park Ridge Mayor Dave Schmidt:

I have been conferring regularly over the past few weeks with our City Manager and the Public Works Director regarding winter storm response and particularly the issue of salting the streets.

I have already written to you about some of the reasoning behind when salt is used and when it is held back. I learned this morning from our PW Director that we are running low on salt, although we should have enough left to handle 6-8 more snow storms if our supply is used wisely. We have already had 52 inches of snow, well above the 39 inch average.

By way of background, the City had a stockpile of salt left over from last year, approximately 2000 tons. The last two winters saw us use 1800 tons and 3100 tons, respectively. Based on staff's recommendation, we budgeted for an additional 2400 tons, for a total of 4400 tons. We are down to about 1000 tons, and it is still only January.

Staff has been searching for additional supplies, but it appears there is little or none to be had, because the severe winter weather across the country is causing the demand to spike to historic proportions.

I just finished a quick internet search, and I can tell you that the salt shortage issue is not just area-wide, it is nationwide. I read stories from Montana, Ohio and Vermont where the situation is far worse than ours. For instance, we have the same amount of salt left as does Dayton, Ohio, a city of 140,000 people.  One more storm and they are out, and since supplies are tight everywhere, they may be out of luck.

The bottom line is that the City will be altering its salting procedures unless and until we are able to locate more salt for purchase. For now, the Public Works Department will not be salting side streets. Arterial and collector streets will be salted twice, once at the beginning and again once the storm has passed.
I assure you this is not a budgetary issue.

We have more money for salt, but staff cannot find anywhere to buy it, even at inflated prices. It is purely a result of low supply and excessively high demand. In many ways, we are fortunate because we started the year with a hefty stockpile and our staff has tried to use our supplies wisely, recognizing that there are still many weeks left in the winter season and that obtaining more salt may be difficult if not impossible.

I ask the residents to be patient and understanding.  Above all, I ask them to be careful driving.  Take your time.  Saving a couple minutes is not worth risking your life or those of your loved ones and neighbors. And remember, think positive. Pitchers and catchers report in about three weeks. 

A couple residents asked why don't we use sand on the streets. This issue came up a few years ago during another especially nasty winter. Our Public Works Director says that sand is only used as a last resort, because it runs off into the sewers where it forms a layer at the bottom. The thicker the layer, the less capacity the sewers have. And I do not need to remind you that sewer capacity is already a problem in Park Ridge.

Nevertheless, I have been told that sand will be used if the salt runs out completely and we have a storm which causes slick roads.  Let us hope we do not reach that point.

Thanks to the residents for sending in their suggestions.