HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977 10-26 The case of the missing salt THE REVIEW The case of
the missing salt
ty Anne Skinner
compared with last year's open market
.0 Salt for roads will be in low supply this price of $13.05 a ton.
winter, according to Maplewood City The engineering department rejected
Engineer Bill Cass. Apparently, the east that bid and relet the bids,whereupon no
coast has been "running scared" after quotes were given. Since then the
last winter's snowfall and has secured a department has been authorized by the
majority of the available salt for itself. city council to purchase salt on the open
Cass said that leaves one of the mid- market, which is generally more costly.
iiest's two main suppliers. The other, Cass said he had recently received
Morton Salt, has in the past shipped salt quotes of $18 a ton and $19.45 a ton for
from its mine on Weeks Island, La. unguaranteed amounts. "They said they
However, the federal government has would sell us salt but they wouldn't
ince taken over the salt mine for fuel oil guarantee they could sell us the amount
storage this winter. we need,"Cass said.At$20 a ton,300 tons
"The salt will either be unavailable or will run the city about $6,500.
vailable in very limited quantities," Once the salt is purchased, it is mixed
Lass said. When the city let bids for its with sand.Cass indicated he was pursuing
usual 300 tons of salt earlier this fall,only alternate methods of purchasing salt
One bidder replied.The bid was$22 a ton, which might be less costly in the long run.