BLISSFIELD, MI (Toledo News Now) - Although winter is still four months away, many road crews in Lenawee County are talking about salt. The price of salt for icy roads is going up, and the county, as well as many cities and towns, could feel the effects.
Officials with the Blissfield Department of Public Works say they have enough salt in stock for a normal winter, but if it's anything like last winter, it'll be a costly one.
It could be a salty shock to the system for towns throughout Michigan. Last year's price for salt was more than $39 a ton; this year that price could be more than $60 a ton.
"We have approximately 150 tons of salt on hand at this moment," said Mark Strahan, supervisor of the Blissfield Department of Public Works. "That's about what we use in a year's time."
If that 150 tons isn't enough this winter, the Village of Blissfield and other cities and towns will be left paying much more for salt, which would hurt many budgets.
"Hopefully we'll have enough in the budget to make it through," said Strahan. "I mean, we're still going to salt the roads, make it safe for the public."
The Village of Blissfield, as well as the Lenawee County Road Commission, has put in a bid for the salt, and officials should know soon exactly how much they'll have to pay.
