OCRC ready for winter 2018 amid higher salt prices
 This chart shows the fluctuation in road salt prices for the Ottawa County Road Commission since the 2004 winter season.
GRAND HAVEN, Mich. – The Ottawa County Road Commission is working to save money amid high salt prices for the upcoming winter maintenance season.
The Road Commission will pay $62.84 per ton for an allocation of 22,500 tons of road salt for the 2018-19 season -- an increase of more than $26 per ton compared to last season.
“The increase in salt price represents an increase of approximately $500,000-to-$600,000 in Road Commission winter expenses,” Ottawa County Road Commission Managing Director Brett Laughlin said. “The Road Commission has a fixed budget, and this additional cost could impact the proposed summer road improvements.”
With a price increase on the way -- and available salt to purchase in its 2017-18 contract – it was determined to purchase 3,300 tons of salt still available from last season’s allocation at a price of $36.46 per ton. The price was valid through the end of August.
The Road Commission expects to take delivery of the salt this month. Each of the county’s four garages will receive a little more than 800 tons of this supply.
For its 2018-19 contract, the Road Commission is committed to purchasing at least 80 percent of the allocated tonnage – with guaranteed pricing for up to 130 percent -- of the salt at the contracted price. Anything beyond that, and the Road Commission could pay extra.
The Road Commission orders its winter salt supply in April via the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget’s MiDeal statewide purchasing program. Prices aren’t known until later in the year once salt companies bid on the contracts.
Price of salt vs. other road commodities
How does the price per ton of road salt compare to other products used by the OCRC throughout the year, such as gravel and asphalt?
Gravel costs range from $6.95 to $10.25 per ton, and asphalt prices can range from $58 up to $125 per ton, depending on the type of material and quantity purchased.
How road salt works
Ottawa County Road Commission crews do not put salt on the road surface prior to a snowfall, as it’s considered a waste of time and money. Salt doesn’t adhere to a dry road and will likely be pushed off the road before it’s able to do its job.
Salt is most effective right after snow has accumulated and the temperature is 20 degrees Fahrenheit or more. In these conditions, the salt and snow will mix, melting snow into a slush that can be plowed off the pavement
If the temperature is below 20 degrees, the salt will have difficulty melting the snow and ice, so other methods are typically used.
In these instances, abrasives (like sand) are often put down for traction. Additionally, calcium chloride or other liquid treatments can be added to enhance the ability to melt the ice and snow.
The Road Commission may change the mixture of salt and additives based on the ground temperature.
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