Jennifer Bowman

Battle Creek Enquirer

It may be two months before snow is expected to blanket the streets, but municipalities around Michigan have already been hit by winter maintenance costs.

That’s because the price of salt — poured onto icy roads throughout winter — is up nearly 50 percent this year at about $65.71 per ton, according to the County Road Association of Michigan. The cost has risen steadily over the past decade while revenue has continued to fall, the group said, and last winter was so harsh that vendors weren’t able to build up stockpiles.

At the city of Battle Creek’s salt dome on River Road sits about 3,000 tons of salt. Streets and Parks Superintendent Todd Gerber said it’s more than usual for this time of the year. Typically, the city would have about half that amount.

At last year’s prices, an order of 3,000 tons of salt would have cost the city some $147,000. This season’s price tag is nearly $100,000 more.

Like nearby municipalities, including Marshall and Springfield, Battle Creek orders its salt through a state purchasing program that allows for twice-yearly orders — “early fill,” which is delivered in the fall, and “seasonal backup” orders as needed during the winter.

Under the state contract, quantities are guaranteed and all vendors are required to keep a 30 percent extra supply in the state in case of a heavy winter. Municipalities are only required to accept 70 percent of their seasonal backup orders.

While prices for each municipality vary under the state contract, Battle Creek’s cost is $82.02 for the early-fill program and $82.30 for the seasonal program. The city has ordered an additional 6,500 tons for the winter, totaling more than $500,000. Gerber said the prices may still be estimates, as the Michigan Department of Transportation has contacted municipalities indicating there may still be ongoing negotiations with vendors.

Still, the prices are much higher than when the city ordered about 5,000 tons last winter at the $48.96 per ton seasonal price, totaling about $245,000. While the price has hovered around $50 since 2007, Gerber said, it was as low as $26.84 during the 2005-06 season.

Gerber said about 6,000 tons was used last winter, which means the city may be well-positioned for the upcoming season. The city placed an order in mid-March, when crews “didn’t know when (winter) was going to end,” he said.

When prices are higher than anticipated, the city uses its fund balance to cover costs, he said. But it also uses methods that include treatments to help salt stick better to roads and minimize the amount that is laid on the streets.

“We try to control salt use as much as possible,” Gerber said, “but there’s time when you don’t have any choice.”

The Calhoun County Road Department, which doesn’t participate in the state purchasing program, anticipated the salt price increase early, said Managing Director Jerry Peterson. Because of its partnership with Jackson County, the department was able to bid out its supply, receiving a $58.31 bid from Detroit Salt Co. in the spring and saving close to $60,000.

A contract to purchase up to 40,000 tons at about $2.2 million was approved by the Calhoun County board in June. The counties have about 10,000 tons of salt on hand now, Peterson said.

“One of the things we discussed — when winter wasn’t even over, but it was pretty much getting to the tail end of last winter — is we said, ‘You know what, with that much salt getting used, prices are going to skyrocket,’” he said. “And we needed to go with bids right away and try to get the lowest possible bid price. By having the latitude and the volume that we pick up together, it turned out to be in our favor.”

Despite salt prices, both departments say they’re ready for the winter ahead — one that some have predicted will be another drawn-out and harsh season.

“Unfortunately that’s what I keep hearing,” Peterson said, laughing. “I keep telling people to bite their tongue.”

“We’re as ready as we can be,” Gerber said. “We’re not ready for it to start tomorrow, but we’re prepared.”

Call Jennifer Bowman at 966-0589. Follow her on Twitter: @jenn_bowman