Oct. 23, 2012 — Rowan Fiscal Court again is gearing up for winter by making sure there’s enough salt to keep county roads clear of ice and snow.
The county’s current supply is more than half full, according to Judge-Executive Jim Nickell.
Jerry Alderman, deputy judge-executive, said the salt bin holds up to 650 tons and the county has 400 tons.
After dealing in the past with different salt companies, Nickell told the Court he wants to continue dealing with Morton Salt.
He said the county can get up to 600 tons from the state, when needed.
In order to deal with Morton, Nickell must sign a contract this month. The Court decided to purchase 200 tons of salt from Morton at $67 a ton, for a total of $13,400.
The county also has a contract with the state for 500 tons at $63 per ton, when needed.
Magistrate Darrell Glover asked Nickell last month if the county would continue to use salt brine. The discussion carried over to this month’s meeting.
“It depends, as the weather goes along and if we have a real tough one,” Nickell said. “It works but, of course, pure salt works tremendously better.”
Tim Stevens, the county’s former road foreman, combined 70 percent salt with 30 percent sawdust in the winter of 2008 when there was a national shortage of road salt.
The county road department pre-treated hills, curves and intersections with the mix before each expected snow.
Alderman said using the mixture requires a lot of work and time but the salt brine can be helpful.
Nicole Sturgill can be reached at nsturgill@themoreheadnews.com or by telephone at 784-4116.
