Algonquin feels pinch of salt

A deal to secure more road salt for Algonquin has left a bitter taste in some village officials' mouths.

The price for salt has gone up threefold from what the village paid last year, from between $40 and $45 a ton to $138.52 a ton, in part because on two occasions no bids were received for McHenry and Lake counties when the state asked companies to furnish counties with salt.

The state eventually secured salt for McHenry County from another bidder, but at a higher price, which Algonquin must now pay, due to increased demand for the salt and additional delivery fees.

At the same time, Kane County towns enjoy lower rates.

Carpentersville, for example, will pay $54.47 a ton, said Street Superintendent Jack Clifton.

Although parts of Algonquin lie in Kane County, its salt delivery address is in McHenry County.

The disparity between the neighboring towns, which are roughly two miles apart, is completely unfair, said Algonquin Trustee Robert Smith.

"I think the providers are taking advantage of a situation," Smith said.

This week, Algonquin agreed to use $140,000 from its motor fuel tax fund to cover the price increase.

Algonquin buys its salt through a state contract and will spend $290,000 on salt and $10,800 on other deicing materials like sand and calcium chloride, officials said.

After Jan. 1, depending on where the town is with its salt supply, there could be a request to spend $110,000 on more, said Trustee Jerry Glogowski.

Last year, Algonquin ponied up roughly $130,000 on the same items and budgeted $150,800 on the products for this fiscal year.

The village had hoped to use the $140,000 in motor fuel taxes to fund road improvements in 2010, but those plans may be deferred, said Village Manager William Ganek.

Algonquin doesn't operate a drop-off location in Kane County it can use to take advantage of lower rates.

And securing a cheaper salt source so far remains elusive.

"We've looked at other options and there's none," Street Superintendent Al Mozola said. "They (the state) have us."

There's enough salt in the village's reserves now only to cover a small storm.

The money Algonquin will spend on salt is enough to buy 3,000 tons. But last winter, Algonquin spread 3,600 tons of salt on the village's streets.

The higher prices this cycle prevented Algonquin from buying even more salt, since leaders do not want to deplete the motor fuel tax fund, Ganek said.

Yet Mozola, who already plans to conserve the salt by mixing it with sand, warns "we're going to be in trouble" if the looming winter is anything like last year's.