Motorists to get dose of low-salt diet

Drivers in Lake and McHenry counties may have to make an unforeseen lifestyle change this winter, as road crews are being asked to follow a low-salt diet.

"The gist of it is we know the service level cannot be what the motoring public has become used to," Mundelein Public Works Director Ken Miller said.

Communities, townships and other entities are being asked to voluntarily change their salting ways to conserve supplies and money.

Getting down to bare streets after a snowfall, the traditional goal of public works crews, could change because of shortages and high costs first revealed this summer.

Drivers will need more patience and can expect to spend more time to navigate area roads when the snow flies. It's also possible road conditions could change from area to area depending on which entities follow the new plan.

"Don't expect what you've seen in the past," said Miller, a leader of an informal group of more than 100 jurisdictions that have scrambled to secure salt and paid a premium price - about triple that of last year - for this season.

"We've asked all agencies to go with the new guidelines so drivers can expect uniform conditions," he added.

The suggested changes call for using less salt, less often, especially during the brunt of storms.

Major roadways, for example, were often treated with 600 to 800 pounds of salt per mile, as crews plowed and salted at the same time. Salt often was plowed off the pavement before it had a chance to work, Miller said.

Agencies now are asked to use less salt during storms and treat as needed after the storm passes. Miller's suggestions for heavily traveled routes is 200 to 400 pounds per mile.

Miller said he has received favorable responses so far.

Kevin Kerrigan, who oversees plowing and salting of about 830 miles of roads for the Lake County Division of Transportation, said application rates vary with conditions.

"We're going to make it a point to tell drivers, 'Use it wisely,'" he said. "We're going to tell them that more so than ever."

The most obvious impact could come on side streets.

Vernon Hills has changed its policy, and side streets no longer will be salted curb to curb.

"Instead of going down a low-volume street and salting everything, we'll just do the hills, curves and intersections," said Public Works Director Ed Laudenslager. The village was able to secure 2,500 tons of salt rather than the usual 3,000 tons, he said.

"The biggest thing is people are stepping back and saying, "Now that we have this limited quantity of salt, how are we going to use it?'"

Many entities buy salt through the Illinois Department of Central Management Services. Supplies became short because of heavy use during last year's severe winter and other factors. A dilemma surfaced in August when the state twice did not receive bids to supply salt to participating agencies in Lake, McHenry and parts of Cook counties.

Salt has since been secured, but at about triple the price.

"The initial crisis seems to be averted for now," said Mark Fowler, executive director of the Des Plaines-based Northwest Municipal Conference. The no bid situation affected about 25 communities in Cook County.

He said he has heard some communities will use less salt, particularly in smaller snow events, but the upcoming snow season is still a wait-and-see proposition.

"There could be a point in the winter they'll be scrambling again to get salt," Fowler said.

Some entities could not get the full amount they wanted, and there is a concern a heavy early winter again would stretch supplies.

"My expectation is if we need more, everybody will be in the same boat," said John Heinz, Libertyville public works director.

Last week, the village board agreed to buy 1,700 tons of salt at more than $138 per ton or about $164,000 higher than budgeted. The village used 3,600 tons at $41.65 per ton last year.

Miller said high fuel costs and ability to pay overtime could also influence the amount of salt spread this season.

"When things are cheap, just like water, people are less willing to conserve," he said.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=243764">Salt prices draw attention<span class="date">[10/19/08]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>