State to probe rising road salt prices

SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Attorney General's office is investigating the steep price of road salt in some areas of the state, which has caused some municipalities to cut back on purchases.

Doug House, Moline general manager for municipal services Doug House says the city's salt prices rose 300 percent over last year. He says as a result, the city won't be buying as much salt to melt snow and ice on roadways.

Attorney General spokeswoman Natalie Bauer said Monday it's too early to determine why salt prices have spiked for some counties, and not others. Bauer also said wouldn't speculate on whether the investigation could lead to legal action.

Emergency salt supplies were depleted by last winter's storms, causing high demand in the Chicago region this season. Salt suppliers say the increased size of orders is behind the price increases.