Elgin's own Supermix may improve ice, snow cleanup

Elgin leaders have made large strides since the winter of 2007-2008.

That's when the staff got an earful from residents, and even the city council members, for poor snow removal.

Since then, the city has revamped snow routes, bought more trucks and brought two more salt storage areas on line to reduce downtime for trucks.

Last week, city council members signed off on a $100,000 contract to buy this year's supply of 72,000 gallons of Geomelt, a mixture of salt brine, calcium chloride and beet juice, that is used to pre-wet regular road salt before it is spread on city streets during extremely cold weather.

The city staff also noted that folks at the McHenry County Department of Transportation have mastered their own in-house way of mixing the three chemicals into what they call Supermix.

Dan Rich, Elgin's public works superintendent, hopes the city will follow McHenry County's lead and spend about $25,000 on equipment to allow Elgin crews to mix the chemicals here.

If the city makes that move, Rich estimates the city could save $75,000 a year making its own Supermix instead of buying Geomelt.

"I believe we can get early enough approval so we can make our own product for this season," he said.

With the city looking to save money and be more environmentally friendly, it seems like a no-brainer to me.

Stay tuned.

You need fries with that? Grand Victoria Casino officials last week unveiled their newest attraction: the Prime BurgerHouse.

The interior is meant to be swanky and its menu and marketing edgy and sexy.

But a true test of any establishment is the food.

And if a tasting attended by Mayor Ed Schock and other VIPs was any indication, then the burger joint is ready for prime time, especially with the Drunken Bull Burger and the Thai Chicken Burger.

I enjoyed them, but I am not a food critic by any means.

The Bailout Burger, a creation by Elgin Community College student Harry Park, also looks really good and it's only $10. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

For details, visit primeburgerhouse.com or call (847) 531-7746.