Elk Grove stockpiling 6,250 tons of salt for winter

Elk Grove Village is planning to stockpile 6,260 tons of salt in anticipation of winter, officials said.

The village plans to renew a contract next month for 3,360 tons of salt through a state joint purchasing program. The price could be as much as 5 percent more than last year's rate of $54.06 per ton.

Last week, the village board approved an additional rock salt purchase of 2,200 tons from North American Salt Company to supplement what it was allowed to buy under the state contract. The cost for that salt is $218,240, or almost $100 a ton, reflecting higher prices due to last year's severe winter.

The village's public works department has 700 tons of salt left from last season in its salt barn at 1000 Oakton St.

All together, there should be "sufficient salt for an above-average season," wrote David Preissig, deputy director of infrastructure, in a village board memo.

Last year, nearly 6,300 tons of salt were used - the most in Elk Grove history.