Lawmakers want to know more about suburban salt grant oversight

SPRINGFIELD - State lawmakers want to know exactly which suburbs would be in line for millions of dollars to offset the higher prices they had to pay for road salt this winter after a state contract never materialized.

State Sen. Pamela Althoff, a McHenry Republican, proposed legislation that would reimburse communities in Cook, Lake and McHenry counties for the extra costs of the salt because of an error blamed on the state. Last year, communities in these counties put in bids for road salt through the state's central purchasing agency.

But those towns weren't told until it was too late that no one initially bid on providing them salt. The communities were left scrambling for their own suppliers and paid two times the usual price or more, leaving many short of money for road maintenance.

Althoff is seeking to have the state reimburse those communities a total of $12.9 million.

State Rep. Don Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat, held up the proposal during a hearing Wednesday, asking that a complete list of affected communities be provided.