Light winter has Allegheny Township officials planning to cut next year's salt order

Already dealing with having too much road salt, the Allegheny Township supervisors are cutting back on next winter’s order.

Public Works Superintendent Shawn Kuhn advised the supervisors last week that ordering the same amount for the 2020-21 season might exacerbate the problem he is dealing with now.

Kuhns said the township normally orders 2,500 tons of road salt in advance to be ready for when snow starts to fall, which is what it did this winter.

The township has been buying its salt through the state’s cooperative buying contract, which has parameters that communities have to agree to.

Kuhns said a municipality agrees to accept at least 60% of the amount of the order, but it also can buy 140% of the original order.

He said 60% of the 2,500 tons ordered comes to 1,500 tons, and that’s what the township has to buy for this winter season . However, the abnormally dry winter has not done much to dent the township’s supply already on hand.

The township already had 775 tons delivered, with another 725 tons still on the way.

But the storage bins at the public works building are full. Kuhns said the township will have to store it outside and cover it with a tarp.

Now, Kuhns is trying to figure out how much road salt to order for next winter.

Over the past 10 winters, the township has used as much as 114% of its order (2009-10) and as little as 62% of its order (2011-12).

Only three times during that span of winter seasons did it exceed the order projection and only twice did it go below 70%.

Kuhns recommended that the township order 1,000 tons for next winter. That would commit the township to take at least 600 tons and would still be able to take up to 1,400 tons if it is needed.

Township Manager Greg Primm said if the township would need more than 1,400 tons next winter, it could buy more from another community with an excess supply.

The supervisors agreed that Kuhn should reduce the order to 1,000 tons and are expected to authorize the salt contract proposal Monday.