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Butler County experiences road salt shortage

Local counties are feeling the cost of increased salt prices due to a national shortage. Oxford may have to use grit or slag during the winter to make roads such as Church Street (above) less slick if salt supplies run short.
Local counties are feeling the cost of increased salt prices due to a national shortage. Oxford may have to use grit or slag during the winter to make roads such as Church Street (above) less slick if salt supplies run short.

Jennifer N. Stewart

Local counties are feeling the cost of increased salt prices due to a national shortage. Oxford may have to use grit or slag during the winter to make roads such as Church Street (above) less slick if salt supplies run short.

Oxford officials are working to overcome an ongoing national salt shortage to prepare for the imminent winter weather.

According to Chris Petrocy, Butler County Engineer public information officer, and Mike Dreisbach, Oxford service director, the shortage is due to the overuse of salt from the previous winter.

In addition, Dreisbach said salt is not being mined fast enough to keep up with its current demand. Many rivers, including the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, are running low, making it challenging for barges to deliver salt to needy communities.

But Dreisbach said Oxford residents and Miami University students won't notice a change in their daily routines.

"We have plenty on hand," Petrocy said. "We have enough for an average winter."

In case of a rough winter, Petrocy said Butler County plans on spreading the salt a little thinner on the roads to stretch out the 6,000 tons of salt stored in the salt barn, located on the northeast side of state Rt. 4. Dreisbach said the city of Oxford has 1,000 tons of salt stored away for the upcoming winter.

Butler County bought the salt in June for $51.42 per ton from the lowest bidder, Cargill Deicing Technology. However Petrocy said in some cities, such as Loveland, Ohio, salt prices have increased to $170 per ton.

Petrocy said salt prices have been steadily increasing since the summer.

If the salt does run out, Butler County will resort to using either grit or slag, said Dreisbach.

While these stones do not have the same melting properties of salt, they do provide the same traction.

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However Petrocy said some people do not like grit and slag because they chip off car paint.

"If you get into a pinch, you have to provide a safe commute," he said. "People need to keep in mind there is a nationwide salt shortage."

But even with the salt shortage, Dreisbach said there should be no concern in Oxford.

"We don't expect to run out of salt," he said.

Butler Country residents should be aware of the salt shortage, according to Petrocy. He said residents can drive more carefully and prepare for longer driving times this winter.

In addition, Dreisbach said the salt shortage will not affect Miami bus routes. The city of Oxford is divided into six snow truck routes, and at any given time, there can be 10-12 snow trucks on the road.

To prepare for winter's snow, Butler County will have training sessions for snow truck drivers Nov. 5-6.

There will also be a competition for snow truck drivers to practice maneuvering through winter conditions.

Petrocy said the snow truck drivers are reviewing all the safety procedures.

According to Hays Cummins, Miami University professor of climatology, Oxford residents are likely to see warmer temperatures than normal this winter, based on National Weather Service predictions.

However, he said there is never a guarantee when predicting the weather.

Cummins said the Dayton area usually receives an average of 28 inches of snow a year.


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