Highway chief warns salt, fuel and aging fleet will tighten 2027 operations

Highway Superintendent Steve Floss told the board Amherst’s highway department is far larger than many expect, with multiple divisions that include signals, mosquito control, drainage, forestry, parks and refuse. He described procurement and operational constraints that will push 2027 costs higher.

Floss said salt procurement rules and market shifts mean the town’s price rose from $57/ton in 2026 to $93/ton for the coming winter and that Amherst typically uses roughly 16,000 tons. He warned the Erie County ordering system and a limited vendor market can force minimum purchase commitments. "It's $69,000 for every time we go out, not on overtime," Floss said, describing the per-event daytime salting cost; he added an average plowing event runs about $108,000 in straight operating costs.

Floss also described fleet replacement challenges: Amherst operates 38 Class‑8 plow trucks, most more than 16 years old; 27 (about 70%) have exceeded expected service life. New tandem/plow trucks typically cost $300,000–$350,000 and carry 12–18 month lead times, meaning equipment ordered today may not arrive before next winter. He urged the board to weigh capital replacement against recurring contractual and commodity pressures.