Public Works reports higher winter costs; $159,000 in contingency authorized for salt

Director Marsh presented a winter operations summary to the Public Works and Billing Committee, reporting that prolonged storms this season required extra deicing salt and overtime.

Marsh said the city requested and received authority for about $159,000 from contingency to purchase additional salt this winter and that roughly $115,000 has been transferred for salt contingency to date. Staff described the season as featuring longer, colder storms that increased material use and overtime.

Committee members praised the crews for their performance during long storms. A councilor noted that frost heaves in neighborhoods have been severe this year and thanked staff for attention to roads; Marsh said salt costs have risen to about $73 per ton and that procurement logistics caused some delays but the city is roughly half full on salt supplies.

The committee did not take additional budget action at the meeting; staff said they would monitor remaining storms and return to road and paving priorities in spring.