Council committee approves snow-and-ice contracts; staff to use rock salt coated with magnesium chloride

The Infrastructure & Environment Committee approved renewals for 2015–16 snow-and-ice control services for several subdivisions and an intergovernmental agreement with the Palatine Township Road District. Staff explained the village maintains most local streets and uses multiple contractors and occasionally piggybacks regional bids to reduce cost.

A notable change the committee endorsed was a material substitution: instead of reimbursing pure magnesium chloride the village will reimburse a rock salt product coated with magnesium chloride. Staff said procurement and cost of pure magnesium chloride have been challenging and that the coated rock-salt product was trialed last winter with "generally favorable results," but will be monitored for melt performance and any environmental or plant impacts in spring. The contracts passed and the intergovernmental agreement was approved.