Areas struggling with salt supply

NORWALK — Some local areas are experiencing salt shortages with harsher weather conditions than predicted. Willard city manager Bryson Hamons summed up recent times succinctly. "Spring can't get here fast enough," Hamons said. Road salt is not something most people think about often. But it is one of those seemingly invisible cogs that makes a city run — or not. The unusually harsh winter has thrown local areas into turmoil, with salt usage up across the board and supplies lower. According to Huron County engineer Lee Tansey, road departments typically purchase road salt in June. Buyers must estimate how much their departments will use and pre-purchase that amount. This equation also takes into consideration the amount the department had left over from the previous season and available storage space. Salt needs to be stored in special three-sided storage areas to keep it from getting wet, which will ruin it. A historically tough year This year, the Huron County engineer's office has already used more salt than in recent times. "In the past five or six years, we have used about 2,500 tons annually; this year, we have already used 3,200 tons," Tansey said. Norwalk has also used an abnormally high amount of salt this year. "In 2025, we have used approximately 1,200 tons of salt, compared to 2023 when we used 246 tons, and in 2024, we used 784 tons," said Norwalk general services superintendent Adam Boss. Depleting reserves According to Tansey, the county should have enough salt for its road needs. But he had bad news for other departments, hoping to source salt from his department. "I'm not sure we will have much of a surplus to supply other departments in the county," Tansey said. According to Wakeman village administrator Trisha Summers, the village purchases its salt through the Morton corporation and isn't experiencing a shortage. "We are good on salt this year," Summers said. "Normally, we order 50 tons and use 20, but this year, we have already used 35 tons." Willard has already used 50 percent more salt this year compared to last year. "We bought 100 tons for this winter, we have about 20 tons left, and we (received) another 25 (last week) from the Ohio Department of Transportation," Hamons said. "We are on a waiting list for 100 tons more, but that isn't guaranteed. We normally use about 300 tons a year, but we have already used 450 tons this year." Norwalk is also feeling the squeeze. "We originally ordered 800 tons of salt for this year," Boss said. "Because the last two winters have been mild, we had extra on hand in addition to what we ordered for approximately 2,000 tons. We will need to increase our order for next year." Monroeville has about 40 tons available and has asked the county to supplement their remaining amount. "We buy our salt from the Huron County Engineer Office and have never had an issue, but this year there seems to be a salt shortage," Monroeville street superintendent Dustin Crabtree said. The lack of available salt has caused many departments to change their road salting game plan. Some departments salt strategically, focusing on the most dangerous areas with their dwindling supplies. "We are just doing intersections right now until we get the supply we normally have," Crabtree said. Hamons agreed with Crabtree's strategy. "We have shifted into conservation mode, salting the intersections and hills, targeting the critical areas to keep the roads safe," Hamons said. Boss agrees, too. "Every storm is different for salt usage," Boss said. "Suppose it's a storm where it will be snowing for a long period. In that case, we will concentrate on keeping our main intersections, hills, and curves salted until the storm passes, then go through and make a sweep of the town, curbing snow back and salting everything." "We are trying to be mindful of our salt usage, but not sacrificing the safety of our emergency services, and residents," Boss added. Wakeman can still apply salt to all the village roads. "We are still able to salt the entire town without cutting back," Summers said. Thanks to the crews Along with the salt woes, the local departments have another thing in common: appreciation. "The crews have been giving their all," Tansey said. "I am very proud of the guys." Others heaped similar praise on their street crews: • Crabtree: "Our guys are great. They stay on as long as needed to get the job done, and our administration is allowing us to take as much time as needed to keep the roads safe." • Boss: "We have a crew of 19 hardworking full-time employees available for snow removal, and we rotate three crews based on hours worked. We have a great team that works together very well and takes pride in their work." • Summers: "My crew is wonderful. Both are really new; one has been here a year and the other a month. They are on standby 24/7 and are doing a phenomenal job." Hamons also has some words of wisdom for drivers: "Keeping the roads safe is a team effort between the road crews and the public," Hamons said. "Drive slower, be patient and make sure you drive safely. Together, we can have a safer winter."