Oswego public works asks council for $500,000 to restock road salt after heavy winter

Oswego — The commissioner of public works told the Physical Services Committee that the city needs a $500,000 budget amendment to buy road salt after an unusually demanding winter and slower deliveries.

Greg Rebeor, commissioner of public works, parks and recreation, said the city budgeted $225,000 for salt this season and has “about $10,000 left” in that line. He told councilors delivery schedules have slowed and the department is paying under a New York State Office of General Services contract at $53.72 per ton until Sept. 1. “Wewe're not out of salt. We're not going to run out of salt. We're out of money though,” Rebeor said.

The request matters because public works crews manage winter road safety citywide. Rebeor said suppliers that normally start deliveries in two to three days are now taking about seven to 10 days to begin, and DPW typically orders about 2,000 tons at a time; the $500,000 amendment is intended to cover the remainder of this winter and allow…