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Council committee advances 2025 road‑salt procurement: 1,800 tons regular and 300 tons enhanced salt
Summary
Public Service requested authorization for the city's winter materials purchase: 1,800 tons (±20%) of regular white rock salt and 300 tons of enhanced deicing salt; staff reported a year‑over‑year price drop and the utilities committee voted to advance the procurement request.
Todd Shreve, director of public service, told Baberton City Council committees on Jan. 6 that the city has committed to purchasing 1,800 tons (plus or minus 20%) of regular white rock salt and 300 tons of an enhanced salt product with deicer for 2025 operations.
Shreve said the price for regular white salt has fallen for a third consecutive year: the city paid $50.80 per ton last year and will pay $43.70 per ton for 2025. He said the enhanced salt with additive is priced at $61.22 per ton.
A staff member identified as Derek explained operational differences between the materials used on city trucks. “Salt stops working right around 10 degrees, regular white salt. So this has an additive that now will take us down to below 0,” Derek said, describing the performance benefits of the enhanced salt and confirming that truck pre‑wetting systems use salt brine to help material adhere to the roadway.
Committee members asked operational questions and then voted to advance the request to advertise and contract for salt and related road materials; emergency wording was requested in the packet. The item will be forwarded to the appropriate legislative committee for formal contract authorization and purchase order approval.
No vendor contract number or final purchase order was approved at the committee meeting; the request letter named procurement for 2025 materials and noted the lower price. Shreve said the 1,800‑ton regular salt commitment and 300‑ton enhanced salt commitment reflect operational planning for the season.
The discussion clarified material performance in lower temperatures and the city’s plan to use pre‑wetting brine in its trucks; staff agreed to proceed with advertising bids for the 2025 season.
