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Committee backs sole-source purchase to continue city’s brine deicer from Crapo Ltd.
Summary
The General Services Committee recommended council approval of a sole-source purchase from Crapo Ltd. to continue supplying the city’s extra‑coarse brine salt; staff said the material is uniquely produced at a Utah plant and has been used locally since about 2008.
The Coeur d'Alene General Services Committee on Jan. 12 voted to recommend that the full council approve a sole-source purchase of an extra‑coarse brine deicer from Crapo Ltd.
City streets staff told the committee the city has produced its own liquid deicer — "sodium chloride, so it is just regular rock salt" — since about 2008 and now sources a specially manufactured extra‑coarse brine salt from a single plant in Utah. "Nobody else in the region makes it, and that is where we have been buying it since 2008," the presenter said, explaining the request for a sole‑source agreement for the 2026 winter season.
A council member asked whether approving a sole source in mid‑winter was typical and whether the action reflected an immediate supply shortage; staff replied the vote was to continue an existing contract rather than to address an emergency shortfall. After brief questions, a council member moved to recommend council approval, a second was given, and the committee approved the recommendation by voice vote.
The motion that carried was limited to recommending that the council approve the sole‑source purchase; the committee did not take the final council action. The committee record does not show a roll‑call tally or named recorded votes for the recommendation.
The city identified Crapo Ltd. as the sole provider of that specific extra‑coarse product and did not propose adding other suppliers in this action. The committee did not discuss longer‑term procurement options beyond continuing the current source. The matter will proceed to the full council for final approval.
