Streets Committee advances asphalt and road-salt purchasing agreements to council

The North Royalton Streets Committee voted to forward two purchasing agreements to city council: Ordinance 25-87 (agreement with Kokosing Materials, Inc. for asphalt supply) and Ordinance 25-86 (agreement with Cargill, Inc. for road salt for the 2025–26 season). Both agreements are part of a purchasing consortium the city uses to secure better prices.

Streets Supervisor Kevin Nekl explained that recycled asphalt is generally acceptable for routine repairs, while virgin asphalt is preferred for parking lots and overlays because it typically performs better over time. Nekl said staff earlier preferred Shelly Corporation when it won the bid last year but that consortium results determine the supplier. The committee voted to move Ordinance 25-87 to council (moved by Chair Joanne Krejci, seconded by Mary Gorjanc; yeas 3, nays 0).

On road salt, Vice Chair Mary Gorjanc asked whether treated products such as Cargill’s ClearLane (which includes magnesium chloride and is marketed as less corrosive) would be cost-effective and environmentally preferable. Nekl said that, given driver practices and North Royalton’s hilly topography, treated salt might not reduce the number of spreader passes enough to justify the higher initial cost; he added that Middleburg Heights uses treated salt because of critical hospital access on Bagley Road. Nekl reported the city used 6,700 tons of salt this past season. The committee voted to move Ordinance 25-86 to council (moved by Krejci; seconded by Gorjanc; yeas 3, nays 0).

Both ordinances will proceed to council for final approval.