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Select Board questions salt-to-sand mix, asks staff for midseason report on winter road treatment
Summary
At a Select Board meeting, staff described switching from a 5:1 to a 4:1 salt-to-sand mix and discussed pre-treatment, brine use, machine calibration and snow-fence tradeoffs; the board asked public works to provide a brief midwinter report on outcomes and data.
Mount Vernon — Select Board members pressed public works staff on how the town treats roads before and during winter storms and asked for a short midseason report after learning the town adjusted its salt-to-sand mix.
Public works staff were invited to the meeting to answer questions about winter road maintenance, including whether the town uses pre-treatment before snow accumulates, what mixtures are being applied and whether the town can track how much material each truck dispenses per mile. Board members noted the town recently moved from a 5:1 salt-to-sand mix to a 4:1 mix and asked whether that change — and any pre-treatment — is producing clearer roads and fewer icy stretches in problem locations such as Jacob’s Farm, Hall Farm and stretches of Belgrade Road.
Board members raised several operational points: calibrating spreaders so the town can measure dispensed material by mile and storm; whether brine or so-called "sticky" salt is worth the cost for targeted use on critical hills; and whether using only sand on gravel roads (and salt on paved roads) remains the town’s method to avoid thawing and subsequent pavement damage. Staff said they try to balance application with conditions — for example, wind can blow pre-applied sand off open roads — and that some routes and equipment differences affect how material is dispersed along a lane.
Members also discussed drift-prone spots and asked about mitigation options including snow fences, which staff said may help in some places but are not suitable everywhere (trees or property lines limit placement and cost is a factor). Several board members asked whether the town could alter contracts to increase truck coverage or add staffing on priority roads if data suggest the mix change improves results.
Outcome: The board asked staff to return with a short, informal midwinter update on whether the 4:1 mix and pre-treatment are producing noticeable improvements and to include, where possible, dispenser calibration or usage data that could guide next season’s budget and specifications.
