Streets Committee seeks legislation for $370,944 salt barn; budget amendment required

The North Royalton Streets Committee on April 7 authorized staff to request legislation placing a salt-barn purchase on council's first reading after receiving a low Sourcewell-contracted bid for structural materials.

Streets Superintendent Kevin Nekl reported Elemental (via Sourcewell) bid $323,584 for a 3,000-ton capacity salt barn to be sited behind the Service garage; a concrete floor adds $47,000 for a total project cost of $370,944.10. Nekl said the structure is an eco-block base with canopy and noted the city already uses a small wastewater-department barn on York Road; combined capacity would be about 4,500 tons. He said average seasonal salt usage is between 6,000 and 9,000 tons and that a typical large truck carries roughly 10 tons.

"We can begin as soon as possible," Nekl told the committee, adding that the Service Department will handle site preparation. Chair Paul Marnecheck moved and Councilwoman Kaylee Green seconded a request that legislation be created to place the salt-barn ordinance on first reading April 21; the motion passed unanimously (Yeas 3; Nays 0). Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz said the purchase will require a budget amendment and that he would discuss financing with the Finance Director.

Committee members asked about procurement and bidding; Nekl said all four vendor quotes were Sourcewell contracts and therefore competitive purchasing requirements were satisfied without a separate city bid.

Next steps: legislation will be drafted for council first reading; staff will present site-preparation plans and financing options, including the anticipated budget-amendment request.