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Richland County officials say no bids for rock salt, warn of difficult winter road conditions
Summary
County engineer Adam Gove told commissioners the county received no valid bids for rock salt under the county or state contracts and that current on‑hand supplies (about 1,500–2,000 tons) are far below last year’s usage (~5,500 tons), raising the prospect of limited salting or poorer road conditions this winter.
County engineer Adam Gove told the Richland County Board of Commissioners that the county received no valid bids when officials opened bids for rock salt for the 2026–27 winter season.
Gove said the state put the contract out twice this summer; Richland County was among roughly 18 counties that failed to receive bids on the first round and remained without a state bid after the second round. Counties that did receive bids reported prices ranging from about $135 to $163 per ton, roughly three times last year’s prices.
“Currently, we have no salt through the county contract and no salt through the state contract,” Gove said, adding that the county has about 1,500 to 2,000 tons on hand compared with roughly 5,500 tons used last winter. “So currently, we have no salt through the county contract and no salt through the state contract…we’ll be working with the state and maybe some other counties to come up with something.”
Gove outlined contingency options the county could consider if new supplies cannot be found: mixing grit with brine to stretch inventories (a measure used in 2014), limiting salting to high‑priority storms or wheel tracks, and coordinating with neighboring counties and suppliers. He warned commissioners that a shortfall could lead to “poor conditions on the road on county roadways here this winter.”
Commissioners and reporters pressed for causes and timing. Gove said he did not have a definitive reason for why some contiguous counties received bids while Richland and nearby counties did not, and he said he could not predict whether rebidding would yield different results.
Gove said he would continue seeking options, including working with the state, other counties and salt suppliers. He also noted that some counties that did receive bids faced prices well above last year’s levels, a potential budget concern if supply is found at those prices.
The board did not adopt a final procurement change during the meeting; Gove said he would pursue alternatives and return with recommendations.
