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Tinmouth board warned of salt shortages and debated replacing broken sander
Summary
Road foreman reported delayed salt deliveries from suppliers and a broken sander gearbox; the board discussed temporary sanding, buying a larger (3+ yard) sander, and pending bids for a replacement truck due March 13.
The town's highway report flagged a supply problem for road salt: the road foreman said two loads had been ordered and one was expected "maybe Wednesday," but suppliers were prioritizing existing customers after widespread freezing‑rain events.
"They said one load maybe Wednesday... and then I said, well, what about the second one? They go, well, we don't know," the road foreman told the board, who discussed contingencies such as increased sanding if salt supplies remain short.
Board members also described equipment failures: the town's sander has a gearbox problem that appears to have pushed a gear out of place, and repairs may be difficult. The board debated whether to continue repairing the existing sander or invest in a larger 3+ yard unit; one member said a 4‑yard sander was available for about $7,500 installed from a local dealer as a possible option.
Separately, bids for a replacement highway truck have been issued and are due back by the March 13 meeting; local dealers plan to inspect the town truck and discuss trade‑in options. The road foreman said vendors would bring trucks for the board to inspect later this week and the board will review bids at the March meeting.
