Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Procurement Salt topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council opts out of ODOT salt contract, backs county procurement plan
Summary
After hearing reports of widely varying ODOT salt bid prices, Steubenville Council approved a motion to exit the state contract and pursue a Jefferson County-led procurement that staff say could lower per-ton salt costs.
City Manager Michael Johnson told Council that bids for road salt through the Ohio Department of Transportation produced uneven results across counties, with some counties paying as little as $63 per ton while the rebid showed $155 per ton for the Jefferson County area. Johnson said the city and county engineers have been working with state offices and suppliers and proposed a county cooperative procurement and possible rail shipments from a Kansas salt mine as an alternative.
"We believe our best bet is to go with the county," Johnson said, explaining that opting out could reduce the city's expected budget hit compared with accepting the $155-per-ton state price. Law Director Costa Mastros advised the council that a voice vote was required to meet the county's deadline to respond.
Councilmember McManamon moved to withdraw from the ODOT contract and join the county procurement plan; Ms. Hoover seconded. The motion passed on roll call with all ayes. Johnson said staff will pursue bids and coordinate storage logistics with Jefferson County, which has larger storage capacity. He warned that availability and prices are still changing and said he would provide updates to Council.
