Perrysburg Township approves 1,600-ton rock salt order
3/26/2014Perrysburg Township Trustees approved Wednesday night a 1,600-ton rock salt order for next winter through the Ohio Department of Transportation's cooperative purchasing program.
ODOT will obtain bids and then report back to the township with a cost. While other Toledo-area communities ran short on salt this winter because of heavy snow and persistent cold, Perrysburg Township had enough and didn't cut back its winter maintenance.
While ODOT has allowed program participants 20 percent purchasing leeway in the past, this year that has been cut to 10 percent, said Kraig Gottfried, the township's maintenance director. That means the township will have to buy at least 90 percent of the 1,600 tons it will reserve, and can only get 10 percent more than that at the state's contracted price.
"The weather man can't predict tomorrow, but we are supposed to predict next winter," Trustee Gary Britten said.
Mr. Gottfried said he's expecting salt prices to jump this year because of the winter's heavy use throughout the region. Rock salt cost $32 per ton a year ago.
Also during the trustees' meeting, the board presented J.D. Justus of the Perrysburg Area Historic Museum a $5,000 check and a letter committing $15,000 to the museum next year. Mr. Justus thanked the trustees and township police for donating several antique items to the museum.
"Your retired Paul Eckel donated his uniform from 1965 as police chief," Mr. Justus said. "It looks nice, we appreciate all the support. Thank you very much."
The museum at 27340 W. River Rd., a non-profit organization, has received $25,000 from the Perrysburg Rotary and $10,000 from the City of Perrysburg.
Contact Matt Thompson at: mthompson@theblade.com, 419-356-8786, or on Twitter at @mthompson25.