THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2008

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Reserves To Cover Extra Salt Costs

By CRAIG ADAMS

Journal & Topics Reporter

Although going nearly $200,000 over budget, the city of Park Ridge should have enough salt to make it through the upcoming winter as well as the trucks with which to spread it.

The city ordered 3,320 tons of salt, enough to fill salt domes on Oakton Street and the barn at the Public Works Service Center.

"Our normal salt usage is approximately 2,500 tons per year," explained Public Works Director Wayne Zingsheim. "Last year we did almost 5,000 tons."

The city council agreed to the purchase at the meeting on Monday, Oct. 6. While salt cost $43 per ton last year, the price dramatically increased. Park Ridge ordered 1,320 tons at $103.47 per ton from Morton International in Chicago and an additional 2,000 tons at $137.32 from International Salt in Clarks-Summit, Penn.

The price exceeded the budgeted amount by $190,420.40. Zingsheim said the difference would come from reserves in the city's general fund.

At the same meeting, the city agreed to purchase four replacement trucks for the public works department. The existing trucks were a 1996 Ford with 221,000 miles, a 1990 Ford with 63,000 miles, a 1990 Ford with 96,000 miles, and a 1990 Ford with 78,000 miles. The Public Works Committee discussed options including renting or trying to keep them for another year at meetings on Sept. 17 and Oct. 1 before recommending the purchase.

Ald. Dave Schmidt (1st) argued against buying the trucks.

"I recall maintenance cost on these trucks last year was pretty low," he said at the council meeting. After Zingsheim replied the city was lucky, Schmidt asked, "What makes you think we won't be lucky for another year?"

Schmidt was the sole dissenter during the vote for purchase.