Monroe County, N.Y. – The Department of Transportation trucks were warming up and filling up with salt Friday.
“We typically put down 75,000 tons in a typical year,” said Lori Maher, of the Department of transportation. “Last year we used about half of that.”
After a mild winter last year, there’s a surplus of salt in some parts across the area.
The Town of Penfield only used 57% of the 7,000 tons of salt they budgeted for last year.
“That will help us in our budgeting process,” said Ronnie Williams, Town of Penfield’s Director of Public Works. “Inventory is pretty much where we wanted it right now. That should carry us probably to the later part of February what we have in storage.”
But not all towns had salt left over from last year. In August, the salt barn in Irondequoit burned. The barn was rebuilt just in time, said Patrick Meredith, Commissioner of Public Workers. The salt they lost was replenished the first week of November.
“We're starting out the season with 3,000 tons,” said Meredith, “that includes the 2,000 tons we lost in the fire last year, which was replaced.”
The Town of Henrietta also has a surplus. The town’s salt barn is full and there's excess salt, 1600-tons of it covered with tarps by the barn.
Many of the municipalities we spoke with say the mild winter last year and mild beginning to this snow season have been helpful as they get other work done.
