Townships share salt updates after reported shortage

Local News Townships share salt updates after reported shortage By BRANDON CANTWELL November 14, 2026 4 min read Trending HOWLAND – Trumbull County is heading toward a salt shortage, and with snow soon to come, road officials in different communities shared their respective situations and their plans to handle it. As part of his report at Thursday’s regular trustees meeting, Howland Public Works Director David McCann noted the news about the closure of the Morton Fairport Harbor mine in Painesville after the company discovered in October there was a large amount of water inflow into the mine. Trumbull County Engineer David DeChristofaro told commissioners at this week’s workshop that only 50,000 tons would be available for the six counties contracted through Morton, which is only enough to supply 30% of those counties’ orders. Trumbull County is one of about 30 communities that purchase salt from Morton. McCann noted 30% to be “substantially less” than what officials would expect, but 30% is better than nothing. “In years past, we’ve only gotten in a position where we were short of salt one time in the 26 years I’ve been here,” McCann said. “We go to a blended mix, which we’re using number nine screenings, where we use number nine gravel; we put it with the mix, and we use it.” Fine salt screenings are sometimes mixed with larger rock salt or sand and gravel to help melt ice quickly on contact, while larger crystals provide traction and longer-lasting brine. McCann said it wasn’t the most ideal situation, but it’s better than driving on ice and snow. McCann said his office also plans to modify its planning program by plowing roads a bit earlier instead of doing so once 2 inches of snow accumulate. McCann said hills, grades and intersections are some of the most important areas to treat and that is where crews plan on applying whatever material they can. The other streets will be plowed and receive some form of salt aggregate, he added. McCann said the township usually uses between 2,500 and 3,000 tons of salt yearly. He said he expects that quantity to be used, but in a mixed blend, adding that the township will probably only get 910 tons for the year, as they a contract for 1,600 with the county and 1,200 from Morton directly. HUBBARD AND LIBERTY At a meeting earlier this week, Hubbard trustee Eric Lamb noted that the township’s road department had a leftover amount of 247 tons of salt from last winter. “So we’re going to get 30% of our allotment, so we’re going to get about 150 tons from the county. So we’ll have a total of about 450 tons of salt,” Lamb said. Lamb said the roads are going to be a bit different for drivers, noting that gravel is going to be mixed in with the salt, but it’s just so they aren’t just targeting stop signs and hills and will have enough for the season. Trustee Jason Tedrow said officials tried getting away from using a mix over the last couple of years, noting it to be something to be wary of if a resident is riding a motorcycle. “With that condition with the Morton Salt mine, it’s kind of screwed everything up statewide – they were the largest salt mine in the area,” Tedrow said. “ODOT has pulled salt from every other source they had now, so it’s interrupting the flow to everyone.” Lamb said salt would cost $165 per ton if they were to want to purchase more after previously paying $70 per ton. He said that would use up the township’s entire salt budget. “Hopefully, it’s a mild winter and we just have to salt a couple times and don’t have to worry about gravel on the road,” Lamb said. In Liberty, Road Superintendent Wayne Hickman said his department has received 700 of its requested 1,400 tons, adding that, like other communities, they would be receiving no more. “If it’s anything like we had the last two years, I went through 700 tons in two months,” Hickman said. Hickman said the other two suppliers are “through the roof” on their prices. DeChristofaro said Friday that salt is bid out through ODOT, and Morton is the largest supplier for the state. He told commissioners this week there are three other companies in Ohio that have contracts to provide road salt in 2027, which includes American, Cargill and Compass. DeChristofaro said his office has been reaching out to the other salt suppliers in an effort to get more salt, but they were told they don’t have the supply.