Overnight snowfall, recent ice storm put dent in Cole County salt supply

Jefferson City and Cole County Public Works crews were out in full force at 2:00 a.m. Thursday treating and clearing the roads through the afternoon.

But it is still early in the winter season.

“In this year’s coming up budget, right now we’re roughly at $340,000 worth of salt,” Cole County Public Works Director Larry Benz said. “With the calcium chloride and cinders and sand, it’s roughly $400,000 that we operate off of each winter.”

Jefferson City Public Works also budgets about $280,000 for salt and other removal chemicals.

“We can store 3,500 tons of salt,” Britt Smith with Jefferson City Public Works said. “We have two locations, one’s here at Hyde Park and the other is at our East Miller location. And that’s about what we use on a typical winter, about 3,500 tons.”

Jefferson City Public Works estimated it had already used about 1,200 to 1,300 tons of salt this winter with the overnight snowfall and recent ice storm.

Cole County estimated it had used about 1,000 tons.

Thursday afternoon, officials said they did not expect to use much more salt until the next winter storm as the roads were mostly clear. But drivers should still be cautious.

“Even though the roads may look clear, once the sun goes down there may be refreeze,” Benz said. “People need to be careful and slow down and watch for those. You know if there is a large area, we’ll come back and re-salt the area as needed.”