With snowfall in the forecast over the next several days, winter has officially arrived in the region.

With the changing of the seasons also comes a new set of challenges for the men and women responsible for the upkeep of Cass County’s 1,116 miles of public roads and bridges. After taking a beating during last season’s prolonged, brutal winter, things are unfortunately not looking up for the state’s road agencies.

The Michigan Department of Transportation announced last week that prices of road salts through the MiDeal purchasing program have increased by 46 percent from last year. Last winter, the purchasers paid an average price of $44.99 per ton; this year, they’re paying $65.81 per ton.

Among the agencies using MiDeal to buy the substance is Dowagiac Department of Public Services. The city purchased 500 tons of additional stock for its salt barn last month, and has felt the sting of the increased prices, said City Manager Kevin Anderson.

“It’s not just us who are affected,” Anderson said. “Agencies such as the Berrien County Road Commission are commenting that the additional costs are hitting them this year.”

Despite the bump, Anderson said that the city hasn’t amended its purchasing policy in regards to the purchasing of salt and other materials related to winter road maintenance. At the moment, the department plans on purchasing a similar amount of salt as they have in prior years, keeping their
supplies stocked throughout the season, Anderson said.

“We don’t buy based on the best year and don’t buy for the worst,” he said. “We buy based on historical averages, and that has served us pretty well.”

The Cass County Road Commission, which handles the public roads outside the city limits, is facing a similar crunch in regards to pricing. This year, the commission has been purchasing salts with a price tag around $70 per ton, said Director Steve Lucas.

“Anytime there is an increase like this it has an effect on our budget, as is the case with road agencies in other municipalities,” Lucas said.

Like the city, the commission hasn’t made any changes in regards to their salt purchasing policies this year, with 150 tons on order. Crews tend to be conservative in terms in its usage, deploying it only in temperatures where it is most effective and cutting it with sand to increase traction, Lucas said.

“We try to avoid excessive use of it for environmental and economic reasons,” he said.

Last year’s severe weather took a toll on the commission’s funds, with increased spending on fuel, equipment costs and labor causing them to go over budget by nearly $800,000. While it is unknown if this winter’s conditions will compare to those extremes, the commission plans on doing its best to keep roads clear given its current budget and manpower limitations.

“The best thing you can do is plan for the worst,” Lucas said. “Over the years we’ve become complacent with what’s been given to us, and that caught a lot of us off guard last year.”