As winter kicks into gear, at least 2 central Maine cities say they may be forced to overspend on salt

An Augusta Public Works plow truck clears snow off State Street recently in Augusta. An increase in the price of salt may cause the city to go over its budget for the ice-melting substance this year. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

After the state was hit with multiple snow storms last week, Hallowell and Augusta are both in danger of exceeding their salt budgets.

Hallowell Public Works employee Kasey MacMaster scoops up salt Tuesday from a pile inside the salt and sand shed at the city’s public works facility. With $16,000 left in the budget for salt, the city is at risk of overspending on the ice-melting substance this year, according public works supervisor Thomas Goraj. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

But the season’s otherwise mild start has several other municipal officials in Kennebec County confident that they will not need to dip into surplus funds to cover the materials needed to melt ice and provide traction.

Hallowell’s public works supervisor Thomas Goraj said the city has spent about $22,000 of its $38,000 salt budget and $8,500 out of its $10,000 sand budget.

“With sand, we’re good, but salt is anybody’s guess,” said Goraj. “I have a feeling it’s gonna go in the red.”

Goraj said the city has used about 250 to 300 tons of salt so far and between 150 to 200 cubic yards of sand. It has between 800 to 1,000 cubic yards of sand remaining.

Up until last week, Goraj said this winter had been easy on equipment and resources.

“But now it’s starting to turn into a good ‘ol Maine winter,” he said.

Augusta Public Works Director Lesley Jones said an increase in the price of salt, from $51 to $71 per ton, may cause the city to go over budget.

The city initially budgeted for 5,500 tons with the expectation of paying $51 per ton, according to Jones. So far, Augusta has used 2,700 tons of salt, or about $192,000 of its annual $277,000 salt budget.

“If February is a bad month, then we’re probably going to overspend,” said Jones.

The city uses a 75/25 salt-and-sand mix, and so far has used about half of the 2,000 cubic yards of sand it purchased for $21,000 this year.

With the increased price of salt and temporary department vacancies, Jones said it could be a rough season.

“Last week we had three major storms in a six-day period, and that’s with our vacancies — we have quite a few people out with medical issues — so we’re struggling for sure,” she said.

Waterville Public Works Director Matt Skehan said Tuesday that the city is in very good shape as far as having enough salt and sand.

Hallowell Public Works employee Kasey MacMaster gestures Tuesday at the salt pile inside the salt and sand shed at the city’s public works facility. With $16,000 left in the budget for salt, the city is at risk of overspending on the ice-melting substance this year, according public works supervisor Thomas Goraj. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

“Our sand shed is nearly 2/3 full,” Skehan said in an email. “For salt, we contracted for 2,500 tons. We estimate having used approximately 800-1,000 tons so far. If the rest of the winter season is typical for storms, we’ll be all set.”

Litchfield Town Manager Kelly Weissenfels said that, while it’s still early in the season and anything could happen, he does not anticipate overspending on the ice-melting and traction-providing substances.

Litchfield has spent about half, or $69,317, of its total sand and salt budget of $126,700.

“We hope we’re not going to need any surplus funds this year,” he said. “I believe we have enough to cover it.”

Manchester is also currently in good shape, according to Town Manager Debora Southiere.

An Augusta Public Works operator runs a snow blower recently to clear the sidewalk on Water Street in Augusta. An increase in the price of salt may cause the city to go over its budget for the ice-melting substance this year. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

“We feel like we’re sitting pretty good right now,” she said.

For sand, Manchester has used about $33,000 out of its $60,000 budget, and for salt, the town has spent a little under $6,000 out of its $27,000 budget.

Southiere said the town has enough resources to cover the roads if the town were hit with storms for about three weeks straight.

“And that’s not going to happen, we’re not going to get hit every day,” she said. “I hope not, anyway.”

She said it’s unlikely that Manchester would need to dip into surplus funds, and that this season has generally been calmer than average so far.

Farmingdale, on the other hand, has opted not to use any sand this year, instead focusing solely on salt.

“We’re 100% salt priority,” said Road Commissioner Stephen Stratton. “The only time we’re using sand is in an extreme emergency or on some of the steep hills if it gets icy, otherwise it’s 100% salt.”

An arched roof covers the piles of sand/salt mixture, left, and straight salt at the Hallowell Public Works salt and sand shed Tuesday. With $16,000 left in the budget for salt, the city is at risk of overspending on the ice-melting substance this year, according public works supervisor Thomas Goraj. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

He said the town has a pit of sand readily available, but that he did not know off-hand exactly how many yards were stored.

“There’s a lot of it,” he said.

As for salt, the town has used about 400 tons out of the 960 it has.

He said Farmingdale is collaborating with the state for salt purchases, which has knocked the price down from $300 per ton to $75 per ton.

Farmingdale, like several other central Maine towns, will likely not go over budget.

“Not unless we get into an extreme situation from here until spring thaw with major storms,” he said about going over budget, “but I don’t see us running into that situation at all.”

Morning Sentinel Staff Writer Amy Calder contributed to this report.