Illinois Communities Face Challenges in Securing Road Salt for Winter
Winter may be months away, but many Illinois communities are already working to ensure they have enough road salt for snowy months. This task has become difficult for municipalities relying on the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) to procure salt, leaving them concerned about their readiness.
Issues with the CMS Procurement Process
CMS operates a statewide program for purchasing bulk rock salt. Local governments participate by submitting their needs to CMS, which bundles these requests and handles the bidding process. However, more than 250 communities failed to receive any bids for the 2026-27 season. They must now decide whether to await emergency bids or secure salt from alternative sources.
A letter from CMS to affected communities did not guarantee last-minute solutions and warned of potentially higher prices for emergency allocations. CMS spokesperson Cynthia Johnson stated that many locations did receive vendor bids as expected. She pointed out that a major supplier opted not to bid this time, affecting some areas. Efforts are ongoing to find vendors for the communities without bids.
Communities Seeking Independent Solutions
Some towns, like Mount Prospect, have proactively sought their own suppliers. Mount Prospect found a source with West Chicago-based Midwest Salt. The deal amounted to $562,950 for 5,000 tons, or $112.59 per ton, compared to $68.35 per ton the previous year under the state bid.
Other areas like Arlington Heights, Palatine, and Buffalo Grove are also navigating this challenge. Due to a mild winter last year, Arlington Heights has ample reserves, allowing it to participate in a joint bid with nearby villages. Palatine also has a surplus from last year, while Buffalo Grove is looking elsewhere for salt supplies.
Communities Receiving CMS Bids
Some communities have successfully received salt bids from CMS. Barrington secured bids through both CMS and Lake County, reporting no issues with salt shortages. Rolling Meadows received a bid from Morton Salt, fulfilling its full 1,200-ton request. With reserves on hand, they anticipate using fewer resources due to a lighter winter forecast.
Naperville secured a total of 7,000 tons through CMS and Midwest Salt, including an emergency procurement plan through the state for 5,000 additional tons. Despite these measures, costs have risen significantly, with the price jumping from $70 per ton to as much as $140 per ton.
Approaches by Larger Entities
The Illinois Tollway, dependent on CMS, is also pursuing independent procurement to ensure sufficient supplies. The city of Aurora is tackling the issue with a multi-layered strategy, adopting competitive bidding and participating in regional procurement efforts. Although CMS yielded no bids, Aurora is confident in its salt stock for the coming winter.
Past Precedents and Future Outlook
According to Mark Fowler, executive director of the Northwest Municipal Conference, similar issues have occurred in the past ten years when the state failed to secure bids. Municipalities then sought emergency supplies or contacted suppliers directly. With existing stockpiles, treatment techniques, and the potential for mild winters, Fowler believes communities will manage this challenge. He considers this situation an isolated incident rather than an ongoing trend.