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Smiths Falls is locking in a five-year supply of road salt as the cost of winter maintenance continues to rise.
Director of Public Works and Utilities Paul McMunn says Lanark County received just one bid through a joint procurement process, and suggested the town join the agreement.
The five-year contract with Compass Minerals sets the first-year price at $134.82 a tonne, compared with $174.14 under a one-year option.
That represents a 26 per cent increase over the town’s current contract rate, adding about $40,000 to the 2027 operating budget.
The price will rise gradually by 2.7% each year, reaching $149.98 a tonne in the final year of the agreement.
McMunn says the contract provides the town with more certainty while protecting against further supply issues and market volatility.
Major suppliers Cargill and Windsor Salt did not submit bids, citing ongoing supply constraints following high salt consumption last winter.
Story by Grant Deme
