Michigan Counties Tackle Salt Supply Challenges Amid Record Winter Usage

Road commissions across Michigan are grappling with salt shortages after burning through double or triple their typical winter stock. Monroe County has halted salt distribution to vendors. Wayne and Oakland counties say they have enough for now but are monitoring their stockpiles with caution.

Monroe County Road Commission plowed through 7,500 tons this December. That's massive. Managing director David Leach said the county used about 8,200 tons during the entire previous winter season.

"This year, we've used more than we have the last four Decembers combined," Leach said, according to CBS Detroit.

The supplier can only distribute limited amounts at one time, which creates problems when demand spikes like this. Leach said officials are taking steps to protect what they have left in storage.

"We currently have salt. It's not a time to panic. However, looking at our resources, we are being proactive with what we have on hand. So, we're not going to supply any more salt to our vendors," Leach said, as shared by CBS News.

Oakland County has seen similar patterns. Crews there have used up about double the amount compared to this time last year. Senior communications manager Craig Bryson said consumption is close to triple what they used in the two years before that, as reported by CBS News.

Some communities that Oakland County supplies with salt have asked for more than their agreements allow, but the county has turned down those requests to preserve its own reserves.

"We don't want to get ourselves in the position where we don't have enough," Bryson said, as per CBS News.

The Wayne County Department of Public Services reports a different situation. Officials there say salt is not a problem. They have a sufficient amount at this time.

Both Bryson and Leach said roads will continue getting salted, despite the supply concerns. Bryson said officials don't believe there's any risk that crews will run out and be unable to salt the roads, though they're keeping a close eye on inventory levels as winter continues.

"I have salt. I just don't want to run out of salt," Leach said, according to CBS News.