While winter may still feel like a long way off, the city of St. James is preparing for inclement weather by getting the salt shed ready for this year’s delivery. The city’s salt supply is the lowest it has been in several years, and this year’s delivery will take place later this fall once the street department is ready to accept it.

The city has an allotment of 80 tons purchased from Compass Minerals each year to be spread out during winter weather. In recent years, the city has been near or at storage capacity for both raw salt, pea gravel and salt mix.

Public Works Director Lyle Thomas explained that last year, there was a mix-up, and the city never received 20 tons of materials. They also sold some excess salt to the St. James School District, Maramec Spring Park and a few other places in need, which, along with short shipments, has provided additional room for salt to be purchased this year.

“We had so much, we were still able to do everything plus have some left,” Thomas said. “So, basically, what we’ll end up getting is between 72 and 74 tons. That is basically three end-dump tractor-trailer loads.”

The city must purchase a percentage of its allotted 80 tons to remain an annual customer, Thomas explained. If a city fails to meet the required percentage, it can lose its spot on the list, and regaining a place is difficult because of the high demand for salt among municipalities.

Despite the mix-up last year, the city is still in line to receive its annual allotment, and Thomas said the street department still has some preparation to do before salt can be delivered. He said Street Supervisor Danny Scheel plans on mixing more raw salt with pea gravel to have in storage, and that will make additional room for the salt delivery.

Before Thomas, the city relied on bagged salt stored in another shed. Before Thomas, the city relied on bagged salt stored in another shed. He later oversaw the conversion of an old street shed into a new salt storage building with two sections. One side holds the mixed salt while the other stores the raw salt.

The shed is currently down to the lowest amount of material since 2018, which will get replenished with this year’s delivery. Thomas added that having both mixed and unmixed salt allows the city to treat roads based on what kind of winter weather is expected, and the shed provides easy access to load materials.

“It’s all in the application. If we know there’s a storm coming in, we’ll take straight salt. If it’s not raining and it’s dry, we’ll salt the intersections. And, we want to do that early enough to where the cars can drive on it and grind it into the pavement. That way, whenever the storm does come, it basically keeps the ice from adhering to the intersection,” Thomas explained.

When the city is facing snow removal or when trying to get gritty material onto the roadway to assist with traction, then the pea gravel mix is spread in the intersections, Thomas said.

“It’s cheaper with the pea gravel mix, but it all depends on the application,” he said.

The city can’t put down unmixed salt during rainy weather, as it simply dissolves and washes off the road before the ice begins. Whereas mixed salt provides a better base and won’t wash away as easily.

While the winter months can be trying on crews who keep the roadways safe, the city will be prepared for any possible inclement weather coming as the year ends. Thomas said the city is already taking the necessary steps to ensure workers are ready for any street cleanup that might be needed.