Every year, a sure sign winter is on its way is when the Sartell Public Works Department inventories its road-salt supplies.
Two weeks ago, the department received an order of 100 tons of road salt. Since there was a shortage of truckers to deliver salt to various places because of high demand, the department hired a trucking firm from St. Cloud to have the salt delivered.
Public Works Director Brad Borders told the city council at its last meeting the department wanted to be sure the city would have enough salt in preparation. Ordering the salt through a St. Cloud trucking firm cost an extra $18 a ton, but it was worth it, Borders said, just to make sure the city has an ample stockpile.
Last year, because of an unusually severe winter, Minnesota cities, including Sartell, went through veritable mountains of road salt.
