BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI

North Country This Week

CANTON – St. Lawrence County and Franklin County are partnering up to purchase road salt through the 2023-2024 St. Lawrence County salt bid.

Legislators approved a resolution for the deal during the Finance Committee’s Jan. 30 meeting.

According to County Highway Superintendent Don Chambers, St. Lawrence County appears set to see increased road salt prices.

“Anytime there is uncertainty the price goes up,” Chambers told legislators during the meeting.

One factor that is likely to lead to significantly increased prices is the Buy America bill passed last year by the state Assembly and Senate after being championed by Governor Kathy Hochul.

Under the terms of the bill, counties and municipalities will no longer be able to import salt and are forced to purchase salt from American sources. For St. Lawrence County, that means prices would go up significantly, with some early estimates saying the price could be 30% higher.

The bill which passed last year was sponsored by Western New York Senators.

With the potential work with Franklin County for road salt purchases, Chambers told legislators deliveries typically come from one of two sources.

“The primary suppliers are the ones that contract the mechanism of delivery,” Chambers said.

Chambers said the contract will be put out to bid once the full board officially signs off on the resolution.

The finance committee approved the measure unanimously.