City Planning on Solution for Salt Shortages

North Royalton Service Director, Nick Cinquepalmi addressed City Council at the Council’s February 3 Streets Committee meeting regarding a solution to the City’s recent salt shortage problems. Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz has directed Cinquepalmi to put together a plan for a brand new salt barn to house additional amounts of salt. This plan will help alleviate problems the city has experienced this winter season, due to shortages from Cargill Salt.
Snow began in early November and continued consistently throughout November, December, January and most of the beginning of February. This impacted North Royalton, along with Cleveland and other local communities, that experienced a salt shortage. It was not that the city was remiss in their duty to coordinate the supply for North Royalton. North Royalton City Council adopted legislation in May of last year, accepting the bid of Cargill for salt for the 2025-26 season. The bid covered the year from November 1, 2025 to October 31, 2026. Morton Salt and Compass Minerals also partially bid, but the bids for untreated salt were much more costly than Cargill. Neither Morton, nor Compass bid on treated road salt.
The City’s salt supplier, Cargill, a major provider to dozens of other municipalities and agencies in the region, has been experiencing a supply and demand issue with salt. The City’s contract with Cargill has a 72-hour delivery provision. However, orders were not delivered within those parameters. The shortages have continued through January and currently, the situation is continuing.
According to North Royalton Streets Superintendent, Kevin Nekl, an order of 1,000 tons placed in early February isn’t expected to be delivered until the first week in March. Effective mid-February, about 4,900 tons of salt have been used. The City’s contract allows for 6,000 tons, with the option of purchasing an additional 2,400 tons. Cinquepalmi stated that the city has been “averaging, since 2006, about 8-10,000 tons. Winters have been getting milder. The last five years, the city averaged a little over 5,000 tons per year.”
Cinquepalmi would like to have a structure that would house about 4,000 tons. The current barn holds 1,200-1,600 tons. The City is in the process of receiving cost estimates for this project, according to Nekl. Discussions regarding the location and funding will be taking place.