Despite some severe weather predictions the city of Rock Island is buying just the minimum supply of road salt this winter.
This week the city council approved the puurchase of 3800 tons for $264,000.
Public Works Director Mike Bartels says the city has between 800 and 1,000 tons left over from last year and he hopes the city won't have to buy anymore.
"We are allowed to purchase off of the state contract 5,760 tons. We hope to not have to purchase that amount, but you never know what the winter is going to do this year. They're saying it could be a bad winter, but they said last year it was not going to be a bad winter and we ended up having a record winter. It is hard to tell this early."
The city, though, was unable to buy the same price as last year. And instead faces a 36% cost increase, to $18 per ton.
