LAWRENCE: DPW seeks salt storage building

A new road salt storage facility and a portable light tower topped the list of requests made by Public Works Director Greg Whitehead as he presented his budget requests and overall departmental review to Township

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   A new road salt storage facility and a portable light tower topped the list of requests made by Public Works Director Greg Whitehead as he presented his budget requests and overall departmental review to Township Council last week.
   Mr. Whitehead told Township Council at its March 4 meeting that it could cost about $450,000 to demolish the existing salt dome and build a new one. It is becoming apparent that a new one is needed, he said.
   The salt dome at the Department of Public Works facility on Bakers Basin Road is more than 20 years old, and it is not a state-of-the-art facility, Mr. Whitehead said. And at 800 tons of capacity, it does not hold enough salt, he said, adding that “it is very difficult to load” salt on the trucks from the salt dome.
   ”The rule of thumb is to store double the amount of salt that you use,” Mr. Whitehead said. The Department of Public Works typically uses about 1,500 to 1,600 tons of road salt during the winter, but he is asking for a 2,000-ton capacity salt dome.
   The new salt storage facility would look like a barn, and it would be built on the same site as the existing salt dome, he said. It would not be a blight to the community, he said, adding that he would like to have it in place by next winter.
   The new salt storage facility would be good for the next 30 years, Mr. Whitehead said.
   This past winter has been a challenging one, he said. There were 21 snowstorms, and the Department of Public Works used 3,000 tons of road salt on township-maintained roads and parking lots, plus the parking lots at the public schools.
   The “biggest problem” has been the delivery of road salt, Mr. Whitehead said. The majority of the deliveries have been made to the state and counties, and then it trickles down to the municipalities.
   Mayor Cathleen Lewis said a new salt storage facility would “give us more assurance” that the Department of Public Works would have enough road salt on hand in a difficult winter, and that “we won’t have to beg for it.”
   Municipal Manager Richard Krawczun said a new salt storage facility has been in the discussion stage for several years. It had been placed on the capital projects list in past years, but it was removed for economic reasons.
   Mr. Krawczun told Township Council that the salt dome would be included on his recommendations for the 2014 capital improvements budget and that if the council approves, it could be built this summer.
   A portable light tower, which is the second item on Mr. Whitehead’s shopping list, would be helpful for the Department of Public Works crews if they have to perform emergency work at night, such as cutting down trees.
   ”The light tower would be useful. Operating a chain saw using a truck’s lights (for illumination) is dangerous,” Mr. Whitehead said. The fire departments have portable light towers, which can be used when needed, but it would be better for the department to have its own lighting tower.
   Turning to the Department of Public Works’ annual report, Mr. Whitehead said the department’s 32 employees are divided among the streets, parks and building and grounds divisions, plus the vehicle maintenance unit. All employees are cross-trained so they may help each other.
   Overall, the Department of Public Works is responsible for maintaining the 200 lane miles of roads and more than 1,000 acres of public property that includes parks and athletic fields, he said. The employees also clean and maintain the rest rooms at Village Park, Central Park and Veterans Park.
   The Public Works Department also collects leaves and brush, and picks up appliances for disposal. The department maintains street signs, makes drainage repairs and sweeps the streets. They also respond to after-hours emergencies.
   The five vehicle maintenance mechanics take care of trucks, cars and equipment, he said. They repair the vehicles’ transmissions and can weld or fabricate whatever is needed. Maintaining the vehicles in-house saves money, he said.
   It’s amazing how the mechanics can weld and make other repairs during the snowstorms, Mr. Whitehead said. They were able to make repairs and get the equipment back on the road, even at 2 a.m. in the middle of a snowstorm, he said.
   ”You and your staff have done an amazing job,” Mayor Lewis said. “Your department is a wonderful example of doing more with less.”