Sometimes decisions are worth their ounce of salt.
During Tuesday’s Christian County Fiscal Court session, magistrates unanimously approved a bid from Compass Minerals equaling $127.94 per ton of salt ordered this fiscal year — which will be used to service the county’s roads and bridges during inclement weather.
The decision wouldn’t be so noteworthy, except that County Treasurer Walter Cummings said the price of road salt in 12 months jumped nearly $28 a ton — up from $101 last year.
Christian County’s Road Department already has its maximum storage of 1,400 tons on hand, and a purchase of 1,000 tons last year looks as prudent as ever. That same 1,000 tons today would cost an extra $28,000.
A positive in this deal, however, is that Magistrate Mark Cansler confirmed there is no minimum quota required to lock in the price.
Whether the county needs one ton or another 1,000 this upcoming winter, the price stays.
Upon second reading, magistrates also unanimously approved the budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year, which among its $45 million in appropriations included $13 million for the general fund.
In other fiscal court news:
— Irene Grace of the Christian County Animal Shelter reported a busy May for the organization. More than 430 animals were brought to the shelter, including 75 from Hopkinsville and 30 from Cadiz, and more than 150 adoptions and 30 reclaims were issued.
Grace said large donations of formula for mother cats, as well as more than $1,000 in cash donations, helped bring needed comfort to the animals.
