Communities across Illinois are proactively preparing for the winter months by securing road salt supplies. However, difficulties have arisen for many relying on the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) joint procurement program. This program aims to streamline salt purchases by bundling requests from local governments and facilitating bulk bids. Unfortunately, over 250 communities received no bids for the 2026-27 season, complicating their salt procurement efforts.
In a letter to affected communities, CMS acknowledged these challenges without guaranteeing a quick solution. They also highlighted that costs might rise if emergency allocations are necessary. CMS spokesperson Cynthia Johnson emphasized their ongoing efforts to secure salt for the ‘no-bid locations’ and stressed their commitment to keeping roads safe in winter.
Mount Prospect, one of the affected communities, chose to independently source salt from Midwest Salt at a rate of $112.59 per ton. This marks a significant increase from the previous year’s state bid price of $68.35 per ton. Arlington Heights, another impacted area, is leveraging its full salt dome from last year’s mild winter to mitigate immediate concerns. The village is also joining forces with Palatine and Elk Grove Village to procure additional salt through a joint municipal bid.
Buffalo Grove, also part of Lake County’s joint purchasing, plans to source salt from alternative suppliers to fulfill its needs. Despite the broader shortage, many communities, including Barrington and Rolling Meadows, successfully secured salt through CMS and other regional partnerships. Fred Braun from Barrington and Glen Cole from Rolling Meadows confirmed stable supply situations for their areas.
Naperville secured salt both through CMS and an emergency procurement with Midwest Salt. Linda LaCloche, Naperville’s director of communications, noted an expected rise in salt prices from around $70 per ton last year to potentially over $140 this year. The Illinois Tollway, while utilizing CMS for procurement, plans additional measures to ensure adequate salt supplies for winter.
Aurora adopted a multipronged strategy, including a competitive sealed-bid process and participation in the DuPage County joint bid, securing salt from Compass Minerals. Despite not receiving bids through CMS, city engineer Jason Bauer expressed confidence in having sufficient salt for the season.
Northwest Municipal Conference Executive Director Mark Fowler recalled a similar situation occurring five to 10 years ago, where communities sought emergency supplies or contacted salt mines directly. He remains optimistic, viewing the current issue as a temporary challenge rather than an emerging trend.