East Windsor Buys Salt in the Nick of Time

When the East Windsor Township Council unanimously passed a resolution last week to purchase additional rock salt, no snow had yet been predicted. But in hindsight, the Dec. 20 vote seems almost prescient.

Mayor Janice Mironov explained at the time the money had been set aside at the beginning of the year just in case it turned out to be necessary. Given the heavy snowfall last year, she said, the township was making the purchase as a precaution and at no additional cost to taxpayers. The resolution calls for the township to purchase 648 tons of salt at a price of no more than $34,953.12.

After the blizzard hit Sunday, Mayor Mironov said the move was just another example of East Windsor thinking ahead.

"East Windsor Township always endeavors to be cautious and plan ahead, so as to be prepared to deal with important nature events as this snow storm. Having pocketed the additional snow clearing money, in the event it was needed, proved prudent and also assists with 2011 budget expenditures," she told East Windsor Patch today, Tuesday.

"The high winds and drifting conditions made this snow event especially challenging for public works staff, since roads once cleared often again became snowy."

The actual cost of the cleanup was not yet available Monday morning.

Clarification 11:44 a.m. 1/2/11: East Windsor was not out of salt when it made its purchase. The addition to its stores merely allowed more room for snow in the coming winter.